Wild welcomes gold medal-winning USA curling team

ST. PAUL -- Since John Shuster and his gold-medal winning United States curling teammates stepped off their flight Feb. 27 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, it's been one big traveling party.
The celebration of Team USA's first gold in the sport made its way to Xcel Energy Center for the Wild's game Monday against Los Angeles, and Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner and Joe Polo -- all Minnesota natives -- received a warm, loud welcome. Shuster, the victorious Americans' skip and a self-described "huge Wild fan," couldn't move far in the concourse without absorbing a hug, high five or selfie request. And when the quintet took part in a ceremonial puck drop before face-off, a volumous roar followed by chants of "U-S-A" shook the arena.

"Everywhere in America's been awesome," Shuster said, "but that was special."

The Team Shuster tour has been to a handful of other locales around the country, including the Capitals and Maple Leafs' Stadium Series game earlier this month and a Timberwolves game Sunday. It won't wrap up till May and has included Today Show and Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon appearances, trips to both coasts and a sojourn to Fargo for the curling national championships.
But this is home.
"When that 'USA' chant starts, there's just something inside of us that beams," said Shuster, who was born in Chisholm and now resides in Superior, Wisconsin. "When you're out there playing the game and thinking about the repercussions of what winning a gold would mean for you personally and for your team, and a little bit for your country -- I don't think I ever understood what was going to ensue after that, this crazy craziness."

Shuster said he and his teammates are all Wild diehards. The group even collected ice from its home training base, Duluth Curling Club, and deposited it onto the Xcel Energy Center sheet Monday.
Wild players were sure to join on the festivities, too, posing for pictures in the home dressing room following the contest.