24 teams in 24 days — Day 7: Team De Cruz
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 7: Team De Cruz
Lineup: Peter de Cruz (skip/second), Benoît Schwarz (vice skip/fourth), Sven Michel (third), Valentin Tanner (lead)
Home club: CC Genève; Geneva, Switzerland
Peter de Cruz is a three-time bronze medallist at the world men’s curling championship (2014, 2017 and 2019) and also captured bronze at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. De Cruz edged Canada’s Team Koe for the final spot on the podium in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
De Cruz has claimed one Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling men’s title taking the 2018 Meridian Canadian Open in Camrose, Alta., just prior to the Winter Games. The team lost only one game during the week to Team Jacobs in the A-qualifiers and won the rematch in the semifinals. De Cruz stunned Sweden’s Team Edin in the final stealing a point in the seventh end and two in the eighth to win 5-3. Schwarz, who throws last rocks, was clutch shooting 96 per cent including a perfect 100 per cent on his seven draws.
Michel joined the team in 2018 after skipping his own squad previously. He won the European Championships gold medal in 2013 and skipped Switzerland in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Michel is also a two-time world mixed doubles champion (2011 and 2018) with Alina Pätz.
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.