Team Jacobs Overcomes Controversy to Secure Olympic Curling Gold Medal Berth
After a week dominated by Olympic curling controversy, Canada's Team Brad Jacobs has booked their ticket to the gold-medal game with a dramatic 5-4 victory over Norway's Magnus Ramsfjell in extra ends during a tense semifinal at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
A Semifinal Defined by Intensity and Precision
The match, played on Thursday in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, saw Canada's veteran squad advance to Saturday's championship showdown against Great Britain's top-ranked Bruce Mouat. This victory came despite the team finding itself at the center of a media firestorm earlier in the tournament when third Marc Kennedy swore at a Swedish player who accused him of double-touching stones.
Team Jacobs maintained remarkable focus throughout the competition, losing only two games on their way to a second-place finish in the group stage. Their shot success rate of just over 86 percent ranks second in the Olympic tournament, trailing only Switzerland.
The Path to Victory in a Nail-Biting Contest
Thursday's game featured tight, low-event curling against a calm Norwegian team that alternated between spectacular shots and significant misses. Canada began with the hammer after securing last-stone advantage in their previous game, but the contest remained exceptionally close throughout.
The critical difference emerged in the third end when Norway hit a guard with the hammer and gave up a steal. The game progressed with both teams exchanging strategic blows:
- Norway drew for one in the fourth end
- Canada blanked in the fifth and were held to a single in the sixth
- Norway shot a blank in the seventh to keep the hammer
- Norway scored one in the eighth to make it 3-2
With their last hammer in the ninth end, Canada were held to just one after Ramsfjell expertly steered his final stone to the button. Norway then scored two in the tenth to force extra ends.
The Deciding Moment in Extra Ends
In the eleventh end, with his first stone, Jacobs parked a draw against a Canadian stone on the button. Norway's last stone misfired, eliminating any need for Canada to use their hammer and securing the 5-4 victory.
Overcoming Adversity and Controversy
The oldest team in the Olympic bonspiel, Team Jacobs consists entirely of previous Olympic medal winners, with second Brett Gallant being the only member who hasn't won gold. Their experience proved invaluable as they navigated both on-ice challenges and off-ice distractions.
Kennedy's name was met with a smattering of boos at the start of Thursday's match, which was punctuated by bagpipes as Great Britain defeated Switzerland 8-5 two rinks over. Despite this reception, the team maintained their composure and competitive edge.
Strategic Decisions and Tournament Performance
In their morning match against Norway, Team Jacobs rested lead Ben Hebert and gave alternate Tyler Tardi his second opportunity to play in the Olympics. The Canadians ultimately lost 8-6, marking just their second loss of the bonspiel after Switzerland.
Canada had already secured second place in the standings and the hammer advantage for the semifinals. Kennedy firmly dismissed suggestions that the team took their foot off the gas to secure a more favorable playoff position.
"Did you watch the game? It was a good game," Kennedy stated after the match. "Brad missed a couple of shots and I don't know if Magnus missed one. So no, not the case at all. We played hard."
Now, with controversy behind them and a hard-fought semifinal victory secured, Team Jacobs prepares for their ultimate challenge: competing for Olympic gold against Great Britain's formidable Bruce Mouat squad on Saturday.
