The 2024 world men’s curling championship will take place from March 30 to April 7 at the KSS Sports Complex in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. One of the teams to watch is Canada, represented by skip Brad Gushue, Third Mark Nichols, Second E.J. Harnden, and Lead Geoff Walker. Gushue, the 2006 Olympic gold medalist, won the world championship in 2017 but lost in the finals in 2022 and 2023. Czechia will be represented by skip Lukas Klima, Third Marek Cernovsky, Second Martin Jurik, and Lead Lukas Klipa from Curling Club Zbraslav & CC Dion in Prague. Klima, a lawyer, has previously won a bronze medal at the 2011 Winter Universiade.
Germany’s team consists of skip Marc Muskatewitz, Third Benjamin Kapp, Second Felix Messenzehl, and Lead Johannes Scheuerl representing CC Fussen. Muskatewitz is appearing at his sixth world championship, while his three teammates are making their debuts. Italy will be represented by skip Joel Retornaz, Third Amos Mosaner, Second Sebastiano Arman, and Lead Mattia Giovanella from Sporting Club Pinerolo. Retornaz’s crew enters the championship as the top-ranked rink in the world after winning a bronze medal at the 2022 worlds.
Japan’s team led by skip Shinya Abe features Third Tetsuro Shimizu, Second Haruto Ouchi, and Lead Sota Tsuruga from Tokoro Curling Club. Abe, at 43 years old, was part of the team that narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the 2019 world championship. The Netherlands will be represented by skip Wouter Gosgens, Third Laurens Hoekman, Second Jaap van Dorp, and Lead Alexander Magan from Curling Club PWA in Zoetermeer. Gosgens, at 25 years old, will be making his sixth appearance at the world championship.
New Zealand’s team led by skip Anton Hood, Third Ben Smith, Second Brett Sargon, and Lead Hunter Walker from Maniototo Curling International and Alexandra Indoor Curling Rink finished last in the 2023 championship. They spent this season training in Calgary where they lived in a retirement residence. Norway’s team consists of skip Magnus Ramsfjell, Third Martin Sesaker, Second Bendik Ramsfjell, and Lead Gaute Nepstad from Trondheim CurlingKlubb. Magnus, the son of three-time world champion Eigil Ramsfjell, is making his fourth appearance at the world championship.
Scotland will be represented by skip Bruce Mouat, Third Grant Hardie, Second Bobby Lammie, and Lead Hammy McMillan Jr. from Gogar Park Curling Club in Edinburgh. Mouat, ranked No. 2 in the world, is the defending world champion and two-time European champion. South Korea’s team led by skip Park Jong-duk includes Third Jeong Yeong-seok, Second Oh Seung-hoon, and Lead Seong Ji-hoon from Gangwon Curling. Park, a five-time Korean champion, defeated Gushue during the preliminary round of the Pan Continentals but lost to Gushue in the final.
Sweden’s team led by skip Niklas Edin, Third Oskar Eriksson, Second Rasmus Wrana, and Lead Christoffer Sundgren from Karlstads Curlingklubb in Karlstad is a strong contender. Edin has won six world championships, including four consecutive titles from 2018 to 2022. Switzerland will be represented by Lead Yannick Schwaller, Third Benoit Schwarz, Second Sven Michel, and Lead Pablo Lachat from Club de curling de Genève in Geneva. Schwaller’s foursome is ranked fifth in the world and finished third at the previous year’s world championships.
Lastly, the United States team led by skip John Shuster, Third Chris Plys, Second Colin Hufman, and Lead Matt Hamilton from Duluth Curling Club in Duluth, Minnesota. Shuster, who defeated Edin to win the 2018 Olympic gold medal, finished third at the 2016 world championships. Overall, these teams will be competing for the world men’s curling championship, each bringing their own set of skills and experience to the ice in Switzerland.
