Einarson and her East St. Paul rink will face tough test Friday

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This article was published 09/11/2017 (3195 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kerri Einarson of East St. Paul faces a pair of crucial curling games today against formidable foes at the Canadian Olympic pre-trials in Summerside, P.E.I.

Einarson battles Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., in a battle of the top two teams of Pool B in the women’s draw in the morning. Both quads come in with 3-1 round-robin records. In the afternoon, Einarson takes on Krista McCarville of Thunday Bay, Ont., who is 2-2.

On Thursday, Einarson’s crew defeated Jacqueline Harrison of Mississauga, Ont., 9-4.

Brianne Meilleur of Fort Rouge is still in the playoff picture in Pool B with a 3-2 record, while Darcy Robertson of Assiniboine Memorial was 1-4 heading into Thursday’s late draw.

The top three teams from each pool advance to the playoffs, beginning Saturday. Two teams in each of the men’s and women’s events qualify Sunday for the Olympic trials in Ottawa.

Shannon Birchard of St. Vital, the lone local foursome in Pool A, possesses a 2-3 record.

On the men’s side, William Lyburn of the Granite Club (3-2) had a spendid day, posting an 8-7 victory over clubmate Pat Simmons and a 6-4 triumph over Quebec’s Jean-Michel Ménard.

Lyburn is behind only Charley Thomas of Edmonton in the Pool B standings. Simmons was 1-2 before facing Thomas on the late draw Thursday.

In Pool A, Jason Gunlaugson (2-2) has a big day ahead as well, colliding with John Morris of Vernon, B.C., and Adam Casey of Regina, both with 2-2 records. Glen Howard of Etobicoke, Ont., is a perfect 4-0 to lead the pool.

– Jason Bell