John Shuster Rink representing the USA secured the last available place in the men's curling competition at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games by beating the Czech Republic 8-5 in the second playoff held in Germany.

In order to make it to the playoff game, Shuster (USA) had to beat Korea in a tie-breaker while the Czech Republic had lost out in the first play-off game to Germany. Germany also qualified for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The USA scored first in the second end, but later the Czech Republic went to blank an end in the sixth end hoping the move might pay off in the seventh end as they looked to score two points. The draw was just too wide and the Czechs had to settle for one point and a 3-2 lead.

The game changed around once John Shuster hit a simple draw in the seventh end to score a game-changing five points for a 7-3 lead. Shuster kept on with his risky yet agressive throwing and it won the match 8 to 5. The announcers all week had been saying that John was playing emotional, and that was what wound up sending the team to the Olympics.

team usa, usa curling facebook/world curling federation used by permission
team usa, usa curling facebook/world curling federation used by permission
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John Shuster’s USA team members are John Landsteiner as lead, Jared Zezel as second, Jeff Isaacson as third and alternate Craig Brown and coach Tim Muller.

John Shuster told World Curling Federation: "I was extremely happy to win the (USA) Olympic Trials, but to come here and win this and to finally say we’re Sochi bound is pretty special. We’re going to enjoy this for a day or two and then get ready for Sochi."

This will be a third Olympic Games for Shuster. He is one of the men who have the only medal for the USA in the Olympics ever. Shuster is hoping to medal again and is hopeful after the Germany showing.

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