The Brier: Northern Ontario edges Saskatchewan in extra end

Reigning Olympic men's curling champion Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie rink representing Northern Ontario capped an exciting opening day of competition at the Brier with a 6-5 extra end victory over Steve Laycock's Saskatchewan rink.

Jacobs, who captured the 2013 Brier, was one of four winners who went to an extra end to notch their first victories of the Canadian men's curling championship at TD Place at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa on Saturday.

In the opening draw of the day, Brad Gushue's Newfoundland and Labrador rink slipped past Manitoba's Mike McEwen's rink, 5-4, in 11 ends.

Also going an extra frame to post victories were: Glenn Howard of St. George's Golf and Country Club, leading Ontario past Kevin Koe and Calgary's Glencoe Club, 5-4, as well as New Brunswick's Mike Kennedy and his Grand Falls Curling Club, 7-6 winners over Jamie Koe and Northwest Territories.

Team Canada skip Pat Simmons, also curling out of Calgary's Glencoe Club, picked up a win on the first day of competition along with British Columbia's Jim Cotter.

Jamie Koe and his Yellowknife Curling Club mates, who won the qualifying tournament to gain entry to the main draw, were the only rink to place twice on Saturday, defeating Nova Scotia's Jamie Murphy and the Mayflower Curling Club, 7-4 in their first draw of the day.

Sunday's schedule has draws at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET.