Canada Olympic Trials 2014: Brad Jacobs Is Country's Best Option for Sochi
Dec 7, 2013
With the 2014 Canadian Olympic curling trials wrapping up for the men on Friday, reigning champion Brad Jacobs is clearly the country's best option to help give them a gold medal at Sochi, Russia in February.
Jacobs advanced to the final round on Thursday night, taking down Kevin Martin 5-4 to get to Sunday's big finale. He improved to 6-0 at the Roar of the Rings, and this win was his worst, as he's normally dominated the competition. It was a sloppy one throughout, but Jacobs made a crucial triple-raise takeout at the end to grab two points and get the 5-4 victory.
However, it's still big news that Jacobs and his team won considering it came against Martin, who won the gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics and silver in 2002.
John Morris was also able to take down Martin, giving him the other spot in the finals. The winner will go on to represent Team Canada in Russia, but if the Canadians want a better shot at grabbing the gold, Jacobs is the best option.
This has easily been Jacobs' best season as a curler, leading his great team of Ryan Fry along with some great front-end brushers in E.J. Harnden and Ryan Harnden. In the three Grand Slam events he has competed in during the 2012-13 season, Jacobs and his team made it to the finals at the Canadian Open and made it to the quarterfinals in the Masters/World Cup along with The National.
This team has a lot of experience together, and that will pay off in Sochi. Jacobs and the Harnden brothers have been together since the 2008-09 season, and while Fry is new this season, those three have been together long enough to have a real chemistry. After all, these guys did score an epic eight-ender back in February of 2012.
While Morris has had more success in the past, Jacobs and his team are simply on fire right now. Morris was with Martin back during the gold-medal run in the 2010 Winter Olympics, but with the two separated now, they just won't be the same.
It's hard to argue with how successful Jacobs has been during the Olympic trials. As long as his team continues this level of success, they will be one of the favorites to win at the 2014 Winter Olympics, and that would make the entire country quite proud.
Canada Olympic Trials 2014 Curling: Preview for Saturday's Crucial Matchups
Dec 6, 2013
We are tantalizingly close to knowing who will advance from the Roar of the Rings and represent the powerhouse that is Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics in February.
On the men's side of the Curling Olympic Trials on Friday, round-robin play came to a conclusion with 28-year-old Brad Jacobs, the youngest skip in qualifying, beating Ontario's John Epping, 7-4, to make trials history as the first team ever to go undefeated (7-0).
But with one more crucial game on the horizon, Jacobs isn't getting caught up in his historic feat. Per the Winnipeg Sun's Paul Friesen, Jacobs said, "I guess if we just made history, yeah, sure. But the only game that matters now is Sunday's game, so that's what we're looking forward to right now."
Team Jacbos now awaits the winner of Saturday's semifinal between Kevin Martin and John Morris to determine who they will face with a spot in Sochi on the line.
Over on the women's side, we will know Canada's representative a day earlier, as Jennifer Jones is set to take on the winner of Rachel Homan and Sherry Middaugh (who play Friday night) in Saturday's final.
Let's take a closer look at the crucial curling that awaits us.
Men's Semifinal: Kevin Martin vs. John Morris
Date: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013
Time: 1:30 p.m. CST, 2:30 p.m. ET
The Old Bear is going to have to teach his young cub a lesson for the second day in a row.
On Friday, Kevin Martin, who won an Olympic gold medal along with John Morris as his third in Vancouver in 2010, edged his former teammate, 7-6, in a thrilling game that went into extras.
On Saturday, the two will meet once again in a rematch in order to keep their Olympic hopes alive. You just can't make stuff like this up.
In addition to its win on Friday, Team Martin looked stronger throughout round-robin play, going 6-1 while Team Morris went just 4-3. But all bets will be off in what should be an absolutely scintillating must-win matchup.
Women's Final: Jennifer Jones vs. Rachel Homan/Sherry Middaugh
Date: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013
Time: 6:30 p.m. CST, 7:30 p.m. ET
Team Jennifer Jones rolled through round-robin play, going 6-1 and winning its last four games in order to grab the top spot. Jones, a four-time Canadian champion who won gold at the 2008 World Championships in Vernon but has yet to qualify for the Olympics, now waits to see who she will face.
During round-robin play, the 39-year-old beat Rachel Homan, 7-6, and Sherry Middaugh, 9-7. She also matched up with Homan at this year's Scotties Tournament of Hearts final, losing, 9-6, to the 24-year-old Ontario native.
Will we get yet another rematch between those two, or will Middaugh crash the party? Either way, it will be a nail-biting final with a spot in the Olympics on the line.
