There are few certainties in life other than death, taxes, and Brad Jacobs being in the Home Hardware Canada Cup final in Estevan.
Jacobs (5-1) clinched his spot in the final with an 8-6 win over John Epping in the afternoon draw Friday and added some intrigue to who he’ll play in the final with a 7-6 loss to Brendan Bottcher (4-2). His opponent for Sunday’s final is still up in the air as there will be a tiebreaker between Kevin Koe and Bottcher at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the winner to play Brad Gushue in the semifinal at 2 p.m.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing to be totally honest with you,” said Jacobs. “Mission accomplished I’d say for our team. We’re in the final and we’ve had a great week to this point.”
Jacobs would have been undefeated if Bottcher wasn’t able to get two in the last end with a great final shot of his own.
“They played very well, and I’d say they were one of the toughest opponents we’ve played so far,” Jacobs said. “We’re in a great spot and that’s really all that matters. We’ll recharge here. It’s been a long, gruelling week here for everybody.”
All teams played six games in three days, which is one of the busiest schedules possible on the curling calendar. He and his team will enjoy a rare day off by watching the playoff games.
“We’ll get a little bit of practice in, and watch these guys put on a great show and we’re looking forward to competing in the final,” Jacobs said. “I couldn’t tell you how amazing it is to have a bye straight to the final…
“It’s been very taxing emotionally and I think that rest for us is going to be important and especially for the sweepers who have been doing a tonne of sweeping to rest their bodies for the final.”
Catlin Schnieder, the second for Matt Dunstone, was happy for the experience and felt his team weren’t off by much. Dunstone and the team curl out of Regina and were very much a team that had the support of the crowd in their home province.
“It’s always great to have friends and family here, it makes more exciting,” said Schnieder. “You always feel more energy to make something happen and make big shots. Unfortunately it always felt like we were on the wrong side of the inch. Regardless it’s great to have support.”
Dunstone’s team (1-5) lost to Epping (3-3) 7-5 to close out the week. Schneider felt his team was in every single game this week. They are off to China Monday to play in a bonspiel.
“It’s exciting that we leave Monday for China… we’ll get to represent team Canada over there and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Gushue, meanwhile, is happy to be going straight through to the semifinal.
“After our loss yesterday it looked like we were going to have to fight through tiebreakers, if today didn’t go as well as it did, but it went perfect,” Gushue said. “We’re pretty excited about it.”
In Friday evening’s other games, Laura Walker (2-4) defeated Chelsea Carey (2-4) 9-8 in 11 ends, Gushue (4-2) defeated Koe (4-2) 11-6 and Alli Flaxey (2-4) beat Darcy Robertson (1-5) 9-6.
Saturday morning will be the last day of the round robin and sheets A through D will have the last of the female competition. Walker takes on Jennifer Jones (5-1), Casey Scheidegger (3-3) battles Robertson, Flaxey is against Rachel Homan (4-2) and Carey is against Kerri Einarson (5-1).
