Jacobs Rink Secures Opening Night Victory at the Brier

In a thrilling start to the 2023 Montana’s Brier, the Jacobs rink delivered an impressive performance. The event kicked off in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, where Brad Jacobs secured an 8-3 victory over Tyler Smith’s squad from Prince Edward Island. This win marks the Jacobs team’s defense of their championship title.

Key Moments from the Game

Fresh off an Olympic gold medal victory in Italy, Jacobs showcased his skills alongside his team: third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant, and lead Ben Hebert. Although Hebert was absent due to illness, the team executed their strategy effectively.

• The first two ends saw both teams scoring two points each.
• Smith blanked the third end, but Jacobs stole one point in the fourth end.
• Steals continued for Jacobs, netting single-point steals in the fifth and sixth ends.
• In a pivotal seventh end, Jacobs stole three points to extend their lead to 8-2.
• Smith managed to score one point in the eighth end, finalizing the match at 8-3.

Upcoming Matches

Jacobs is scheduled to compete again on Saturday evening against Kelly Knapp’s team from Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, the Manitoba team led by Matt Dunstone, featuring brothers E.J. and Ryan Harnden, is also back in the Brier after losing to Jacobs last year.

Tournament Format

This year’s Brier is structured for 18 teams, divided into two pools for the round-robin phase. The top three teams from each pool will advance to the playoffs, which follow a specific format:

The winning team of the Brier will represent Canada at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Ogden, Utah, scheduled for the end of March. With competition heating up, all eyes will be on the Jacobs rink as they aim to retain their title.