Canadian men’s team to host Dutch in Toronto
Canada will host the Netherlands for a series of friendlies highlighted by Feature Game on July 2
(TORONTO, ONT.) – The Canadian Senior Men’s team will play host to the Netherlands from June 27-July 2 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Thirteen athletes will participate in on-court and off-court activities over the six-day camp.
The camp will serve as the final preparation for the men’s team before they head to São Paulo, Brazil, for the Americas Cup (July 13-18). The top four men’s teams at the Americas Cup will earn the right to represent the IWBF Americas in Dubai at the World Championships (Nov. 16-27, 2022).
“This camp will serve as the final preparation before our senior men’s team heads to the Americas Cup qualifier,” said Jeff Dunbrack, Wheelchair Basketball Canada High Performance Director. “The games against the Dutch will provide our team with excellent competition as we look to fine-tune aspects of our game before the tournament in Brazil.”
The Canadian men’s team will play in a series of four games against the Dutch during the camp highlighted by the Feature Game on Saturday, July 2 at 4 p.m. ET at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The Feature Game is free and open to the public.
Those attending the Feature Game will get to see the athletes representing Team Canada this summer at both the Americas Cup and Commonwealth Games.
The 13 athletes participating are:
Blaise Mutware (Toronto, Ont.)
Ben Hagkull (Chilliwack, B.C.)
Chad Jassman (Calgary, Alta.)
Colin Higgins (Rothesay, N.B.)
Garrett Ostepchuk (Regina, Sask.)
Jesse Heubner (Kitchener, Ont.)
Lee Melymick (Toronto, Ont.)
Nik Goncin (Regina, Sask.)
Patrick Anderson (Edmonton, Alta.)
Reed De’Aeth (Sherwood Park, Alta.)
Bo Hedges (Wonowon, B.C.)
Tyler Miller (Kitchener, Ont.)
Vincent Dallaire (Quebec City, Que.)
Coaches
Matteo Feriani (Padova, Italy) – Senior Men’s Head Coach
Joey Johnson (Winnipeg, Man.) – Senior Men’s Assistant Coach
Nicolas Palmer (Laval, Que.) – Senior Men’s Assistant Coach
Additional Wheelchair Basketball Canada Support Staff
Brett Nagata (Toronto, Ont.) – Senior Men’s Athletic Therapist & WBC Lead Therapist
Colby Hathaway (Four Falls, N.B.) – Strength & Conditiioning Coach
Luke Vanderheyden (Hamilton, Ont.) – Physical Preparation Specialist
Joe Leszner (Thornhill, Ont.) – Mental Performance Consultant
Dylan Carter (Toronto, Ont.) – Performance Analyst
Jeff Dunback (Halifax, N.S.) – High Performance Director
Hailey Roll (Mississauga, Ont.) – High Performance Coordinator
About Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sports governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to excellence in developing, supporting, and promoting wheelchair basketball programs and services from grassroots to high performance for all Canadians. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem worldwide for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last seven Paralympic Games. For more information, please visit wheelchairbasketball.ca.
Media looking to conduct interviews during the camp or attend the Feature Game should contact:
Dhiren Mahiban
Communications & Digital Media Manager
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
C: 416-574-6682
dmahiban@wheelchairbasketball.ca