Shuster goes Perfect through Qualifying

Duluth's John Shuster won 5-4 in an extra-end over Kevin Koe to advance to ATB Okotoks quarterfinals. Shuster, with Chris Plys, Colin Hufman and John Landsteiner in the lineup this weekend, overcame a steal of two in the first end by Koe to prevail. Shuster scored a single in the second end, then stole one to even the score in the third end. After the teams traded singles in the fourth and fifth ends, Koe blanked the sixth end to hold the hammer advantage. In the seventh end, Koe attempted a super-thin double in the rings to score three, though they hit too thick, giving Shuster the one-point lead into the final end. Koe For Three in 7th: Shuster was able to hold Koe to a single point in the eighth end, extending the game to an extra end where Shuster picked out the Koe shot stone to win. The Shuster team operates as a five-player squad, with Matt Hamilton away this weekend following his commentary role with the Everest North American Curling Club Championships. Shuster won their opening game on Thursday, 8-2, over James Ballance of Edmonton, then followed up with a 7-1 win over Wouter Goesgens of the Netherlands to advance to the A-Qualifier game. The Quarterfinals begin at 7:45 pm Mountain Time with one sheet streamed through the Okotoks Curling and CurlingZone YouTube channels. As the second-ranked team through qualifiers on the World Curling Team Rankings, Shuster lines up to potentially play Koe in a rematch should Koe win twice today through the C-event. Saskatoon's Mike McEwen advanced as the top seed through the A-event and would play the lowest seeded team through the C-event. In contrast, Duluth's Korey Dropkin will play the lowest-seeded team from B-event qualifiers, likely to line up against Saskatoon's Rylan Kleiter.