Experience Prevails: Team Jacobs Secures Second Straight Olympic Curling Victory
Cortina, Italy – February 13, 2026 – In a display of seasoned skill and strategic brilliance, Brad Jacobs and his veteran Team Canada squad have notched their second consecutive victory at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The experienced Canadian team, the oldest in the men's curling competition, outplayed a youthful Team USA, securing a hard-fought 6-3 win on Friday the 13th.
Veteran Prowess Shines Against Emerging Talent
The matchup between Team Canada, led by the formidable Brad Jacobs, and the up-and-coming Team USA, captained by Daniel Casper, was a testament to the enduring power of experience in high-stakes competition. While the American squad, comprised of Olympic rookies ranging from 24 to 28 years old, displayed impressive sharpness in the early stages, it was the collective wisdom and clutch shot-making of the Canadian veterans that ultimately dictated the game's outcome.
Team Canada, featuring Jacobs, 40, alongside third Marc Kennedy (44), second Brett Gallant (35), and lead Ben Hebert (42), each possessing at least one Olympic medal, demonstrated why age and experience can be significant assets on the Olympic stage. In contrast, the U.S. team's Olympic debutants found their shot-making falter as the game progressed and the pressure intensified.
Key Moments and Strategic Masterclass
The game remained a tight, often defensive affair through the initial ends. However, the turning point arrived in the eighth end, where Canada executed a crucial two-point steal, opening up a commanding four-point lead. This decisive move effectively put the game out of reach for the young American squad.
Marc Kennedy, the oldest Canadian competitor at 44, reflected on the team's growing comfort and performance. "I think we’re starting to get comfortable," Kennedy shared with Everythiiing.com. "That first game there’s a lot of emotion, you’re trying to get used to the ice, you’re playing a good team. I thought we adjusted well, came out today and had a good feel for the ice early. We had good energy, Brad was dialed. We couldn’t ask for a better start."
Kennedy highlighted the team's patience and the impact of key shots. "I like the way we were really patient today. What a great shot for two Brad made in the fourth end, that changes the whole game, once he makes that. We got a miss in eight to get a big enough lead and we brought it home from there."
Jacobs on Team Chemistry and Focus
Brad Jacobs, a gold medallist from the 2014 Sochi Olympics, emphasized the importance of a strong start in the round-robin phase. "When you look at our schedule, starting with Germany and USA we certainly wanted to be 2-0," Jacobs stated. "To get the job done feels great."
The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native attributed their success to a disciplined approach, focusing on execution rather than solely on the results. "I just think we’ve done a really good job of detaching ourselves from the results and just focusing on the things that need to be focused on in order to execute," the 40-year-old explained. "We’ve been saying for quite a while now, the importance of staying loose and playing free and I think what you’re seeing is us executing on that, which allows us to make a lot of shots."
A Shot-by-Shot Breakdown
After trading singles in the first two ends, a strategic blank by Canada in the third end, despite an opportunity for two, paid dividends later. In the fourth end, a masterful performance by Hebert and Gallant in sweeping, coupled with a delicate thin sideway tap by Jacobs, secured the game's first deuce, giving Canada a 2-1 lead.
The U.S. team had a chance to respond in the fifth end but settled for a single after a missed sweeping call and a heavy draw by their skip. In the sixth, a well-executed runback triple by Casper forced Jacobs to take a single, extending Canada's lead to 3-2.
Following a blanked seventh end by the U.S., Canada seized control in the eighth. Two perfectly placed draws, nestled against the button, forced Casper into a difficult, desperation angled raise double. The shot failed to connect, resulting in a crucial two-point steal for Canada, widening their advantage to a comfortable 6-2.
The U.S. team was unable to engineer a multi-scoring opportunity in the ninth end and, after being forced to a single, conceded the game, shaking hands.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Team Jacobs moves to a perfect 2-0 in the standings, setting a strong tone for the remainder of the round robin. The experience and composure displayed by the Canadian squad suggest they will be a formidable force to contend with as the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games unfold.
