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Ontario Club Teams Head to 2019 CWBL National Championship

April 25, 2019 4:47 pm Leave a Comment

Rebels Roster:

Adel Akhmed (1.0)
Jamoi Anderson (4.5)
Sara Black (1.0*)
Lia Luis (2.5*)
Anthony McMillan (4.5)
Jesse McNalley (4.5)
Lee Melymick (1.0)
Jason Naval (4.5)
Darek Symonowicz (4.0)
Christoph Trachsel (1.0)

Head Coach: Steve Bialowas

Rockets Roster:

Shawn Courchesne (1.0)
Himmat Dhillon (2.5)
Rebecca Greene (4.5*)
Vanessa Giancaterini (1.0*)
Zoë Hahn (3.0*)
Michael Kilonzo (3.5)
Puisand Lai (1.0*)
Erik Robeznieks (4.5)
Natalie Robinson (3.0*)
Tamara Steeves (1.5*)

Head Coach: Kathy Ludwig
Assistant Coach: Andrea Foessel
Team Manager: Rhiannon Davies
Athletic Therapist: Breanne Hyslop

Team Ontario is well represented at the 2019 championship as the combined club team’s rosters include a total of 14 current Ontario provincial program members from our Junior, Senior Women, and Development Women’s teams including Adel Akhmed, Sara Black, Vanessa Giancaterini, Rebecca Greene, Zoë Hahn, Michael Kilonzo, Puisand Lai, Lia Luis, Lee Melymick, Erik Robeznieks, Natalie Robinson, Tamara Steeves, and coaching staff Kathy Ludwig and Rhiannon Davies.

The 2019 CWBL National Championship will tip off on Friday, April 26 at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. To view the full schedule and stay up to date on tournament results, visit the Wheelchair Basketball Canada event website.

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About the Ontario Para Network
The Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is the new name of the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association (OWSA). ONPARA is the provincial governing body for three sports – wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis and is a programming partner for wheelchair athletics. Our mission is to grow wheelchair sports opportunities across Ontario. We strive to create opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities to participate in any of our sports at recreational, competitive, and high performance levels.

About Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sport governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is committed to excellence in the development, support and promotion of wheelchair basketball programs and services for all Canadians from grassroots to high performance. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem around the world for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last seven Paralympic Games.

Casting Call for Male Wheelchair Basketball Players

April 11, 2019 2:45 pm Leave a Comment

Milo Casting is seeking wheelchair basketball players for a national stills campaign for Participaction!

About You:

• You are an individual who uses a wheelchair to play basketball
• You are a man aged roughly 25-40 yrs of age
• Genuine and authentic real people with infectious smiles and a positive spirit!

Those chosen will be financially compensated $150/hr for their time.

Details & Submission Information:
If interested, you must email the following to research@milocasting.com

1. Your name, age, ethnicity, location and telephone number
2. A brief mention of your basketball experience
3. 2 recent photos of you. Show us your smiles! Candid shots are great! Professional shots not necessary.
   **Please ensure your photos are CURRENT (taken in the last few days)**
4. Please write “Project Participate Wheelchair Basketball” in the subject line followed by your name. (i.e.: Project Participate Wheelchair Basketball – Roger Gibson)

You must be available for these key dates:

• SHOOT: Wednesday April 17th, 2019
• No AUDITION for this project

Deadline for submissions: Sunday April 14th, 2019 at 7pm
Note: If an agent represents you please allow them to submit you for this project

Questions or Concerns:
Please contact us at 416-360-0465 – Shannon at x233 or Taijah at x234

Please join our Facebook group for future casting calls:
www.facebook.com/milocasting
60 SUMACH ST / 3RD FLOOR / TORONTO, ON M5A 3J7 / T: 416-360-0465

Casting Call for Men Who Use Wheelchairs

April 5, 2019 11:10 am Leave a Comment

Milo Casting is looking for men that require a wheelchair to get around for a Cannabis Trade Campaign!

