Jacobs improves to 3-0 at Olympic trials

It will be a battle of unbeaten skips named Brad on Tuesday afternoon at the 2021 Tim Hortons Olympic Trials in Saskatoon.

Sault Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs will face Brad Gushue of St. John’s, Nfld. at 3 p.m. Sault time at the nine-day event that will determine the Canadian reps at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in February.

The Jacobs rink, which includes third Marc Kennedy, second E.J. Harnden, and lead Ryan Harnden improved to 3-0 on Monday thanks to a 5-2 win over Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher at SaskTel Place

Bottcher opened the game with the hammer, blanking the opening three ends before picking up a single in the fourth end to open the scoring.

Jacobs then blanked the fifth end before taking the lead with a pair in the sixth end.

After Bottcher tied the game at two with a single in the seventh end, Jacobs then scored another deuce in the eighth end before capping off the scoring with a steal of one in the ninth.

Speaking to reporters following the win, Jacobs said the quick start to the event is big and one thing has stood out early on for the team.

“It’s always nice to get a bunch of wins early,” Jacobs said in media availability provided by Curling Canada. “I’m impressed with how we’re managing ourselves as athletes and a collective effort that we’re bringing to the ice every game. It’s great to see and a lot of fun to be a part of.”

Gushue enters Tuesday’s game on the heels of an 8-6 win over Toronto’s John Epping on Monday.

The tournament features nine men’s and nine women’s teams from across the country with each team playing eight round robin games.

The round robin continues until Friday with the top three teams earning playoff spots.

The top team earns an automatic berth in Sunday’s final while the remaining two teams meet in semifinal action on Saturday evening.

In addition to Tuesday’s game against Gushue, the remaining schedule for the Jacobs rink for the rest of the week includes: