The Canadian Olympic Curling Trials have entered an exciting phase in Halifax as teams compete for a spot in the Winter Olympics. The opening weekend featured challenging matches and impressive performances from several teams.
Team Dunstone Shines with Two Victories
Team Dunstone, led by brothers E.J. and Ryan Harnden, has made a strong start. They improved their record to 2-0 after defeating Jordon McDonald’s Winnipeg team 8-4 on Sunday. The victory was marked by a crucial three-point score in the ninth end, followed by a final steal that sealed the win.
Match Against Epping
- Opposition: John Epping’s Sudbury-based team
- Date: Saturday
- Score: 6-3
- Key Moment: Dunstone scored two in the ninth end, then stole one in the last end.
Colton Lott from Dunstone emphasized their strategy, stating, “We just stuck with it… just kept capitalizing and putting pressure on them.”
Brad Jacobs Battles Back
On the other hand, Team Jacobs, skipped by Brad Jacobs from Sault Ste. Marie, faced challenges. They began the tournament with a narrow 6-5 loss to Kevin Koe’s Calgary team on Saturday. The match saw back-and-forth scoring, but Jacobs lost his chance to recover after blanking the ninth end.
Resilient Performance Against Kleiter
- Opponent: Rylan Kleiter’s Saskatoon team
- Date: Sunday
- Final Score: 5-4 (after extra end)
Jacobs described the match as a tough competition, acknowledging that the previous loss was on him. “Sometimes those types of losses can be the best thing for you,” he remarked.
Upcoming Matches
Looking ahead, both teams are preparing for a busy Monday. Team Jacobs will take on Mike McEwen in the morning and face McDonald later in the day. Meanwhile, Team Dunstone will compete against Kleiter and then play Brad Gushue.
Playoff Scenarios
The round-robin stage continues until Wednesday. The top three teams from both men’s and women’s divisions will progress to the playoffs. The leading teams will go directly to the best-of-three final, while second- and third-place teams will compete in the semifinals on Thursday.
The drama of the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials continues to unfold, promising memorable moments as teams vie for Olympic glory.
