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Team Jacobs set for Brier playoffs

Representing Northern Ontario, Team Jacobs will open the 2017 Brier playoff round on Saturday afternoon
Jacobs 2017 Brier (Michael Burns)
Photo Courtesy Michael Burns/Curling Canada

There were a lot of scenarios but in the end just four teams are left at the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier in St. John’s, Nfld.

Friday morning saw the final round robin draw determine the seeding heading into the playoff round, which opens Friday night with the 1-2 page playoff game.

Sault Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs and his team from the Community First Curling Centre in Sault Ste. Marie was not in action but his 8-3 record was good enough to finish fourth and earn a spot in Saturday afternoon’s 3-4 page playoff game.

The Jacobs rink, which includes third Ryan Fry, second E.J. Harnden and lead Ryan Harnden, will face the defending-champion Kevin Koe, who is in the event as Team Canada.

Koe earned a playoff spot thanks to a 7-6 win over New Brunswick’s Mike Kennedy on Friday morning.

The Jacobs rink left the Mile One Centre on Thursday night after its win over Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher unsure of its playoff position at the time, only knowing that it would play in at worst a tie-breaker game.

“We’re going to be in a do-or-die situation,” Jacob’s told Curling.ca’s John Korobanik, noting that when the team won the Brier in 2013, it entered the playoff round in fourth.

Following the win over New Brunswick on Friday morning, Koe told Korobanik that he’s looking forward to facing Jacobs.

“They’re one of our favourite teams to play. They’re a great team to play against. We’re had some battles with them going back to the Brier semi last year and I’m sure tomorrow will be another one.”

Koe beat Jacobs 6-5 in the semifinal last year in Ottawa after scoring a deuce in the 10th end.

The 3-4 page playoff between Jacobs and Koe is set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon with the winner facing the loser of the 1-2 game in the semifinal on Saturday night. The loser will face the loser of the 1-2 game in the bronze medal game on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

The 1-2 Page playoff on Friday night will see Manitoba’s Mike McEwen face the hometown team, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brad Gushue at 6:30 p.m. eastern time.

The gold medal game is set for Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. eastern time with the winner representing Canada at the Men’s World Championship in Edmonton, Alta. The nine-day event opens on Apr. 1.


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Brad Coccimiglio

About the Author: Brad Coccimiglio

A graduate of Loyalist College’s Sports Journalism program, Brad Coccimiglio’s work has appeared in The Hockey News as well as online at FoxSports.com in addition to regular freelance work with SooToday before joining the team full time.
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