32 Teams in 32 Days

We’re profiling 32 teams — one per day — as we get ready for the start of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season at the Masters.

Day 25: Team de Cruz

Lineup: Peter de Cruz (skip; second), Benoît Schwarz (vice skip; fourth), Sven Michel (third), Valentin Tanner (lead)

Home Club: CC Geneve; Geneva, Switzerland

De Cruz, who skips while throwing second stones, is the reigning Olympic men’s bronze medallist. His Swiss squad defeated Canada’s Team Koe for the final podium spot at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The 2018 Meridian Canadian Open in Camrose, Alberta, served as the final major tournament heading into those Winter Olympics and de Cruz captured his first career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling men’s title. De Cruz lost just once during the week to Team Jacobs in the triple knockout A-qualifiers but avenged the defeat with a 5-2 victory in the rematch during the semifinals. It was a shocking finish to the championship game with de Cruz stealing single points in the seventh and eighth ends to beat Team Edin 4-3. Schwarz was sensational shooting 96 per cent in the final.

De Cruz has also won bronze four times at the world championship including earlier this year in the Calgary bubble. De Cruz defeated Team Glukhov from the Russian Curling Federation 6-5.

Michel skipped his own squad prior to joining Team de Cruz for the 2018-19 season. He captured gold at the European Championships in 2013 and skipped Switzerland at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Schwarz served as alternate for both events.

Team de Cruz will represent Switzerland again at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Masters kicks off the 2021-22 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season and runs Oct. 19-24 at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario. Full event and weekend passes plus single draw tickets are now available, CLICK HERE to purchase yours today.

Can’t make it to Oakville? Tune to Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW for live broadcast coverage. Broadcast schedule to be announced.

Missed a day in our 32 teams in 32 days profile series? Get all caught up below.

Day 1: Team Hasselborg

Day 2: Team Jacobs

Day 3: Team Einarson

Day 4: Team Epping

Day 5: Team Fleury

Day 6: Team Mouat

Day 7: Team Tirinzoni

Day 8: Team Gushue

Day 9: Team Jones

Day 10: Team McEwen