About You:

• You are a male, living with a visible disability
• You are roughly 45 – 60 yrs of age
• You require a wheelchair to get around. 
• Genuine and authentic real people with infectious smiles and a positive spirit!

Those chosen for this campaign will be paid approximately $1,000 for a half day shoot!

Nine Ontario Athletes Selected to Wheelchair Rugby National Team Program

10:32 am Leave a Comment

(Ottawa, ON) Wheelchair Rugby Canada is proud to announce the names of the athletes selected to the 2019 National Team Program.

A five-day selection camp was held at the Richmond Olympic Oval in March to evaluate and train the top wheelchair rugby players from across the nation.

“This year’s Selection Camp was very positive for the program.  Athletes went through a full week of competition, testing and training, which gave us the opportunity to assess returning athletes and newcomers in depth with our new selection criteria,” said Head Coach Patrick Côté.

The National Team Program’s objective is to identify, select and train Canadian wheelchair rugby athletes who have future Senior National Team potential and offer them the opportunity to train and represent Canada at international competitions; such as the Paralympic Games, World Championships and Parapan American Games.

“We are very pleased with the group selected which includes a solid core of vets, the return of a key player and promising young talent that we are looking for forward to work with,” said Côté.

2019 NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM ROSTER

The full roster of athletes named to the 2019 National Team Program, in alphabetical order by last name, is listed below.

Cody Caldwell* (Peterborough, ON)
Patrice Dagenais* (Embrun, ON)
Joel Ewert (Prince George, BC)
Cody Fournie (Victoria, BC) – resides and trains in Toronto, ON
Byron Green* (Vancouver, BC)
Trevor Hirschfield* (Parksville, BC)
Rio Kanda (Toronto, ON)
Mélanie Labelle (St-Hubert, QC)
Fabien Lavoie* (Quebec City, QC)
Anthony Létourneau (Boisbriand, QC)
Zak Madell* (Okotoks, AB)
Britt Mayer (Regina, SK)
Travis Murao* (Toronto, ON)
Benjamin Perkins (North Augusta, ON)
Yanick Racicot (Montreal, QC)
Eric Furtado Rodrigues (Mississauga, ON)
Patrice Simard* (Quebec City, QC)
Shayne Smith (Toronto, ON)
Branden Troutman (Lloydminster, AB)
Mike Whitehead* (Windsor, ON)

* Denotes athletes with Paralympic experience

“The focus will now shift to our goal for the year which is to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Games.  Our first shot at qualifying will be the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru this summer,” said Patrick Côté

WHAT’S NEXT FOR TEAM CANADA?

Team Canada will be headed to Denmark in April to compete at the Musholm Cup 2019. There, they will face stiff competition against the likes of Sweden (Ranked 6^th), France (Ranked 7^th) and tournament hosts, Denmark (Ranked 8^th).

At the beginning of May, all National Team Program athletes will then be competing for their respective provinces at the 2019 National Championships Powered by Vesco in Ottawa, Ontario.

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ABOUT WHEELCHAIR RUGBY CANADA

Wheelchair Rugby Canada is the national governing body for the Canadian Heritage Sport of wheelchair rugby. Wheelchair Rugby Canada strives to be a world-leader in wheelchair rugby, a respected advocate for wheelchair athletes and a visionary organization committed to excellence in programs from recruitment to retirement.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:

Ben Parker-Jones
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Wheelchair Rugby Canada
Tel: 613-523-0004
Email: ben@wheelchairrugby.ca

ONPARA Announces Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Provincial Team

April 4, 2019 2:31 pm Leave a Comment

Women’s provincial teams selected for the 2018-2019 season championships

For the 2018-2019 season, the Ontario Women’s Provincial Program has grown to include two formal teams – the Senior Women’s Team and Development Women’s Team. This is in part due to ONPARA’s increased focus on recruitment and retention of female wheelchair basketball players in the province, the leadership of coach Christina Swett and her Girls Enabled And Ready (GEAR) to Play Program, as well as providing development-identified women with access to opportunities such as annual competition at the Défi Sportif in Montreal over the past few years.

