Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. defeated Vernon’s John Morris rink 5-3 in the opening draw Saturday at the 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Olympic Curling Trials in Ottawa.
The winner of the men’s and women’s trials will represent Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.
Jacobs, who beat Morris in the 2013 Roar final, then went on to win Olympic gold in Sochi, Russia, opened Saturday’s game with a single in the first end with the hammer.
Morris, backed by third Jim Cotter, second Catlin Schneider and lead Tyrel Griffith, answered back with a single in the second.
There was no more scoring until the fifth, when Jacobs took a single and a 2-1 lead into the fifth-end break.
Morris tied it at 2-2 with a single in the sixth, then stole one in seven to take their only lead, 3-2.
Jacobs scored the game’s only deuce in the eighth, then stole one in nine for a 5-3 lead.
The Ontario rink ran Morris out of rocks in the last end.
Morris is back in action Sunday afternoon against Mike McEwen of Winnipeg.
The other opening round draw Saturday saw Kevin Koe of Calgary double Stephen Laycock of Saskatoon 6-3.
There are nine rinks in both draws competing for the right to represent the country.