Jacobs looking for consecutive Tim Hortons titles

Brad Jacobs broke through last season for the biggest victory in his competitive curling career, with a decisive victory over Manitoba’s Jeff Stoughton in the final of the 2013 Tim Hortons Brier. The 2013 Brier triumph represented the first time a Northern Ontario team had won the Canadian men’s curling championship since Al Hackner, aka the “Ice Man’, accomplished the feat in 1985 – almost three months to the day before Jacobs was born. It came with the right to wear the maple leaf in Victoria at the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship where the Jacobs team won the silver medal, losing to Niklas Edin of Sweden in the final match.
Ryan Harnden, Brad Jacobs and EJ Harnden (Photo CCA/Michael Burns)

Ryan Harnden, Brad Jacobs and EJ Harnden (Photo CCA/Michael Burns)

Now Jacobs, the pride of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has the opportunity to represent Canada once again. This time the maple leaf would have even greater symbolism, given it would be on the pebbled-ice in Sochi, Russia with Olympic gold on the line. Along with teammates Ryan Fry and brothers E.J. and Ryan Harnden, the 28-year-old skip from the Soo Curlers Association will be one of the contenders in the eight-team men’s field at the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, presented by Monsanto, Dec. 1-8 in Winnipeg. Jacobs fought his way through the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Pre-Trials event, defeating 2006 Olympic gold-medallist Brad Gushue to clinch the last spot in the Canadian Curling Trials. “We’re there… I’m really proud of the guys for coming out like they did today,” said Jacobs, following the Gushue match. “Now we get to go to the Olympic Trials, so mission accomplished. “This event is a huge grind. It’s hard to just hang in there all week. This week was typical of our team. We always do it the hard way… but hey, whatever it takes to get the job done.” Looking ahead to the upcoming challenge at the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, Jacobs knows the team will be in for an even fiercer battle. “The field is phenomenal… all the best teams in Canada, in the world. Every game’s going to be extremely hard, and I’m sure, extremely entertaining for everyone. We can’t wait.” “You Gotta Be There” in the MTS Centre when the top 24 teams in Canada – 12 men’s and 12 women’s – compete in the most prestigious event in Canadian curling. Get your tickets right now by clicking here.