ONPARA would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection to the Team Ontario Women’s wheelchair basketball teams:

Senior Women

Sara Black
Rebecca Greene
Julia Hanes
Melanie Hawtin
Puisand Lai
Joanne Lee
Josée Matte
Natalie Robinson
Victoria Ross
Darda Sales
Tamara Steeves
Christina Swett

Development Women

Sara Black
Laura Calovini
Sierra Cottrelle
Helen Dam
Zoë Hahn
Puisand Lai
Joanne Lee
Lia Luis
Grace Plumb
Omaya Rakieh
Natalie Robinson
Victoria Ross

The Senior Women’s Team includes a group of skilled, knowledgeable, and talented athletes including three Paralympians in Melanie Hawtin, Darda Sales, and Tamara Steeves, as well as rising star Puisand Lai, who made her international debut with Team Canada last summer at the 2018 World Championships in Hamburg, GER. Rounding out the roster are rookies Rebecca Greene, Julia Hanes, Josée Matte, and Victoria Ross who will be competing in their first CWBL Women’s National Championship.

The Development Team sees a healthy mix of new and developing players alongside veteran athletes like Sara Black, Zoë Hahn, Puisand Lai, and Joanne Lee, hot off their silver medal finish at the 2019 Canada Winter Games with Team Ontario. Keeping with tradition and the cultural values of the program, these veteran athletes will provide on and off-court support and mentorship to the development-identified athletes in an effort to continue strengthening women’s wheelchair basketball in Ontario.

We wish them all the best in their upcoming competitions! The Senior Women will be battling it out against the top women’s club/provincial teams from across Canada at the CWBL Women’s National Championship in Montréal, QC from April 12-14, while the Development Women will be competing in Division 3 at the Défi Sportif Altergo in Longueuil, QC from May 3-5.

The teams will be accompanied to their respective events by the Provincial Team program coaches.

Senior Women

Head Coach – Paul Bowes
Assistant Coaches – Annie Ide, Timothy Ross

Development Women

Head Coach – Christina Swett
Assistant Coach – TBA

Thank you coaches for all the hard work and dedication you have shown throughout both the teams’ tryout & selection processes! GO ONTARIO!

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About the Ontario Women’s Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program
The Ontario Women’s Provincial Program brings together women and girls from across the province with the intent of providing competitive opportunities and fostering development, leadership, and camaraderie among female wheelchair basketball players. The program includes both a Senior Team and a Development Team, and is open to female athletes of all physical abilities (able-bodied athletes included), aged 13 and up.

About the Ontario Para Network
The Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is the provincial governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis, as well as a programming partner in wheelchair athletics in the province of Ontario. Our mission is to grow wheelchair sports opportunities across Ontario. We strive to create opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities to participate in any of our sports at recreational, competitive, and high performance levels.

OWSA Announces Team Ontario Roster for 2019 Canada Games

November 5, 2018 4:55 pm Leave a Comment

Wheelchair basketball athletes and staff selected to represent Ontario

(November 5, 2018 – Toronto, ON) The Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association (OWSA) is proud to formally announce the team selected to represent Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta.

Following a series of selection camps that look place between June – September, 2018, 12 of Ontario’s strongest and most skilled junior-age athletes were chosen to represent the province. The team will be led by an experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated coaching staff which includes Head Coach Kathy Ludwig, Assistant Coach Josh Davies, and Team Manager Rhiannon Davies. “I am truly honoured to be coaching these young athletes,” said Ludwig. “Watching them grow and develop over the past four years has been amazing! I can’t wait to see all their hard work pay off as they hit the court in Red Deer at Canada Winter Games 2019.”

