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North Bay Nugget: Friday, February 12, 2016 9:15:52 EST PM
The top two teams after five draws at the 2016 Travelers Northern Ontario Men’s Curling Championship clashed tonight at the North Bay Granite Club.
Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie rink from the Community First Curling Centre and Team Colin Koivula representing the Port Aurthur Curling Club put their 4-1 records on the line at 6:30 p.m.
As it turned out, Jacobs, Canadian Olympic gold medalists, pounded Koivula 9-2 to be the leader of the pack heading into the final round robin game Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
Another top match tonight will saw Jordan Chandler of Sudbury taking on Mike Assad of Geraldton, both with 3-2 records after the fifth draw earlier today.
Chandler came out on top with a 5-3 score, improving to 4-2 and tieing Koivula’s record so far.
Mattawa’s Team Patrick Gelinas (1-4) played Team Tanner Horgan (2-4), national junior silver medalists from Copper Cliff, with Team Dylan Johnston of Fort William (2-3) taking on Sudbury’s Team Robbie Gordon (1-4).
The local Voyageur club rink lost 9-2, falling to 1-5 while Horgan improved to 3-3.
Gordon’s rink got its first win earlier today with a 9-6 decision over Horgan on the strength a seven rock rally from a 6-2 deficit beginning in the seventh end.
And the elder Nickel Belt curlers came out on top, beating the Thunder Bay area rink 8-2 to match their record of 2-4.
Scores from the other fifth draw battles held at 11 a.m. today:
Jacobs 8, Chandler 3; Koivula 8, Assad 6 (a four-rock score in the eighth end did the trick); and Johnston 9, Gelina 3.
Single event ticket sales along the ice are still available. Call the Granite Club first, though, due to limitations, 705-472-6740 and dress warm.
On tap for Saturday morning, Koivula plays Chandler, Jacobs takes on Assad, Horgan plays Johnston and Gelinas takes on Gordon.
Tie-breakers, if necessary, are set for 2:30 p.m. and semis at 7:30 p.m. The final is 2 p.m. Sunday.