It took an extra end, but Canada’s Team Brad Jacobs started his 2026 Olympics campaign the way it ended for him in 2014 — with a win. It had been 12 years since Jacobs last represented Canada on the Olympic stage, where he won gold.
The Canadians came away with a 7-6 victory over Germany’s Team Marc Muskatewitz in an extra end during the opening draw of the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Germany started with the hammer and blanked the first ends, before grabbing their deuce in the third end to open the scoring.
Canada responded right away, scoring two of their own in the fourth.
Poor rock placement by Muskatewitz with his first stone in the fifth end left a double takeout for Jacobs. He made the shot with ease, leaving Canada sitting two in the top eight and four-foot buried. Muskatewitz only had a draw available for one but was heavy and gave a steal of two up.
Canada, without hammer in the 10th end and up 6-4, left Muskatewitz a risky shot to win the game with his final shot. Muskatewitz missed, and almost rolled his shooter so far, he lost the game, but a lucky roll back got the Germans the two points they needed to tie and force an extra end.
In the extra, Marc Kennedy’s final shot jammed, leaving the Canadians in a heap of trouble, but Jacobs made two great shots to earn the victory.
Canada’s last Olympic gold medal for both the men’s and women’s came back in 2014 when Jacobs and Jennifer Jones wore the Maple Leaf.
Olympic curling action continues tomorrow with the women’s discipline starting at 3:05 a.m. ET / 12:05 a.m. PT where Canada will take on Denmark. Jacobs’ team will have the day off before playing against the U.S. and Sweden on Friday.
Each team will play nine round-robin games and the top four teams will advance to semifinals.