Team Carruthers a third of the way there

Opinion

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This article was published 27/12/2022 (727 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Reid Carruthers can’t kick his feet up just yet.

A week after announcing third Jason Gunnlaugson and the team mutually agreed to part ways, Carruthers made a big announcement on Boxing Day that Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs will be taking over at third for the remaining Grand Slam of Curling events on the schedule.

It’s a major coup as Jacobs, who decided to step back from men’s curling after the 2022 campaign, is a 2013 Brier and 2014 Olympic champion at skip, but the move won’t help Carruthers at Manitoba provincials and, if they qualify, the Brier. Jacobs recently agreed to skip Jordan Chandler’s rink at the Northern Ontario provincials, therefore making him ineligible to play the Manitoba event or the Brier with Team Carruthers.

Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski, and lead Connor Njegovan will have to find someone else to join them at those events or settle for playing as a three-man unit.

Carruthers is still weighing his options.

“As I’ve read the rules, anyone who’s played in a provincial playdown representing another province couldn’t be added to our team (for provincials or Brier). I’ll have to get a for sure answer on that, but that’s the assumption I’m under based off what I’ve read,” Carruthers told the Free Press on Wednesday.

“It’s tough because our team definitely didn’t want to steal from another team. A lot of the curlers that are currently playing now, they’re on teams that will likely be or have already qualified for the Manitoba provincials. So, for us, it was a thought process of OK, we don’t want to try to take from another team, so it made the most sense to fill in with the best player not currently playing on a men’s roster and Brad was very high on that list.”

Kerri Einarson, who’s coached by Carruthers and plays mixed doubles with Jacobs, should be credited with the assist for getting the two accomplished skips together. Jacobs hasn’t entirely stepped away from the sport as he’s played four mixed doubles events — two with Einarson and another two with Rachel Homan — this season. Jacobs, 37, was content with not playing on the men’s tour, but when the idea was presented to him, he wanted in.

“I was very empathetic to the whole situation. You never want to hear that a team is dismantling this early. It was a really unfortunate situation for those guys and like I told Reid, I said ‘I’m really sorry that you have to call me,’” Jacobs said.

“But having said all that, I’ve known Reid a really long time, even Connor and Derek, I’ve played those guys a lot. Reid and I are close to the same age and Reid’s always been probably one of everyone’s favourite guys on tour. So, I thought why not get back out there and play a few slams with some really great guys?”

The Co-op Canadian Open, Jan. 10-15 in Camrose, Alta., will be the first event for the new-look group. If Carruthers, ranked No. 11, can hold onto their top 12 spot on the year-to-date world rankings, they’ll also play the Princess Auto Players’ Championship in Toronto (April 11-16). The Grand Slam season ends in Regina with the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup (May 2-7).

Jacobs, a Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., product, is a seven-time Grand Slam champion.

“He’s incredibly talented. He’s very driven. As a curler, you always get fired up to play against the guy because you know that he’s one of those 90-plus guys every single time he steps onto the ice,” Carruthers said.

“I’ve been friends with the guy for a long time. We’ve had lots of battles, but it’ll be nice to have him on my side this time around.”

As for next season, Jacobs isn’t ready to commit to anything just yet.

“At this point, I’d be very much content playing over the next four or five months and then sitting back again. And that’s the truth. I haven’t spoke to anyone about future plans or anything and I’m good with that,” said Jacobs.

“I am looking forward to helping out some great teams, some great guys, just going out and keeping it light, staying loose, having fun, and if I can bring any value to Reid’s team or (Team Chandler) in terms of just being a great friend, teammate, curling athlete, and hopefully make some shots, if I can bring value in those areas then I’ll call that a win.”

Manitoba Open

After a two-year hiatus, the world’s largest bonspiel is back.

The Manitoba Open hasn’t taken place since 2020, thanks to the pandemic, but will return next month (Jan. 12-16 for the bonspiel and Jan. 13-15 for the halfspiel) at curling clubs across the city. Registration deadline is Dec. 30.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31