Jacobs skips Carruthers crew for Manitoba title – Winnipeg Free Press

STONEWALL – Brad Jacobs can now add a Buffalo Jacket to his long list of career accomplishments.

Jacobs, who won gold at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi 10 years ago this month, defeated Fort Rouge's Braden Calvert 6-3 on Sunday at the Stonewall Veterans Memorial Sports Complex to send Reid Carruthers to the Manitoba men's curling provincial title.

When the dust settles, import Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., third Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski and lead Connor Niegovan huddle on the ice as they represent Manitoba at next month's Brier in Regina (March 1-10).

“I'm sure there are Northern Ontario fans and people watching this game from home, it's a shame I'm not playing with my cousins ​​in Northern Ontario. However, I like being on a new team with these guys,” Jacobs said. “They've had my back, they've supported me all week, and I'm proud to throw in this Buffalo and represent my teammates as best as I can.”

Despite being the tournament's No. 1 seed and having plenty of experience, this week is Carruthers and Co.'s. Charleswood's Riley Smith knocked them out in Friday's massive 8-7 upset. They quickly dusted themselves off to win three straight before losing another 8-7 thriller in overtime to Calvert in a 1-on-2 playoff game Saturday night.

The loss forced them to take a scenic route to the finals, where they faced Assiniboine's Jordon McDonald in the morning semifinals. The junior team pushed them to the limit as Jacobs had to break a double on her final rock to win 10-7 and have a chance at redemption at the end of the day against Calvert.

Carruthers, 38, is now an eight-time men's champion (three with Stoughton, two with Mike McEwen and two missed).

“It was the toughest challenge I've faced in the province. I can't say some of the other battles were crazy, but overall, it's provincials, holy smokes we've had some crazy games against good, young teams,” Carruthers said.

“It makes me want to retire.”

Jacobs, who took a step back from full-time curling last season, is in his first year out of Manitoba as he signed to join Carruthers in the offseason after playing with the team a few times since his departure. Jason Gunnlaugson.

Calvert, undefeated all week, gave the No. 6 team in the nation his all. Most of the game turned into a chess match, after which the two sides exchanged pairs in the first two ends. The momentum shifted in Carruthers' direction in the eighth when Calvert missed a double, giving them a two-run lead. That opened the door for Carruthers to steal a single to go up 4-3. They stole two more in the 10th to wrap things up.

“I know this team wasn't the result Calvert wanted. I feel bad for them, I really do,” said Jacobs, 38. “They played great today and all week. I'd say that was the toughest final I've played going into the Brier, and I think that's saying a lot because I've played in a lot of finals.”

A trip to the Brier still eludes talented 28-year-old Calvert from Carberry. Sunday was the first men's final for the former world junior champion. Corey Chambers, third in 2013, tied for runner-up with Sean Grassi. Lead Brendan Bilawka lost to William Lyburn in the 2019 Manitoba title game. Sophomore Kyle Kurtz, Calvert's teammate for more than a decade, also played in his first final. Calvert and Kurtz formed a new team last summer with Chambers and Bilawka, an experienced skip on the Manitoba circuit.

“It's definitely devastating,” said Calvert, the tournament's No. 3 seed. “At the beginning of our game we could hang with them, and we almost did. It's a childhood dream (going to the national competition). We will try again next year.”

Last year at Neipawa, Carruthers, Samagalski and Negovan lost a tankard to Matt Dunstone.

Dunstone didn't need to compete in those provincials because he pre-qualified for nationals based on last year's ranking.

Carruthers skipped the year before handing the final touches to longtime Northern Ontario representative Jacobs, who captured the 2013 Brier in December.

Before traveling to Regina, Carruthers will travel to the Women's Nationals in Calgary (Feb. 16-25) to coach Gimli's Kerri Einarson to win her fifth straight Scotties Championship of Hearts. Nyegovan will also be there to coach his wife, Selena Nyegovan, with Team Caitlin Lowes.

“It's an unbelievable feeling. What our team went through this year, and last year playing with three men at provincials, bringing Brad on board and we all decided to change the lineup to suit our positions,” Samagalski said.

“It means a lot to me and we're going to enjoy ourselves and have a few beers tonight.”

The 20-year-old Macdonald led his fresh-faced team to the final day and turned heads. The Manitoba under-21 champion will now look to defend his provincial junior crown later this month in Carman (Feb. 21-25).

Both of McDonald's losses this week came against Carruthers.

“I'm really proud of the kids for how the week went. It's a shame we lost here, but I thought we gave it our all. For them to throw the last rock and not take an easy shot, I'm proud of that,” said MacDonald, who plays third with Dallas Burgess, second Elias Huminicki and leadoff hitter Cameron Olafson.

“This will send our confidence through the roof. We know now that we can play with the best teams in the world.”

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Taylor Allen
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Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor began working for the Free Press on June 1, 2011.

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