CALGARY — Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs not only secured a playoff berth early at the Canadian men’s curling championship, but clinched a spot in the playoff game between the top two seeds.
At 9-0, the reigning Olympic champions can finish no worse than second in the round-robin that concludes Friday morning. Jacobs downed Saskatchewan’s Steve Laycock 4-3 in the afternoon draw Wednesday.
The top four teams at the conclusion of the preliminary round advance to playoffs. The top two seeds meet with the winner advancing directly to Sunday’s final. The loser drops to the semifinal to face the winner of the playoff between the third and fourth seeds.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brad Gushue closed in on a playoff berth at 7-2. With his final shot, the skip executed an intricate double raise to score the winning point in an 8-7 victory over Alberta’s Kevin Koe.
Quebec’s Jean-Michel Menard and Team Canada’s John Morris were tied at 6-3. Canada beat Ontario’s Mark Kean 7-4 and Quebec beat Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers 7-4.
Saskatchewan dropped to 4-3 with a game to play in the evening draw. Manitoba, Alberta and B.C.’s Jim Cotter were 3-4. Ontario dropped to 2-5 alongside Prince Edward Island’s Adam Casey. New Brunswick’s Jeremy Mallais was 1-6 and Jamie Koe of Northwest Territories is winless in seven.
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