24 teams in 24 days — Day 13: Team Schwaller
We’re profiling all 24 teams, one per day, to get ready for the return of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling leading up to the start of the Humpty’s Champions Cup.
Day 13: Team Schwaller
Lineup: Yannick Schwaller (skip), Michael Brunner (third), Romano Meier (second), Marcel Käufeler (lead)
Hometown: Bern, Switzerland
When we last left our heroes, Team Schwaller qualified for the playoffs for the first time in a Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event at the 2020 Meridian Canadian Open in Yorkton, Sask.
After dropping to a 1-2 record in the triple knockout and on the brink of elimination, Schwaller turned things around in the C brackets edging Team Gunnlaugson 7-6 in an extra end and scoring three in the seventh to eliminate Team Koe 7-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Brunner was practically perfect in the pivotal qualifying game against Koe shooting 98 per cent. Team Schwaller’s run ended in the quarterfinals, however, as they fell 6-1 to Team Gushue.
Team Schwaller earned silver at the European Championships and captured the Swiss curling championship during the 2019-20 season. They did not get to compete for Switzerland in the worlds though as the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club finished runners-up to Team De Cruz in the national tournament this season.
Schwaller enters the Humpty’s Champions Cup as No. 6 in the men’s world curling team rankings.
The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling returns with the Humpty’s Champions Cup, April 14-18, followed by the Princess Auto Players’ Championship, April 20-25. Both events will be played at Calgary’s WinSport Arena and closed to the general public. Watch live coverage on Sportsnet, stay tuned for the broadcast schedule.