U.S. MEN ADVANCE TO OLYMPIC SEMIFINAL
WCF / Celine Stucki
After defeating Denmark 7-5 in its final round robin game, Team USA (John Shuster, Chris Plys, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner, and Colin Hufman) has qualified for the semifinals of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
To qualify for playoffs, teams needed to finish within the top four teams of the ten-team field.
Team USA completed the round robin with a 5-4 record, tied in third with Canada. However, based on head-to-head records, Canada received the third seed, and the U.S. secured the fourth and final seed.
Team USA had two “win and in” opportunities, the first in its round robin matchup against Italy, where the U.S. fell short.
“I wasn't super happy with the way I played against Italy at all, so I just wanted to go out and contribute what I could in this game,” said Chris Plys following Team USA’s playoff clinching win over Denmark. “I wanted to find my game, so that if we made it to the semis, that I felt like I was in a better spot than yesterday."
The contributions of the Team leading up to and in the Olympic competition have secured the United States a spot in the Olympic men’s curling playoffs for the second consecutive Games.
"I honestly don't feel pressure anymore at all as far as results. In order to get the results in Pyeonghcnag and since then, I'm just kind out there playing and letting it roll, playing with my buddies and teammates trying to play the best we can,” said defending gold medal skip John Shuster. “And whatever is going to happen is going to happen. We're out here having fun, trying to make a ton of curling shots and have good things happen."
Team USA will face the one-seed Great Britain in the semifinal game, where the winner will advance to the gold medal game and the loser will move to the bronze medal game.
The United States handed Great Britain its only loss of the round robin when the countries met on Friday morning.
"We're out there focusing on the process of how the game is going and enjoying the process,” said John Shuster after defeating Great Britain in round robin play. “If you can focus on the process and enjoy it, you don't have much time to really think about other things."
Team USA’s semifinal game will be played on Thursday at 8:05pm (local time).
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People.