Canada Olympic Trials 2014: Ron Burgundy Steals Show at Curling Qualifiers
Dec 2, 2013
Ron Burgundy, the hilarious Anchorman protagonist played by Will Ferrell, teamed up with TSN to host the opening day of Canada’s Olympic curling trials on Sunday, Dec. 1.
James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail expressed his gratitude for Burgundy's interest in curling, likely echoing the sentiments of many:
As is the case whenever Ferrell puts on the Ron Burgundy act, he never once broke from character. Keeping a stone-cold face throughout his act, he delivered news with the utmost professionalism, as would be expected from an esteemed anchor such as himself.
However, it should be noted that Burgundy might not be given telestrator privileges in the future:
In an effort to promote Anchorman 2, Ferrell has been making the rounds, stopping at several major sporting events along the way. He even did an actual news appearance for KXMB in Bismarck, N.D.—a full 30-minute broadcast.
Teaming up with TSN to create buzz for both parties is an absolutely brilliant strategy, and it's clear they put in a lot of time and effort to make the most out of the opportunity.
Any time Burgundy is involved in a media presentation, it's a big deal. Fans simply can't get enough of his schtick.
While the legendary Burgundy is sure to move on to other endeavors, Canada's top curling teams will continue competing throughout the week until Sunday, Dec. 8. The winners on the men's and women's side will represent the nation in Sochi next year when the 2014 Winter Games commence.
Roar of the Rings 2013: Previewing Top Draws in Canadian Curling Tournament
Dec 2, 2013
Canada's premier curling stars will square off in Winnipeg to determine who represents the nation during the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Some may know the Roar of the Rings as that curling tournament where Will Ferrell will provide color commentary as Ron Burgundy. That's an extraordinary testament deserving of our celebration, but this event hosts more than a man with incredible hair and a thick mustache.
This isn't just a matter of bragging rights throughout Canada. The winner gets an express path to Olympic glory. Canada wins a medal in curling every time. To put it in clearer terms that Brian Fantana can understand, both the men's and women's squads have placed in the top three every year since the sport was reintroduced to the Winter Games in 1998.
So yeah, this is kind of a big deal.
Starting Monday, Dec. 1, eight male and eight female teams will hash it out to determine Canada's Olympic representatives. While Brick Tamland won't kill anyone with a trident, the stakes are enormous during the week of round-robin play.
I'd like to extend to you an invitation to the Roar of the Rings party, which is even better than Brick's pants party.
*A full list of the draws can be viewed on the Roar of the Rings' official site.
Tuesday: Team Brad Jacobs vs. Team Glenn Howard
Great Odin's raven! It won't take much time for the excitement to ensue in Winnipeg.
One of the favorites heading into the tournament, four-time world champion Glenn Howard is looking to add one more first-place finish to his tally. According to the Winnipeg Sun's Paul Friesen, this will be the 51-year-old skip's last opportunity to qualify for the Olympics before he calls it quits.
"It's probably my last year of Trials," Howard said before Sunday's opening draw. "Whether it's my last year of curling, probably not."
Howard's team fell just short last time, losing to Team Kevin Martin in the finals four years ago. In his early tournament experience this year, his team faces a surging Brad Jacobs squad.
Last year, Jacobs' unit surprisingly won the Brier in March. While Jacobs still almost missed the cut, he topped 2006 Olympic gold medalist Brad Gushue in trials to break the final eight.
This early bout will provide a true test for each team looking to climb back into the spotlight.
Wednesday: Team Jennifer Jones vs. Team Rachel Homan
Like Burgundy's apartment, Wednesday's matchup between Team Jennifer Jones and Team Rachel Homan smells of rich mahogany.
While the men's bracket is anyone's guess, Jones and Homan lead the two factions expected to compete for top billing in the Olympics.
Amid a group of veterans close to leaving the rink resides Homan, a 24-year-old poised to dominate the curling scene for years to come. She emerged during the 2013 Scotties, where her team defeated Jones' unit in the finals.
Also victors in the Ontario Championships, this is an extremely talented unit led by one of the sharpest skips in the game.
But Jones would likely have something to say about that. While she is one of the most prominent figures on the women's side, her team faltered during the 2009 trials, leaving much on the line for the 39-year-old's brigade this time around.
This draw won't matter as much as a later bout that will likely occur with much more hanging in the balance, but it will at least provide an entertaining prelude that Burgundy will love more than scotch.
Friday: Team John Morris vs. Team Kevin Martin
In 2010, teammates John Morris and Kevin Martin swept through Vancouver to claim the gold for the home country. Now, they're clashing for the right to defend that sweet throne.
Talk about a glass case of emotion for these newly minted rivals.
