Jacobs off to National final (20 photos, update)

Sault Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs and his team from Soo Curlers is off to final at the Grand Slam of Curling event at the Essar Centre.

After winning a pair of games on the final day of the round robin just to advance to the playoffs, Jacobs along with third Ryan Fry, second E.J. Harnden and lead Ryan Harnden, won a pair of games on Saturday to move into the final.

Jacobs beat Reid Carruthers 6-3 in seven ends after running Carruthers out of rocks in the eighth end in the quarter-final before beating Brendan Bottcher 8-2 in the semi-final to advance to Sunday’s final.

Jacobs took the lead in the third end after scoring three to take a 3-2 lead before adding a pair in the fifth end against Carruthers.

“We were ready to play today,” said Jacobs after the win over Carruthers. “It definitely wasn’t our best effort but we got the job done and that’s all that really matters.”

“We got some misses out of Reid’s team and we were able to capitalize,” Jacobs also said. “Getting the three points getting us back in the game in the third end was a huge turning point in that game. Then we got another big steal (of one) in seven to go up 6-3. Those were the turning points.”

In the semi-final, Jacobs gave up one in the first end before scoring two in the second and stealing one in the third and two in the fourth before capping off the night with three in the sixth end.

“We got some breaks that we capitalized on,” Jacobs said after the semi-final win. “It’s nice to play that well heading into the final. We definitely played a lot better in (the semi-final) than (the quarter-final) so it’s just another step in the right direction.”

Jacobs also said the quick turnaround after the quarter-final win was beneficially for the local rink.

“The quick turnaround was fantastic for us,” Jacobs said. “I actually said to E.J. before we were heading out to the ice that I love having very little time between games. We were already warmed up and ready to go. We ate quick, threw on our stuff and went to play again. I love that quick turnaround and I think we all do. Anytime we have a quick turnaround like that, we usually play really good in that second game.”

McEwen beat Heath McCormick 5-2 in the other semi-final to advance. For McEwen, Sunday will mark his second appearance in a Grand Slam of Curling event title match. McEwen lost 8-6 to Brad Gushue in the final of The Masters earlier this month.

McCormick ended Glenn Howard’s run for a second consecutive National title, scoring a pair in the eighth end to win 6-4. Other quarter-final matchups saw McEwen beat Steve Laycock 5-4 and Bottcher also advanced to the semi-finals with a 7-1 win over John Morris in six ends.

Photo: Skip Brad Jacobs after shooting his final rock in the 5th end during the quarter final draw on November 22, 2014 at the Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie. Donna Hopper/SooToday