The 2018 Olympic champion in men’s curling will be taking part in next week’s Masters Grand Slam of Curling event at Memorial Gardens.

John Shuster says the series offers great competition.

“You get an event where all the top teams in the world are there, you can play the top 15, play on great ice made by the best ice makers it’s easy to say yes to that type of event,” Shuster says.

In addition to winning gold at the South Korea games Shuster also earned a bronze at the 2006 games.

The Shuster team has taken part in four events this season including one in Manitoba last weekend that was derailed by power outages.

Shuster says he did a lot of things after winning gold including dropping the ceremonial puck at an NHL game and throwing out the first pitch at a Minnesota Twins game.

“Curling is definitely growing where curling wasn’t before. As for the clubs that have had curling we’re seeing younger crowds. And that is good for the longevity of the sport in the United States,” he says.

He says curling is still a regional sport centred in the mid west but it is growing in places like North Carolina, Denver and Atlanta.

Shuster’s first game will be at 4 pm on Wednesday.

Action starts Tuesday night with the finals on Sunday.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: John Shuster, Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling