Nova Scotia, skipped by Mark Dacey, inched a game closer to collaring top spot at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship by edging Ontario, 8-7, in an extra end during Draw 16.

 

The outcome left the host province, skipped by former two-time provincial junior champion Mark Bice, with a completed 9-2 round robin record, still good enough for first place.

 

However, Nova Scotia moved to 8-2 with the victory and will face Northern Ontario, skipped by Jordan Chandler, in Friday morning's final round robin draw. A victory by the 'bluenosers' would propel them to 9-2 as well, but Nova Scotia would get the nod for first place and a bye to Saturday afternoon's final because of its victory over Ontario.

 

Tied for third with 7-3 records are British Columbia and Manitoba. All other teams have been eliminated from the playoffs, whereby the first place team advances to the final, while the second and third place teams, after any required tiebreakers, meet in a semi-final.

 

Manitoba stayed in the playoff hunt by edging New Brunswick, 5-4 and plays Saskatchewan Friday morning, while British Columbia meets Alberta. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan are 5-5.

 

Ten provinces, plus Northern Ontario and Yukon/Northwest Territories, have been playing in the 47th edition of The Mixed. Alberta leads all provinces with nine wins since the Canadian Mixed began in 1964 in Toronto, while defending champion Manitoba and Saskatchewan are next with eight victories each.