The 2014 SaskTel Men’s Tankard got underway on Wednesday in Shaunavon and although there are three rinks with local connections taking part, only one found success on the opening day.

The Joel Jordison rink — curling out of Regina Highland — picked up a 4-2 win over Regina Callie’s Randy Bryden during the night draw on Wednesday.

Jordison led 2-0 for most of the game after picking up a deuce in the fourth end, but Bryden was able to tie the game with two in the eighth.  Jordison came up with a big answer the next end, scoring two to end the game.

The win means he moves on a bit deeper into the A event and will take on Scott Bitz on Thursday morning at 8:30am.

Moose Jaw’s Brock Montgomery and the Josh Heidt rink — based out of Kerrobert — lost big in their opening game on Wednesday afternoon, falling 10-2 to Langenburg’s Jeff Hartung.  Hartung put up three in the fifth and five in the seventh to blow the game wide open.

Heidt will be back on the ice against Mike Armstrong at 3:00pm after dropping down to the B event.

In the night draw, Derek Owens and the Brent Gedak rink from Estevan played a tight game in their opener, but ended up dropping it 8-6 in 12 ends against Saskatoon Nutana’s Darrell McKee.

Gedak scored two in the ninth to take a 6-4 lead, but McKee was able to come up with two in the tenth to tie the game and then stole two in the 12th for the win.

The Gedak rink falls to the B event with the loss and will face off with Darren Camm at 3:00pm.

Defending champion Brock Virtue won his opening game 7-1 in nine ends over Mike Armstrong.