Jacobs rink wraps up round robin play, advances to Championship Pool (update)

Team Northern Ontario, represented by Sault Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs and his team from the Community First Curling Centre, is off to the Championship Pool of the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary.

Following the completion of the round robin on Thursday night, Jacobs’ 5-3 record was good enough for third in Pool A and a spot in the Championship Pool.

In their round robin finale, the Jacobs rink found itself behind early and couldn’t quite battle all the way back in their lone game of the day.

The Jacobs rink, which includes third Marc Kennedy, second E.J. Harnden, lead Ryan Harnden, and alternate Lee Toner, dropped an 8-6 decision to Team Wild Card3, being skipped this week by Wayne Middaugh.

The wild card team opened up a 3-0 lead through two ends and never trailed, despite a push back from the Jacobs rink throughout.

With the hammer in the opening end, Middaugh scored a pair and proceeded to extend the lead some thanks to a steal of one in the second end.

Jacobs got on the board with a single in the third end.

After Middaugh scored one in the fourth end, Jacobs would cut the lead to one thanks to a pair in the fifth end.

The teams would trade deuces in the following two ends, giving Middaugh a 6-5 lead through seven ends.

Middaugh extended the lead to 7-5 with a single in the eighth end.

Left with a tough shot on his final rock in the ninth end, the Jacobs rink settled for one in the ninth end and couldn’t get the needed steal in 10, making the final 8-6 Middaugh.

Middaugh is skipping the team normally skipped by Glenn Howard.

Howard is with the team as an alternate at the event but has seen very limited action due to an injury suffered prior to the tournament in a snowmobiling accident.

Both teams had entered Thursday’s matchup having won three in a row.

A 10-6 win by Team Northwest Territories, skipped by Gregory Skauge, over Team New Brunswick, skipped by James Grattan in the evening draw Thursday clinched a spot in the Championship Pool for the Jacobs rink.

Team Jacobs is back in action on Friday for a pair of games.

The Northern Ontario rink will face Team Canada, skipped by Brad Gushue, in the afternoon draw, set for 2:30 p.m. (eastern time) and then Team Wild Card2, skipped by Kevin Koe, in the evening draw at 8:30 p.m. (eastern time).

In other Pool A action from Thursday morning, Team British Columbia, skipped by Steve Laycock, beat Team Manitoba, skipped by Jason Gunnlaugson, 7-4.

Team Wild Card1, Mike McEwen, beat Team Northwest Territories, skipped by Gregory Skauge,12-3 in eight ends.

Team Alberta, skipped by Brendan Bottcher, beat Team Yukon, skipped by Dustin Mikkelsen, 11-2 in eight ends.

In other Pool A scores from the evening draw, Team Wild Card1, skipped by Mike McEwen, beat Team Yukon 14-2 in eight ends.

Team Alberta beat Team British Columbia 7-5.

Team Wild Card3 capped off the round robin with a 5-4 win over Team Manitoba.

Final standings in Pool A were as follows:

1. Team Wild Card3 (Glenn Howard): 7-1
2. Team Alberta (Brendan Bottcher): 6-2
3. Team Northern Ontario (Brad Jacobs): 5-3
4. Team Manitoba (Jason Gunnlaugson): 5-3
5. Team New Brunswick (James Grattan): 4-4
6. Team Wild Card1 (Mike McEwen): 4-4
7. Team British Columbia (Steve Laycock): 3-5
8. Team Northwest Territories (Gregory Skauge): 2-6
9. Team Yukon (Dustin Mikkelsen): 0-8

Final standings in Pool B were as follows:

1. Team Wild Card2 (Kevin Koe): 7-1
2. Team Canada (Brad Gushue): 6-2
3. Team Ontario (John Epping): 6-2
4. Team Saskatchewan (Matt Dunstone): 6-2
5. Team Nova Scotia (Jamie Murphy): 4-4
6. Team Quebec (Michael Fournier): 4-4
7. Team Newfoundland and Labrador (Greg Smith): 2-6
8. Team Prince Edward Island (Eddie McKenzie): 1-7
9. Team Nunavut (Peter Mackey): 0-8

In Pool B games on Thursday, Team Wild Card2, skipped by Kevin Koe, beat Team Quebec, skipped by Michael Fournier, 10-5 in nine ends.

Team Ontario beat Team Prince Edward Island, skipped by Eddie MacKenzie, 8-4 in eight ends.

Team Canada beat Team Nunavut, skipped by Peter Mackey, 9-2 in eight ends.

Team Saskatchewan, skipped by Matt Dunstone, beat Team Nova Scotia, skipped by Scott McDonald in place of Jamie Murphy, 7-5.