WINNIPEG, July 28, 2022 – Racquetball Canada is pleased to announce the teams that will represent Canada at the upcoming World Championships being held from August 19 to 27 at La Loma Centro Deportivo in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Overall, the 2022 World Championships team has a lot of experience that could lead to podium success. Six of the members of Team Canada competed at the 2021 World Championships, with several members having represented Canada on a number of occasions. Combined, Frédérique Lambert, Samuel Murray, Coby Iwaasa and Michèle Morissette have competed for Canada fifteen times at the world level. Lambert has won three bronze World Championships medals and Murray has won two.
Lee Connell and Juliette Parent also represented Canada at the 2021 World Championships. This will be the first World Championships appearance for Kurtis Cullen and Danielle Drury.
Michel Gagnon and Evan Pritchard have been selected as the coaches for Team Canada. Amy Barrette returns as the Team therapist and Racquetball Canada’s High Performance Director, Jen Saunders, is the Team Manager.
The World Championships are normally held every two years, but a tournament was held in the fall of 2021 to make up for postponements due to COVID. This year’s tournament will be a return to the competition cycle. The International Racquetball Federation introduced Mixed Doubles and the Team Event back into the competition format this past year, along with scoring changes. The result is a very exciting tournament.
Watch Racquetball Canada’s website and social channels for more information about our team and the World Championships leading up to the event. The IRF typically streams the championship round and Team Event live on Facebook and YouTube. Links to our social channels can be found at the bottom of this announcement.
Racquetball Canada wishes the best to all the athletes and coaches as they prepare for the championships. National team members are gathered in Winnipeg from July 22 to 24 for a training camp and the opportunity to work together on the court.
World Championships Team
| Athlete | Residence | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Connell | Saskatoon, SK | Men’s Singles |
| Kurtis Cullen | Brandon, MB | Men’s Singles |
| Danielle Drury | Saskatoon, SK | Women’s Singles |
| Coby Iwaasa | Lethbridge, AB | Men’s Doubles |
| Frédérique Lambert | Montréal, QC | Women’s & Mixed Doubles |
| Michèle Morissette | Baie-Comeau, QC | Women’s Doubles |
| Samuel Murray | Saint-Hubert, QC | Men’s & Mixed Doubles |
| Juliette Parent | Saint-Jacques,QC | Women’s Singles |
World Championships Team Support Staff
| Name | Residence | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Michel Gagnon | Longueuil, QC | Head Coach |
| Evan Pritchard | Winnipeg,MB | Assistant Coach |
| Amy Barrette | Baie-Comeau, QC | Therapist |
| Jen Saunders | Winnipeg, MB | Team Manager |
Racquetball Canada
Racquetball Canada is the National Sport Organization for the sport of racquetball. As a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, our mission is to coordinate, govern and encourage the advancement of racquetball from the grassroots to the elite level across Canada. Our vision is to be a visible, vibrant sport enjoyed coast to coast by Canadians of all ages and abilities. For more information visit our website.
Media Contact:
Jan Hanson
Communications, Diversity & Safe Sport Director
communications@racquetballcanada.ca I 306.502.4422