News Elite 10

Over the following 10 days, we’ll be taking a look at the teams set to compete in the inaugural Syncrude Elite 10, the fourth stop on the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling series. First up: Team Michel.

Lineup: Sven Michel (skip), Florian Meister (third), Simon Gempeler (second) and Stefan Meienberg (lead)

From: Adelboden, Switzerland

World Curling Tour year-to-date order of merit rank: 10th

Twitter: @TeamSvenMichel

Sven Michel looks to improve upon his career best Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling finish in a return visit to Fort McMurray, Alta., for the Syncrude Elite 10.

It was in Fort Mac a year ago, during the 2013-14 National, that Team Michel went on an incredible run through the round robin posting a 5-0 record to top Pool A with impressive victories over the likes of Team Glenn Howard and Team Kevin Koe. The game against Howard saw the Penetanguishene, Ont., rink score four in the seventh to pull ahead 9-7 before Michel rallied right back with a three-ender in the final end to win the game 10-9.

Michel defeated Koe again in the quarterfinals after lifting his team into the lead by scoring three in the seventh and adding a steal of one in eight for a 9-6 victory. However, Team Michel’s run came to an end during the semifinals when they fell 7-6 to Team Brad Gushue.

Syncrude Elite 10: Buy Tickets | Teams | Draw Schedule | TV Schedule

Michel, the 2013 European champion, won gold at the world mixed doubles in 2011 with Alina Pätz and represented Switzerland at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Michel changed up his roster this year bringing in Florian Meister and Stefan Meienberg from Pascal Hess’ team and bumping Simon Gempeler up from lead to second.

Earlier this season, Michel competed in the Masters and scored wins over David Murdoch, Peter de Cruz and John Morris to qualify for the playoffs but came up short 5-4 to John Epping in the quarterfinals. The team finished runner-up at the Swiss Cup Basel and German Masters tournaments and captured the bronze medal at the 2014 European Championships.

The Syncrude Elite 10 runs March 19-22 at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre in MacDonald Island Park. Click here for ticket information.