The athletes named to Team Ontario are as follows:

Team Ontario

Adel Akhmed (Toronto)
Sara Black (Toronto)
Vanessa Giancaterini (Woodbridge)
Zoë Hahn (Linwood)
Maninder Hothi (Brampton)*
Michael Kilonzo (Mississauga)*
Puisand Lai (Toronto)
Joanne Lee (Newmarket)
Aaron McDonald (Paris)*
Lee Melymick (Toronto)
Erik Robeznieks (Toronto)
Eric Voss (St. Marys)*

Alternates – Nick Hill (Ancaster), Natalie Robinson (Ilderton)

*denotes previous Canada Games experience

Team Ontario sees four returning players from the 2015 Canada Games squad in Maninder Hothi, Michael Kilonzo, Aaron McDonald, and Eric Voss. This will be the 3rd Canada Games experience for Voss, who made his Team Ontario debut at the 2011 Games in Halifax, NS at the age of 15.

“In my 11 years of playing wheelchair basketball, one of the highlights of my career would have to be playing at Canada Games. It is an incredible experience being at a multi-sport games and having all the athletes from your province cheering you on! We all compete for Ontario. I have grown as an athlete with my experiences participating in the Games and I am so proud to represent Ontario with this great team of athletes and coaching staff. Go Ontario!”

Rounding out the team is a strong and talented group of athletes who will all get to partake in their first Canada Games experience. These rookies have honed their skills over the past 3+ years to get to this moment. When asked about what it means to represent Ontario and compete in the Canada Games, newcomer Lee Melymick had this to say: “It feels incredible to be able to represent Ontario at my first Canada Games right after being fortunate enough to represent Canada in Hamburg for the World Championships.” Melymick, who made his Senior National Team debut this summer, has quickly risen to the high performance level since his introduction to the sport in 2015. “We didn’t win a medal in Germany, but at Canada Games we are coming for gold.”

Team Ontario is looking to land itself on the podium in 2019 and improve on their 5th place finish in Prince George, B.C. in 2015. “We have been training as a team regularly since June 2018 and have had many opportunities to play against local CWBL players in order to better prepare ourselves. Team Ontario is super excited to compete!” said Zoë Hahn, a member of both the Ontario Junior and Women’s provincial teams. The team placed 4th at the 2018 Junior National Championship last March.

Wheelchair basketball provincial teams are open to both male and female athletes, with and without physical disabilities, making the sport one the most inclusive in Canada. “Junior-age” wheelchair basketball players at the 2019 Games must be born in or after 1995 (24 years or younger). The wheelchair basketball competition is scheduled to take place during the first week of the Canada Games, from February 15-23, 2019 at the newly-built Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

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About the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association
The Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association (OWSA) is the provincial governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province of Ontario. Our mission is to grow wheelchair sports opportunities across Ontario. We strive to create opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities to participate in any of our sports at recreational, competitive, and high performance levels.

 

About Team Ontario
Team Ontario comes together as a group of 350 athletes, coaches, managers, chaperones, technicians and mission staff from across the province to compete at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer. The team will be represented in all sports competing in the Games. The Canada Games are an important component of our sport system, and a key event in the development of Ontario’s young athletes. The Canada Games provide athletes with an opportunity to compete in a multi-sport atmosphere and prepare them as the next generation of international competitors. Follow Team Ontario on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @GoTeamOntario.

About the Canada Games
The Canada Games is Canada’s largest amateur national multi-sport competition for young athletes. The Games are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer, and play a key role in the development of Canada’s future stars on the national and international stage.

The 2019 Canada Winter Games will be held from February 15 to March 3 in Red Deer, AB bringing together approximately 3600 athletes, coaches, and managers from every province and territory to compete in 19 sports. It will be the largest event ever hosted in Red Deer and central Alberta and one of the largest events to be hosted in Alberta in over three decades, since the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Job Opportunity: Program Coordinator, Wheelchair Basketball

September 6, 2018 12:19 pm Leave a Comment

OWSA seeks full-time Coordinator

The Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association is seeking a dynamic and motivated individual to coordinate wheelchair basketball grassroots initiatives.

Position: Program Coordinator, Wheelchair Basketball
Term: Full time – 1 year contract with potential for ongoing renewal
Location: ON – Metro Toronto Area with travel across the Greater Toronto Area
Application Deadline: September 14, 2018

Experience: Minimum 1-year relevant post secondary education or experience in recreation & leisure, sport and event management, recreation therapy, physical education, or related discipline. Experience working with athletes with disabilities is an asset.

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Position: The successful, motivated and enthusiastic candidate will be responsible for coordinating and managing grassroots wheelchair basketball programs. The Program Coordinator will also be responsible for facilitating the rental component of our wheelchair basketball schools program. The schools program is an outreach and education program designed to introduce teachers and students to the sport of wheelchair basketball. The program is currently funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Armed with sport wheelchairs and resource guides, the Program Coordinator will visit schools in the Greater Toronto Area to teach wheelchair basketball FUNdamentals. The long-term goal of the schools program is to increase participation in wheelchair basketball while contributing to the development of tournaments and leagues.

Specific Duties will include:

• Work with educators to integrate wheelchair basketball into their school’s curriculum.
• Deliver introductory wheelchair sport skills sessions to students and “teach the teacher” how to integrate wheelchair basketball into their week’s activities.
• Inform teachers and students about community-based wheelchair basketball programming and participation opportunities in their area.
• Liaise with school boards, educators and administrators to develop and implement school-based “try it” days, tournaments and 3-on-3 leagues.
• Administer surveys, collect feedback and testimonials and track reporting data from participating schools.
  Coordinate recruitment and orientation of program volunteers
• Establish relationships with wheelchair basketball team representatives, club representatives, coaches and athletes.
• Identify needs and deliver programming, workshops and or one-day events in targeted clubs, communities, recreational facilities or schools.
• Coordinate and oversee the division 3 (recreational) league and skill-development opportunities targeting recreational athletes.
• Develop and maintain athlete lists.

Qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills – verbal and written
• Program development and coordination experience
• Outgoing personality and ability to network, build and develop partnerships
• Strong and effective group facilitation skills
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends
• Ability to travel and work off-site as required for program delivery
• Experience working with athletes with disabilities a definite asset
• Valid driver’s license and use of a vehicle is a must as weekly travel to GTA schools is a requirement of the position.

For further details about the position please view the full job posting on SIRC.

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How to apply

Please forward your application including resume and cover letter by September 14, 2018 to:

Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association
info@onpara.ca

We thank all applicants who apply, but only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

This position is made possible through funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Casting Call for Sisters or Twins

August 28, 2018 11:45 am Leave a Comment

Casting twins or sisters who look alike

Ground Glass Media Inc. is seeking twins or sisters who look alike for a fun insurance commercial. Women must be in the Greater Toronto Area, between the ages of between the ages of 25-35, and at least one sister must have a visible physical disability. Males may also be considered for the role.

Participants will be compensated between $550 – $9,500 per person for one day of filming.

PLEASE NOTE:
– If selected, you will receive $500 for one day of filming + $50 for a wardrobe session + $6,500 if your footage makes the final online or print spots + $2,500 if you footage makes the final TV video.
– If shortlisted, applicants MUST be available for an interview with the director on August 30.
– If selected, applicants MUST be available to film between September 5 for a wardrobe fitting and September 6-8
– Applicants CANNOT have previously appeared in any US insurance or financial service company
– This is a NON-UNION job. We welcome applications from those with no acting experience.

Application

Interested must complete the online application at: https://sisters.castingcrane.com/

Contact

Azitah Ward
GROUND GLASS MEDIA INC.
Real People + Real Stories
Unit 2- 708 Annette St, Toronto, ON M6S 2E2
azitah@groundglassmedia.com
647-562-0767

GROUND GLASS MEDIA INC. is a ‘real people’ casting company, casting people just like you in commercials for brands including Pepsi, McDonald’s, Shell, P&G, Unilever, KFC, Tim Horton’s and Rogers.
groundglassmedia.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundglassmedia/

Six Ontario Athletes Selected for Wheelchair Basketball World Championships

July 31, 2018 11:27 am Leave a Comment

Canada Names 2018 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships Rosters

(July 31, 2018 – OTTAWA, ONT.) Wheelchair Basketball Canada is pleased to announce the athletes selected to represent Canada as members of the Senior Men’s and Women’s National Teams at the IWBF World Championships from August 16-26, 2018 in Hamburg, Germany.

“We congratulate all of the athletes for their hard work and dedication in earning a spot on Team Canada for the 2018 IWBF World Championships,” said Wheelchair Basketball Canada High Performance Director Jeff Dunbrack. “We have two very competitive teams, backed by a strong leadership group and an incredible support staff, and we all look forward to an intense competition in Hamburg. We have made great strides in our development as a program as we hit the midway point in our quad and continue to build towards Tokyo 2020 and beyond.”

“What an exciting day for all the dedicated athletes who have been chosen to represent Canada at the 2018 IWBF World Championships,” said the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport. “This is an opportunity like no other. These athletes will not only have a shot at claiming the World Championship title, but they will also inspire many young Canadian athletes watching from home. I wish our Team Canada athletes the best of luck as they compete in Hamburg, Germany, next month. Canada supports you and is cheering you on!”

The combined Canadian rosters feature 15 Paralympians, five Paralympic gold medallists and seven world champions, alongside nine players who will compete in their first major international competition for Canada.

The athletes named to Team Canada are as follows:

Team Canada Men

Patrick Anderson (Fergus, Ont.)*
Vincent Dallaire (Quebec, Que.)*
David Eng (Montreal, Que.)*
Nikola Goncin (Regina, Sask.)*
Bo Hedges (Wonowon, B.C.)*
Colin Higgins (Rothesay, N.B.)
Chad Jassman (Calgary, Alta.)*
Lee Melymick (Toronto, Ont.)
Tyler Miller (Kitchener, Ont.)*
Ben Moronchuk (Edmonton, Alta.)*
Garrett Ostepchuk (Regina, Sask.)
Jonathan Vermette (Sherbrooke, Que.)*

Team Canada Women

Sandrine Bérubé (Beauharnois, Que.)
Kady Dandeneau (Pender Island, B.C.)
Erica Gavel (Prince Albert, Sask.)*
Melanie Hawtin (Oakville, Ont.)*
Maude Jacques (Lac-Beauport, Que.)
Puisand Lai (Toronto, Ont.)
Rosalie Lalonde (Saint-Clet, Que.)*
Tara Llanes (North Vancouver, B.C.)
Cindy Ouellet (Quebec, Que.)*
Tamara Steeves (Mississauga, Ont.)*
Élodie Tessier (Saint-Germain-de-Grantham, Que.)
Arinn Young (Legal, Alta.)*

*denotes Paralympic experience

On the men’s side, Canada will be led by head coach Matteo Feriani (Padua, Italy) and assistant coaches Joey Johnson (Winnipeg, Man.) and Nicolas Palmer (Laval, Que.). The women’s team coaching staff consists of head coach Marc Antoine Ducharme (Chambly, Que.) and assistants Jason Eng (Montreal, Que.) and Simon Cass (Victoria, B.C.).

The 2018 IWBF World Championships will feature 16 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams vying for the world title as the top athletes in the game showcase the elite skill, pure athleticism and dynamic speed that allows wheelchair basketball to captivate audiences around the globe. The event is a catalyst for promoting inclusion and marks the largest world championship in the history of the sport and one of the largest international parasport events outside of the Paralympic Games.

