CHARLOTTETOWN — Brad Jacobs and his Calgary-based membership are heading straight to the quarterfinals of the HearingLife Tour Problem.
Jacobs certified undefeated via the A Occasion following a 7-5 victory over Winnipeg’s Workforce Matt Dunstone throughout Draw 11 Thursday on the Bell Aliant Centre.
The primary Grand Slam of Curling occasion of the season options triple knockout — with A, B and C Occasion brackets — the place groups should win three video games earlier than they lose three to advance to the playoffs.
“Any time you possibly can qualify in these Slams, it’s fairly an accomplishment and to go A-side is all the time good,” Jacobs mentioned. “We get just a little little bit of relaxation now heading into the playoffs. We’re on three weeks in a row, so I do know we’ll all recognize the remainder going into the playoffs. That is the most effective that we’ve performed up to now — the final two video games, particularly — as a staff, so it seems like we’re settling in properly.”
The seven-time Grand Slam champion Jacobs linked up with third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert following the conclusion of final season after the trio determined to half methods with skip Brendan Bottcher and transfer in a unique route. Jacobs, who’s from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., was already accustomed to Kennedy — having performed collectively beforehand and profitable three titles within the collection — however the skip is gelling with Gallant and Hebert, too.
“The factor that I observed proper from the start with this staff is our dynamic has been superior each on and off the ice,” Jacobs mentioned. “We’re getting alongside so nicely as they get to know me higher. I imply, I do know Marc however particularly Ben and Brett, it simply seems like we’re actually rising shut and that’s a pleasant feeling.
“I’m coming in as a skip with three guys who’re the nucleus of the staff and well-established. Coming in at skip is just a little completely different than changing a lead or a second. It’s just a little little bit of a problem. I knew that it was going to take a number of video games earlier than we received snug, however we proceed to have nice conversations and proceed to work laborious to determine issues out. I really feel like we’re making strides and we’re actually getting there.”
It was Dunstone who received off to begin within the A-qualifier, capping the primary finish with an open hit to rely three. A straight runback within the second didn’t go solely as deliberate for Dunstone, although, as his raised rock rolled out and allowed Jacobs to attract for a deuce.
Dunstone made a double takeout within the third, together with his shooter sticking round for a single, whereas Jacobs made a come-around faucet to attain two within the fourth to tie it up 4-all heading into the break.
Jacobs pulled forward within the fifth as he sat two stones in the home, Dunstone hit one and rolled out to surrender a single steal.
Dunstone regrouped and drew for a single within the seventh, however handed Jacobs the hammer coming dwelling with a one-point lead. Jacobs hit and caught to tack one other level on the board within the eighth.
“After we gave up the three within the first, we collectively got here collectively after the tip was completed and simply mentioned let’s get a deuce again. That was precisely what we did,” Jacobs mentioned. “We performed a extremely good finish, and I believe simply getting that two again, realizing that we have been nonetheless very a lot within the sport and it was early, gave us the arrogance to roll and work out the sheet, make some pictures and that’s what we did.
“I’m actually happy with my teammates for his or her resiliency and the best way that they hung in there and simply continued to make pictures all sport. It was a fantastic, collective staff effort.”
With the quarterfinals not till Saturday, Jacobs has a full day without work in Gallant’s hometown.
“I preserve calling him the mayor,” Jacobs mentioned. “I do know that he’s actually excited to be dwelling and to see a few of his family and friends. They’ve received their little man Luke right here, so I do know that he’s going to understand a day without work and possibly he can tour us round to a couple locations. Possibly we will meet some extra individuals in the neighborhood and we’ll simply proceed to play laborious for Brett and his hometown. It will be fairly candy if we might preserve enjoying nicely and convey dwelling this title for him in his hometown.”
Scotland’s Workforce Bruce Mouat additionally superior with an unblemished 3-0 document after two within the eighth finish to edge Sweden’s Workforce Niklas Edin 5-4.
Each Dunstone and Edin maintain 2-1 information and dropped into the B-qualifiers with one other alternative to achieve the quarterfinals.
In C Occasion matches, Workforce John Shuster defeated Workforce Korey Dropkin 8-3 in an all-American conflict and Scotland’s Workforce Cameron Bryce bounced Winnipeg’s Workforce Reid Carruthers 6-2.
Shuster and Bryce are nonetheless in it to win it with 1-2 information, whereas Dropkin and Carruthers have been eradicated at 0-3.
Dropkin was enjoying short-handed this week as second Mark Fenner was out with a hip harm.
UP NEXT
Triple knockout play continues with Draw 12 at 8 p.m. AT / 7 p.m. ET. Watch reside on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+.
NOTES
The HearingLife Tour Problem options 64 of the most effective males’s and girls’s groups from around the globe cut up into two tiers. … Tier 2 winners obtain invites to the WFG Masters in January. … Eight groups in every division qualify for Saturday’s quarterfinals … The semifinals are additionally scheduled for Saturday with the finals set for Sunday.