From their sporting of the green and yellow Northern Ontario jersey, to their dawning of the symbolic red maple leaf on their backs, Team Jacobs has made Algoma University, Sault Ste. Marie, and Canada incredibly proud.  Together, these four young men based out of the Sault Curlers rink, took on not only Canada's best but also the world's most elite curlers over the past two months, becoming national icons and internationally sought after and admired curling sensations.  Call them what you will – be it Team Jacobs, Team Northern Ontario, or most recently, Team Canada – they have showed immense showmanship, skill, and prowess at the 2013 Tim Horton's Brier and Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2013. 

For both the Algoma University and Sault community, the past months have been a triumph of heroic efforts; for Skip Brad Jacobs, Second E. J. Harnden, Third Ryan Harnden, and Lead Ryan Fry, they have come to represent an array of ups and downs, an emotional and moving experience, and ultimately a dream come true.  Together they have become masters of the curling world, “reaching the pinnacle of the sport”, claims Jacobs.  On Sunday, March 10, 2013, Jacobs successfully skipped his team to an 11-4 win over Jeff Stoughton's Manitoba rink at the 2013 Tim Horton's Brier in Edmonton; in just under a month later on Sunday, April 7, they were receiving silver medals for their impressive second-place finish at the Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2013 in Victoria.

Since their childhood, each member of the Jacobs rink has had a broom in their hands and been sliding rocks down a polished sheet of ice.   For the Harnden brothers, they have been curling since they were four years-old: “my father would take us on the ice with our hockey helmets,” claims Ryan Harnden.  Jacobs was slightly older, starting at the age of 10.  The three have been curling together now for 10 years. Yet despite their early start, each had daunting dreams of competing at an international level, and winning elite competitions.  “It has always been a long-term goal of ours to play at that level and do as well as we did at the Worlds.  And it has been an incredible ride to accomplish these dreams,” adds Jacobs.

But even in their wildest dreams as children, never did Team Jacobs fathom the experience of the Worlds.  The Jacobs rink had a once in a lifetime opportunity this year – they had the privilege to play in front of thousands on home soil.  “The Worlds was a totally different feeling than the Brier when it comes to fan support,” Ryan Harnden begins. “Having played the Worlds in Canada we had the whole building cheering for us, which was an amazing feeling.  Wearing that maple leaf on your back is an honour and something I'll never forget.”  And the support in Victoria's Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre was only a portion of the support Team Jacobs received.  Back home, thousands watched televised games daily, showered the team in support on social media outlets, and over 2000 gathered at the welcome home ceremony held at the Essar Centre.  “The support from home is unreal.  I'm proud to have been able to represent the Sault and to provide entertainment for the Sault.  I'll never forget seeing people smiling, applauding, and cheering.  And it was all for us,” adds Jacobs.

Three of the four players are members of the Algoma University community.  Ryan Harnden is currently completing his Bachelor of Arts in Geography, set to graduate in June 2014, while his brother graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Marketing.  Jacobs graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography.  Jacobs also skipped the Thunderbirds Men's OCAA Championship game, bringing home the gold medal for the University in 2004, with a 6-0 performance in the round robin competition.  This was the first-ever OCAA medal for the University.