The last time Northern Ontario made the playoff round at the Tim Hortons Brier Curling Championship, Algoma University and Ontario Colleges Athletic Association alum Brad Jacobs was seven years old and had never shaken the chaff from a corn broom.



But, Jacobs and his outfit from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., put some swagger back into the Shield. Jacobs' young, with no one over 26 years old, Northern Ontario outfit knocked off Newfoundland and Labrador 8-4 at the Halifax Metro Centre — improving its record to an impressive 8-2 and clinching the region's first playoff berth at the Canadian men's curling championship since 1993.


"I'm ecstatic right now. It's been so long since Northern Ontario made the playoffs," said Jacobs, who at 24 is the youngest skip at this Brier. "I know everyone back home is absolutely thrilled. We're thrilled. We've got one more (round-robin) game here (against Quebec on Thursday afternoon) and we definitely want to finish strong, go out there and put on a nice performance.



"I guess we're not that much of an underdog anymore, right?" asked Jacobs, whose Soo Curlers Association quartet includes third E.J. Harnden, second Ryan Harnden, and lead Caleb Flaxey. "We've played really well, and our percentages show that. We've definitely upset a couple of teams here, for sure. We're thrilled for sure.



"To be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, like I said . . . it's been such a long time, and I know my uncle Al (Harnden) and uncle Eric (Harnden, who've represented Northern Ontario at past Briers), they're just so happy for us right now."


Brad Jacobs was recently the guest speaker at the OCAA Curling Championships in Sault St. Marie, following his victory at the Northern Ontario Playdowns in Sudbury. Jacobs was crowned an OCAA Champion in Men's Curling going a perfect 7-0 at the championship in 2003-04 to give Algoma its first curling title.

To follow Brad Jacobs route to the Tim Hortons Brier Championship, click here to visit the host site.

(With files courtesy of Todd Kimberley, Tankard Times Associate Editor)