NORTH BAY -- Colin Koivula and Brad Jacobs are on a collision course at the Northern Ontario men’s curling championship.
The Thunder Bay rink rode a four-ender in the eighth end Friday to an 8-6 win over Geraldton’s Mike Assad.
Next up is Sault Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs, who shook off a loss Thursday to Thunder Bay’s Dylan Johnston and knocked off Jordan Chandler 8-3.
Jacobs and Koivula top the eight-team field with identical 4-1 records. Both have clinched spots in at least a tie-breaker.
Johnston, who dropped a 7-6 decision to Koivula on Thursday night, improved to 2-3 with a 9-3 trium over Patrick Gelinas.
Koivula and Jacobs will put their first-place standing on the line on Friday night in Draw 6.
In other action, Robbie Gordon, a former two-time Northern Ontario champ, earned his first win of the event, knocking off Sudbury’s Tanner Horgan 9-6 with a steal of three in the ninth end. He trailed the match 6-2 through six ends.
The Koivula rink also consists of lead Jamie Childs, second Jordan Potts and third Kory Carr.