OSTERSUND, SWEDEN—Chris Plys is a pretty interesting guy.

He is into headgear—he started these World Juniors wearing a bandanna, and late in the week he switched to a rather tall toque.

He’s got some bling going in the earlobes.

He plays guitar, saying he’s “got a lot going on” and “it’s only curling.”

He finished ninth at the World Juniors in 2006, followed that up with a fifth-place finish last year, and now he’s the 2008 world junior men’s champion.

He also won the World University Games in 2007 with Pete Fenson’s 2006 Olympic lead John Shuster.

He’s from Duluth, which means he really should be a celebrity skip at the infamous House of Hearts Bonspiel next week. If he isn’t playing, and he drops in to visit, he should certainly get some free drinks.

As the WCF story goes, it’s only the third-ever U.S. world junior men’s victory, and first since the bearded Al Edwards in 1984.

Now the youthful Yanks are eschewing facial foliage and choosing hats to ward off the cold. Good call. Hats certainly look more fashionable.

Incidentally, lead Matthew Hamilton won the Sportsmanship Award. That’s two cool trophies for this team.

Nice job, boys.