Team U.S.A. Clinches Berth for 2014 Olympic Games

Two teams will be representing Team USA at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

The American men’s group defeated the Czech Republic to secure the final berth at the Olympic Qualification Event at the BLZ Arena in Fuessen, Germany.

The success comes after John Shuster (Duluth, Minn.) and his teammates, Jeff Isaacson (Gilbert, Minn.), Jared Zezel (Hibbing, Minn.), and John Landsteiner (Duluth, Minn.), enjoyed a 8-5 victory after a big scoring end late in the game.  They knew they would have to dig deep to stave off elimination and they pulled off a win.

As Landsteiner said:  ”We always seem to pick it up and bring it up the next step and find a way to play better in a game.”

Shuster, who won Olympic bronze back in 2006 added:  ”The butterflies of winning for an opportunity like this, they never get old. That’s why we play this game.  These guys work their tails off and they’re some of the best in the business.  I’m extremely proud of how well our team has played the entire season and especially here when we had our backs against the wall.”

The next major stop will be in Scotland for the World Curling tour in January 2014, followed by an appearance as part of Team North America at the 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada.