Retornaz Back in Italian Men’s Curling

Italian curling legend Joël Retornaz has replied to yesterday’s Team Spiller announcement with his own new lineup for the 2026-27 curling season.

Retornaz will return to the ice with lead Alberto Pimpini and the even younger Gilli brothers, Stefano and Andrea, in the middle of the lineup.

The Gillis won 2025 world junior gold and silver (2026) with Spiller, and first won silver in 2024 when Stefano skipped and threw second stones. Their championship final, a 7-6 loss to Norway, actually went 12 ends in length.  

Pimpini was Retornaz’s alternate at numerous championships, including the Olympics in Cortina, and also played lead and held the broom for Spiller at the recent men’s worlds in Ogden, USA.

Retornaz, of course, has represented Italy at four Olympic Winter Games dating back to his 2006 debut in Turin. He’s also captured  four Grand Slam titles, two world championship bronze medals and three bronze at the European championships.

Just yesterday, Team Stefano Spiller was formally announced with former Retornaz competitors Amos Mosaner and Sebastiano Arman on a new squad that includes the skip’s brother Cesare.

Retornaz, 42, was first forced to clarify his non-retirement in mid-March, prior to the world championship. When it was announced that Spiller would take Retornaz’s place in Utah, skipping his team, the veteran issued a clarification.

“Contrary to some incorrect information circulating, I want to clarify that I have never announced my retirement from competitive curling,” Retornaz stated. 

“I have only informed the Italian federation that I would not be playing in the world championships this year.”

Mattia Giovanello, who worked his way from Retornaz team alternate to lead in the past quadrennial, is currently absent from this week’s Italian men’s curling lineup announcements.

The current points structure within Grand Slam of Curling “Tier 1” qualifying would appear to see Team Spiller adopt the lion’s share (50+%) of the former Team Retornaz World Team Curling Rankings System (WCTRS) points, giving them the best shot of qualifying for the start of this fall’s GSOC series.