After seven years of serving as the team's third, Morris decided to depart for a different unit. Here is what he said during his announcement (via the Canadian Curling Association's Allen Cameron):
“Unfortunately we have had a challenging past few seasons and have not lived up to our expectations of being the best curling team in the world,” said Morris. “As much as we’ve all tried very hard to find a way to fight back and get better, in the end it was obvious that we needed a change. Myself and Kevin were no longer thriving in our back-end role like we did in our 2010 Olympic gold-medal run.
This match could bear significant implications leading up to Saturday's semifinal showdowns, but the tension between two former championship cohorts will create intriguing drama either way.
While no longer together, Morris and Martin figure to play prominently in deciphering which team will vie for the gold in Sochi.
US Olympic Trials 2013 Curling: Likeliest Teams to Get to Sochi
Nov 12, 2013
It is still yet to be determined if the United States will send any curling teams to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, but the domestic trials are underway.
This gives an early look at what teams from the USA are likeliest to advance from the initial stages this week at the Scheels Arena in Fargo, N.D. From there, a trip to Fussen, Germany, looms, where it will be determined if an American team can grab at least one of the final two Olympic slots available.
Now is the time for the USA to be optimistic, though, so let's take a look at those who should emerge from this stage and at least advance to Fussen in their bids for the Winter Games.
Note: Results and information are courtesy of CurlingZone.com, via TeamUSA.org, unless otherwise indicated.
Men's: Team Shuster
John Shuster serves as the skip for this team and possesses invaluable experience as a bronze medalist in the 2006 Games in Turin.
Thus far, Shuster's team, which consists of vice skip Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner, has compiled a record of 4-1 in the trials thus far.
Zezel and Landsteiner are younger, but they were paired together at the U.S. National Championships and received bronze in each of the past two years. They will be counted on in more complementary roles in this setting, which should suit them well.
Isaacson emerged as a champion in the 2010 Olympic trials but was part of a team that placed 10th in the Olympics in Vancouver, along with Shuster.
This quartet seems to be meshing together the best amongst the men so far, and with Shuster's pedigree, his past experience with Isaacson and the combination of fresh talent, hope is on the horizon for the USA.
Women's: Team Brown
On either side, skip Erika Brown's bunch likely has the best chance to shine and make the podium in Sochi.
Brown is a seasoned veteran at age 40, first competing in the Calgary Olympics in 1988. She has also won gold medals at U.S. National Championships in each of the past three decades.
However, her team experienced a setback in the double round-robin tournament, losing to the formidable team led by Allison Pottinger by a score of 9-8.
As Nick Zaccardi of NBCSports.com points out, the top two teams will face each other in a best-of-three format to determine the trials winner beginning on Friday.
Thus, there is still time for Brown and Co. to get on track. Debbie McCormick, Team Brown's third, skipped the 2010 Olympic team in Vancouver, which finished just 2-7 and in last place.
Now that Brown is back, McCormick can put that setback behind her and play her part in what has been called, per Zaccardi, USA curling's "All-Star team" along with second Jessica Schultz and first Ann Swisshelm.
US Olympic Trials Curling Schedule 2013-14: Event Info for Men and Women's Teams
Donald Wood
Nov 11, 2013
The road to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia is officially underway for the men and women's United States curling teams as they try to qualify for the games at the Olympic Trials.
There are high stakes at this event in Scheels Arena, Fargo, North Dakota, with one women’s Olympic berth at stake and a potential men’s qualification as well. The women have already received an automatic bid, and the winning team will be the U.S. representative at the Sochi Games.
The winning men’s team will enter the Olympic qualification event in Füssen, Germany from Dec. 11-15 with the hopes of winning that event and being awarded the chance to represent America.
With so much riding on these trials, it is time for hardcore curling fans and supporters of anything Team USA to stand together once again.
In one of the most exciting formats in sports, the five competing men’s teams and four competing women’s teams will participate in a fierce round-robin battle this week that culminates with the elimination rounds beginning on Friday.
The women’s side of the bracket is straight forward and hard-hitting. With four teams battling each other for the chance to wear the red, white and blue, these women will become familiar with each other over the course of the tournament and the potential animosity should breed serious competition.
While the winning women’s team qualifies for the 2014 Olympics, the men’s side is much more complicated.
Five men’s team were deemed eligible for the trials this year, and the congested field—typically only four squads make it this far—will result in one of the fiercest battles the sport has ever seen.
The men’s team won bronze in the 2006 Winter Olympics and holds the performance of the group at a high level.
A chance to compete in the Winter Olympics is an opportunity that comes once every four years, but for many players, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
With both the men's and women's teams leaving every ounce of energy on the ice in North Dakota, this will be a true test of the human will.