For more information visit wheelchairbasketball.ca or follow Team Canada along the journey to Hamburg on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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About Wheelchair Basketball Canada

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sport governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is committed to excellence in the development, support and promotion of wheelchair basketball programs and services for all Canadians from grassroots to high performance. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem around the world for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last seven Paralympic Games.

Media Contacts

Courtney Pollock
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
W: 613-260-1296 ext. 203
C: 613-291-6721
cpollock@wheelchairbasketball.ca

Jody Kingsbury
Director, Marketing and Communications
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
W: 613-260-1296 ext. 206
C: 613-851-2337
jkingsbury@wheelchairbasketball.ca

Seven Ontario Wheelchair Rugby Athletes Headed to World Championship

July 26, 2018 11:16 am Leave a Comment

Wheelchair Rugby Canada announces team for 2018 World Wheelchair Rugby Championship

Wheelchair Rugby Canada is proud to announce the 12 athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada at the 2018 World Wheelchair Rugby Championship, to be held in Sydney, Australia, between August 5^th and 10^th.

The athletes nominated to the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Team are as follows:

Cody Caldwell*             Peterborough, ON
Patrice Dagenais*        Embrun, ON
Matt Debly                    Windsor, ON
Trevor Hirschfield*        Parksville, BC
Fabien Lavoie*             Quebec City, QC
Anthony Letourneau     Boisbriand, QC
Travis Murao*             Toronto, ON
Eric Rodrigues           Mississauga, ON
Patrice Simard*            Quebec City, QC
Shayne Smith             Toronto, ON
Branden Troutman       Lloydminster, AB
Mike Whitehead*        Windsor, ON

* Denotes athletes with Paralympic experience

The Canadian team, led by head coach Patrick Côté of Montreal, Que. has seven returning athletes from the team that finished 4^th at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, and five athletes who will be competing at their first major international tournament.

“After a solid tournament at the 2018 Canada Cup, we are confident that this group of athletes represents our best combination, and capable of navigating through a very competitive Pool B” said Head Coach Patrick Cote.

Canada, currently ranked 3^rd in the world, has competed at every single World Championship event since its inception back in 1995.  The team’s best finish came at the 2002 World Championships, where they bested the USA to take home the gold. This win was captured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Murderball”. Canada has also won a pair of silver medals in 1995 and 2014, as well as a pair of bronze medals in 1998 and 2006.

“There won’t be any easy matches in Sydney. They will all be competitive, compelling rugby matches, with a lot on the line. We are, therefore, pleased to have a lot of depth within our team, with a mix of young talent and proven veteran” said Patrick Côté, “We look forward to seeing who we will face in the crossover games.”

In Sydney, Canada will compete in the preliminary round in Pool B alongside USA, Great Britain, France, Colombia and Poland. Reigning Paralympic and world champions Australia, Japan (4), Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark and Ireland will battle in Pool A.

At the conclusion of the preliminary round, all teams will crossover and play in a quarterfinal game.  The winner of each quarter final will advance to the semi finals with the winners advancing to the Championship game.

Team Canada’s schedule is as follows:

August 5          Canada vs. France
August 6          Canada vs. Poland
August 7          Canada vs. Great Britain
August 8          Canada vs. Colombia
August 8          Canada vs. USA
August 9          Crossover Games
August 10        Final Games

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About Wheelchair Rugby Canada            
Wheelchair Rugby Canada is the national governing body for the Canadian Heritage Sport of wheelchair rugby. Wheelchair Rugby Canada strives to be a world-leader in wheelchair rugby, a respected advocate for wheelchair athletes and a visionary organization committed to excellence in programs from recruitment to retirement.

For more information, please contact:
Ben Parker-Jones
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Wheelchair Rugby Canada
Tel: 613.523.0004 Email: ben@cwsa.ca