Hackner wins again at Northern Ontario championship

Al Hackner may be 28 years removed from his most recent world championship win, but he’s still a force to be reckoned with in curling circles. 

On Thursday, playing in his hometown of Nipigon, Hackner knocked off unbeaten Trevor Bonot in the afternoon draw at the Northern Ontario men’s curling championship, stealing two in nine to secure the 7-3 win.

Both rinks are 2-1, and trail front-running Brad Jacobs (3-0) of Sault Ste. Marie, the lone unbeaten rink left in the nine-team competition.

Thunder Bay’s Bryan Burgess (2-2) also mustered up a win Thursday afternoon, taking out North Bay’s Jordan Chandler 8-5. Jeff Currie (2-2) wasn’t as fortunate, falling 7-5 to Sudbury’s Robbie Gordon (2-2).

In the fourth match it was New Liskeard’s Matt Dumontelle evening his record at 2-2, downing Copper Cliff’s Mike Jakubo (1-3) 11-7.

Hackner duels Chandler in Draw 5, which also sees Gordon taking on Bonot, Jacobs tangling with Dumontelle and Burgess and Currie meeting in an all-Thunder Bay match.