2023 USA CURLING MEN’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Feb 11

Team Shuster defeats Team Casper 8-3 to capture the Men’s title.

John Shuster and his current lineup won two Men’s Nationals before COVID—now they have added a third as the championship returned to its traditional setting and place on the calendar for the first time since 2020.

Shuster and his teammates (Chris Plys, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner, Colin Hufman) navigated through round-robin play to finish in second place with a 5-2 record. They defeated Team Casper (Danny Casper, Luc Violette, Ben Richardson, Chase Sinnett) in the Page Playoff 1-2 Game to earn a spot in the final. When Casper topped Korey Dropkin’s team in the semi-finals, the stage was set for a rematch.

In the final, Team Shuster scored two in the opening end when they were able to chisel their closer to the button with last rock. They added a steal in the fourth end to stretch their lead to 3-0, before Casper answered with one in the fifth. From there, Shuster retained control, as the team scored two in the sixth end to go up 5-1. Team Casper played a great seventh end, scoring two to tighten the game, but Shuster came off his own stone to score three in the eighth. Down 8-3 with just two ends to play, Casper and his teammates conceded the game.

This is Shuster’s eighth men’s national championship, and his sixth at the Skip position. This is the third title for Plys, and the fourth for long-time teammates Hamilton and Landsteiner.

Team Shuster will now prepare to represent the United States at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Ottawa, Canada, from April 1-9.

USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), Rock Solid Productions, IHG, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling, as the National Governing Body for the sport in the United States, is also supported by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.