Team Carruthers shakes things up

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This article was published 11/12/2023 (909 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Team Reid Carruthers might be changing its name soon.

The Winnipeg-based foursome announced over the weekend Carruthers is handing off the skipping duties to third Brad Jacobs at this week’s Grand Slam of Curling’s Masters event in Saskatoon.

If the position swap shows encouraging signs, the team will move forward with Jacobs as their full time skip and Carruthers at third.

“We’re trying to spark the offence. We’ve had an up and down season. There’s been some highs, and obviously, some lows,” said Carruthers, a 38-year-old Winnipegger.

“There’s not a lot that separates the top teams in the world from the teams that are at that next level. So, for us, we’re just trying to make some more curling shots and win more games.”

It shouldn’t be a major adjustment for either party. Carruthers is no stranger to moving to third as he made the same switch with former teammate Mike McEwen. As for Jacobs, a 38-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, his resume when throwing the final stones is up there with the best in the game. He skipped Northern Ontario to five podium finishes at the Brier, including a gold medal in 2013. Jacobs also captured gold for Canada at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

He’s in his first year curling out of Manitoba as he signed on to join Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski, and lead Connor Njegovan in the off-season after sparing with them on a few occasions last season following the departure of Jason Gunnlaugson.

They got off to a hot start this year by defending their PointsBet Invitational title in September. Since then, they’ve failed to get past the quarterfinals in any event.

Jacobs, who took a step back from the sport last season, had never played third before partnering with Carruthers and Co.

“I have a whole new respect for sweeping and the third position. I think that the growth that I had to go through, and the support that I’ve had from Con, Derek, and Reid at that position has been a fantastic experience,” Jacobs said.

“I think that it’s actually made me a better player.”

The team came to a mutual decision that making a change could benefit everyone.

“What I really love about our team is the open and honest communication. One of the sayings that we go by on this team is, ‘Your ego is not your amigo,’” said Jacobs.

“We’ve had 10 events as a team and it’s really not a whole lot in the grand scheme of things when we’re thinking long term… Whatever is best for the team is what we’re looking to do.”

They’re currently No. 7 in the Canadian Team Ranking System but are unlikely to get enough points by season’s end to earn a wild-card berth to the Montana’s Brier in March in Regina. To qualify for nationals, they’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way by winning Manitoba provincials in February in Stonewall. Last year’s winner Matt Dunstone won’t be in Stonewall as he pre-qualified for the Brier.

“When they announced there was only going to be one wild-card spot, you’re talking about you’d have to be a top three ranked team to almost guarantee yourself to go as a wild-card team. So, going into this season, I fully expected that we were going to have to win our provincials,” said Carruthers.

“I knew that there was a decent chcance if we had a really good year we could maybe fall back on a wild-card, but you never really want to have that mindset that you’re going to have that second chance.”

Jacobs will have to be on his A-game in his skip debut as they play the late morning draw (11:30 a.m.) at the Masters today against world No. 1 Joel Retornaz of Italy. It won’t get any easier after that as their pool also features three powerhouses from Scotland in Bruce Mouat, James Craik, and Cameron Bryce.

The Masters features the top 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams in the world. Both events are split into four pools of four. The top eight teams overall qualify for Saturday’s playoffs and the finals take place Sunday.

“I’m sure I’ll be a little bit nervous. I’ll want to be as great as I can at the position for the team and we’ll see what happens,” said Jacobs.

“I think one of the beautiful things about doing what we do is not knowing what’s going to happen and just going out there, trying to be present, be world class, and hopefully things work out in your favour.”

Canadian senior nationals

The 2023 Everest Canadian Senior Curling Championship wrapped up this past weekend in Vernon, B.C.

On the men’s side, Petersfield’s Dave Boehmer skipped Manitoba to bronze with an 8-5 victory over New Brunswick. Boehmer fell 7-1 to Saskatchewan’s Bruce Korte in the semis.

In women’s action, Charleswood’s Joelle Brown and her Manitoba teammates missed out on the playoffs after going 5-5.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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