Brad Jacobs is seeking his fifth Northern Ontario men’s curling crown in six years.
Al Hacker is trying to win his first provincial title – and 10th overall – since 2001.
Both curlers got off to strong starts Wednesday as the 2015 championship kicked off in Kenora. Both skips won twice to sit 2-0 atop the standings.
Jacobs, who skipped last year’s event to win gold at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, defeated fellow Sault Ste. Marie skip Chris Glibota 6-1 in his opening match and downed Thunder Bay’s Jeff Currie 7-4 in the evening draw.
It was Hackner’s turn at Glibota in Round 2 and he scored two in the 10th to secure a 7-4 triumph.
Earlier in the day Hackner and teammates Gary Champagne, Kris Leupen and Frank Morissette started their title hunt at the expense of Currie, the 2014 Northern Ontario champion, beating him 6-4.
Thunder Bay’s Bryan Burgess began his week splitting a pair of matches, falling 7-2 to Dylan Johnston, rebounding to edge another Thunder Bay squad, led by Ben Mikkelson, 9-5. Mikkelson was nipped 6-5 by former champion Mike Jakubo in the morning draw.
Johnston joined Hackner and Jacobs at 2-0, stealing one in the 10th to knock off Jakubo 4-3.
Standings
Brad Jacobs 2-0
Dylan Johnston 2-0
Al Hackner 2-0
Mike Jakubo 1-1
Bryan Burgess 1-1
Jeff Currie 0-2
Ben Mikkelsen 0-2
Chris Glibota 0-2
