Skip Brad Jacobs parts ways with Winnipeg’s Team Carruthers

Skip Brad Jacobs is leaving Team Carruthers, the Winnipeg-based club announced Wednesday.

Third Reid Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski, lead Connor Njegovan and coach Rob Meakin are now exploring their options moving forward.

“It is with mixed emotions that I’ve decided to part ways with Reid, Derek, Connor and Rob,” Jacobs said in a release. “It is never easy nor enjoyable to make these tough decisions. They welcomed me with open arms, treated me like family, were incredible teammates and friends. I truly cherished my time with all of them and will leave with so many fond memories of our time together.”

He added: “I have nothing but admiration and respect for these guys and wish them all the best in the future.”

The news comes a day after third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert announced they were splitting with skip Brendan Bottcher as the top Canadian men’s curling teams have kicked off a lineup change frenzy.

Jacobs joined the group as a mid-season replacement last year for Grand Slam of Curling events after the departure of third Jason Gunnlaugson. He became a permanent member of the team this season and switched spots in the lineup with Carruthers ahead of the Grand Slam’s Masters event in December. The lineup shuffle clicked instantly, as they qualified for the playoffs in the Masters.

Team Carruthers won Manitoba’s Viterra Championship to represent the province at the Montana’s Brier in February, where they topped their round-robin pool with a 7-1 record to reach the championship round. Carruthers was eliminated after losing back-to-back playoff games to Canada’s Brad Gushue and Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone.

The No. 11-ranked team in the world wrapped up its season this past weekend at the Princess Auto Players’ Championship in Toronto and missed the playoffs with a 2-3 record.

Jacobs, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., won the 2014 Olympic gold medal, 2013 world silver medal and Brier championship plus seven Grand Slam of Curling titles as a skip before linking up with Team Carruthers.

The 38-year-old Jacobs is expected to announce his plans in the coming days.

Carruthers has captured one Grand Slam of Curling title as a skip, winning the inaugural Champions Cup in 2016. The 39-year-old also won world and Brier championships in 2011, plus the Grand Slam of Curling’s National title in 2013 while playing for skip Jeff Stoughton.

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