VICTORIA — Consider the Co-op Invitational an "RTO mandate" for Team Brad Jacobs.
Most teams, particularly those that retooled their rosters, hit the road early and often to begin the new quad. That wasn't the case for the reigning Olympic men’s champions, who have stuck together and eased their way back onto the ice, waiting until the season's first Grand Slam of Curling event to make their fall tour debut.
They've barely missed a beat.
Jacobs and his Calgary-based crew picked up a 6-3 victory over Scotland’s Team Orrin Carson in their return to the office Tuesday night at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
"It feels great," Jacobs said. "We've been off the ice for six months and stepping out on the ice with the guys in that first game felt like we didn't really go anywhere from last season, so that's a good sign."
Jacobs is flanked by third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert. The skip from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, said it was awesome to have an extended summer break after a long season that also saw them earn bronze at the Brier almost immediately after winning Olympic gold in Milano Cortina.
"We needed that," said Jacobs, who captained Shield Curling Club to the inaugural Rock League championship in April as well. "We went through an awful lot last season — some lows, a lot of highs — and when it was all said and done, I think going home and being with friends and family and celebrating a great season was exactly what we needed, and we certainly did that.
"Taking that little bit of extra time, I think it was well-deserved and exactly what the team needed."
Opting to stay together for the season was pretty easy, according to Jacobs. You could say that it was already somewhat written in stone.
"We had decided before the season started that if we did something really special, like win an Olympic medal or win the Brier, all of us were in agreement that sticking together was going to be a great option," he said. "We went and won Olympic gold, so it made the decision pretty easy.
"I know we're not spring chickens anymore. We're the old guys out here, but as long as we can stay in good shape and as long as we're enjoying playing with one another, then that's really all that matters. Coming out and trying to continue to grow and improve, and come out with lots of energy, can sometimes be a challenge for the old guys, but I think it's important that we make sure we have really clear, concise goals and objectives with what we want to accomplish. That makes our mindset a lot easier.”
Hardie wins, Mouat loses first GSOC games with new lineups
Scotland’s Grant Hardie already has more wins in the Grand Slam of Curling with his new team than he had during his previous run as a skip in the series.
Mind you, it was a low bar to clear, as Hardie went 0-4 in his debut back at the 2017 Champions Cup.
Hardie linked up with Bruce Mouat at third the following season, playing with his cousin Hammy McMillan Jr. at lead and Bobby Lammie at second. They won two Olympic silver medals, two world championships and 12 Grand Slams during a memorable nine-year run.
Hardie was looking for a new challenge to stay motivated and moved on during the off-season, joining Ross Whyte at third and handling skip duties.
Finally, Hardie won his first game in the Grand Slams as a skip during Tuesday's late afternoon draw, upending Calgary’s Team Kevin Koe 9-4.
"It's good. Just learning as quickly as we can, figuring out the ice," Hardie said. "It's all new to me, new to the guys as well. I thought we were pretty patient in that game. We got a couple of breaks kind of through the middle of the game and closed out with a good shot in the seventh."
Vintage Koe was on display early in the match, as the 51-year-old skip pulled off a classic cross-house double to score a deuce in the third end to take a 3-2 lead.
Hardie regrouped to get two right back in the fourth and stole a point in the fifth to make it 5-3 when Koe jammed his last.
After Koe was forced to a single in six, Whyte put the game out of reach with a runback to score four.
It's still early days, but the dynamic appears to be working well with Hardie, Whyte, second Craig Waddell and lead Euan Kyle. They were runners-up to start the season at the Euro Super Series on home ice in August and captured the Shorty Jenkins Classic title last month in Cornwall, Ontario.
"It's great. Again, just learning each other, learning how you throw it, learning your tendencies," Hardie said. "We had a couple of testing games at the Shorty there, which was good just to see how we all react in those situations, playing a final, getting under that kind of pressure. It's learning how each other handles those situations.
"I've seen those guys a long, long time, seen how they play. I know they can make all the shots. It's just me trying to help them make those shots as well."
From foes to friends, Hardie is also bonding off the ice and on the golf course with his new teammates.
"We played up at Bear Mountain. Myself and Euan took the money, which was nice," Hardie said. "Maybe it wasn't good for Ross's confidence before this week, but it was great fun. Lovely course."
With Hardie leaving Mouat to join Whyte, Robin Brydone headed in the opposite direction.
Hardie just so happened to be in the stands during Mouat's opening game of the Co-op Invitational — a 6-4 loss to Switzerland’s Team Marco Hösli — as Grandma McMillan made the trip to cheer them on.
“That was a weird one this morning because I had to bring her in to watch Team Mouat, so the two of us sat there and watched Team Mouat, but it's amazing that she's come out here," Hardie said. "My brother actually flew up. He lives in Los Angeles. He flew up and saw us in Vancouver for a couple of days, which was nice. It was good for her to see him as well, then she'll support myself and Hammy this week."
While the loss was disappointing for Mouat, it was all smiles for Hösli.
"It's great, especially the first game of the season on the arena ice for us," Hösli said. "Grand Slam of Curling is always nice and even better when you can start with a win against such a great team. It was just fun being out there and playing good curling."
Hösli was the 16th and final men’s team to enter the event, qualifying through the last Satellite event by winning the Prestige Hotels and Resorts Curling Classic earlier this month in Vernon, B.C.
"We were happy that we qualified, even though we felt like we might have also qualified through the ranking, but we had to work for it, and we earned it," Hösli said. "Happy to be here now."
Bottcher tops Eriksson in return to skip
It's funny how the draw works out sometimes, as Brendan Bottcher and Oskar Eriksson faced off in the first Grand Slam game for both players since returning to their skip roots.
Oddly enough, both also made their series debuts as skips back at the 2013 Canadian Open.
Bottcher spent the past two years throwing second for Brad Gushue, while Eriksson served as the longtime third for Niklas Edin. With the two legendary skips stepping back from the tour at the conclusion of the quad, Bottcher and Eriksson are back in command.
Score one for Bottcher, who counted deuces in the second and sixth ends and prevailed with a 6-4 victory Tuesday morning.
Bottcher retained lead Geoff Walker from Team Gushue and recruited brothers Jake and Tanner Horgan to throw third and second, respectively, for his Edmonton-based club. They played four events before the Co-op Invitational and reached the semifinals in all four.
"It feels great," Bottcher said. "We played quite a bit already this year — new team just trying to gel and figure it out — and I've been pleasantly surprised.
"It's just been a lot of fun. We're having some success here early, so obviously good to start the season with a couple of wins, but also nice to start this week with a win and hopefully get the momentum going in the right direction."
Bottcher, who has won five Grand Slams as a skip, said it’s been a blast being back at the helm.
“I really enjoyed and appreciated the couple of years I had with Brad and the guys, but now it feels like I'm kind of back home in a number of different ways,” he said. "It's been a lot of fun."
