News Canadian Open

Ryan Fry will return to the lineup for Team Brad Jacobs at next week’s Meridian Canadian Open in North Battleford, Sask.

The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.-based club made the announcement Tuesday on social media.

We are back in action next week at the @grandslamcurl #CanadianOpen & we are excited that Ryan will be back on the ice with us – here is to a successful second half of the season #HappyNewYear https://t.co/xLYMxlqeGE

— Team Jacobs (@TeamBradJacobs) January 2, 2019

The 40-year-old Fry, who throws third stones for 2014 Olympic gold medallists, took a leave of absence following an incident in November during the Red Deer Curling Classic. Fry was sparing with Jamie Koe’s team and the squad was ejected midway through the event and forfeited their remaining games. The World Curling Tour launched an investigation and determined Fry was responsible for breaking brooms on the ice and found his behaviour in the clubhouse “inappropriate.” Fry was fined $1,000 for his actions.

Fry earned his fifth career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title and fourth with Team Jacobs at November’s Tour Challenge (Tier 1) in Thunder Bay, Ont., just prior to the Red Deer tournament and missed two events.

Marc Kennedy stepped in for December’s Canada Cup in Estevan, Sask., and helped Team Jacobs continue their winning ways capturing the title. Matt Wozniak subbed at second the following week at the Boost National in Conception Bay South, N.L., with E.J. Harnden moving up to third. Team Jacobs went undefeated at 4-0 through round-robin play but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Team Glenn Howard.

The Meridian Canadian Open, which is the fifth Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event of the season, starts Tuesday at North Battleford’s Civic Centre with Team Jacobs hitting the ice Wednesday afternoon against defending champions Team Peter de Cruz of Switzerland.