Canada Basketball – Team Canada to face Australia, China, Cuba, France & Spain in Olympic preparation

TORONTO, ON (May 31, 2016) – Twelve athletes were selected from the first phase of women’s national team training camp to travel to Europe for a five-day tournament in France and Spain in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games.
 
“We’re going to play some teams that are top-ranked in the world and who are peaking to make the Olympics, so it will be a great learning experience,” said Lisa Thomaidis, head coach, women’s national team. “This tournament will give us an understanding of where we’re at – a benchmark, and then stuff to build upon.” 
 
Bridget Carleton (Iowa State), Laura Dally (University of Saskatchewan) and Emily Potter (University of Utah) join 9 members of the 2015 gold medal squad and will travel with the senior team for the first time. Carleton played on the 2015 U19 team and Dally on the 2015 development team. Potter played with the development team in 2014.
 
“We’re pleased with Bridget, Laura and Emily’s progress and to provide them with the opportunity to compete at a high level of international basketball will only continue their development,” said Denise Dignard, director, women’s high performance. “It’s key for us to foster our pipeline of athletes and continue to build the next generation of talent in Canada.” 
 
The five-game tournament tips-off Saturday, June 4^th against 3^rd-ranked Spain. Canada, currently 9^th in FIBA World Rankings, will then face-off against 13^th-ranked Cuba, 4^th-ranked France, 2^nd-ranked Australia and 8^th-ranked China.
 
Canada will re-group on June 28^th in Edmonton for the second phase of training, where they will host China for the Edmonton Grads International Classic (EGIC) from July 9th-11th at the Saville Centre. Tickets are now available, click here to purchase.
 
The final phase of training will begin July 22 in Toronto, ON, where the final Olympic roster will be confirmed. The team will then head to the U.S. for an exhibition tournament before heading to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games from August 5 -21. 
 
The full European Exhibition staff list, roster and schedule follows. Follow Canada Basketball on Twitter for game streaming details and live game coverage.
 

2016 EUROPEAN EXHIBITION ROSTER

 

NAME	POSITION	HEIGHT	HOMETOWN	CLUB/SCHOOL
Miranda Ayim	Power Forward	6’3”	London, ON	Basket Landes (France)
Bridget Carleton	Guard	6’1	Chatham, ON	Iowa State (NCAA)
Laura Dally	Guard	6’0”	Sarnia, ON	Saskatchewan (CIS)
Kim Gaucher	Shooting Guard	6’1”	Mission, BC	Mondeville (France)
Miah-Marie Langlois	Point Guard	5’8”	Windsor, ON	Dynamo-Guvd Novosibirsk (Russia)
Lizanne Murphy	Small Forward	6’1”	Beaconsfield, QC	Angers (France)
Katherine Plouffe	Small Forward	6’3”	Edmonton, AB	Nantes Reze (France)
Michelle Plouffe	Small Forward	6’3”	Edmonton, AB	Mondeville (France)
Emily Potter	Centre	6’4”	Winnipeg, MB	Utah (NCAA)
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe	Forward	6’2”	Penticton, BC	Wasserburg (Germany)
Tamara Tatham	Small Forward	6’1”	Brampton, ON	Townville Fire (Australia)
Shona Thorburn	Point Guard	5’10”	Hamilton, ON	Nantes Reze (France)

 

2016 SENIOR COACHES & STAFF

Name	Hometown	Affiliation	Role
Lisa Thomaidis	Dundas, ON	University of Saskatchewan	Head Coach
Shawnee Harle	Calgary, AB	n/a	Assistant Coach
Bev Smith	Eugene, OR	n/a	Assistant Coach
Steve Baur	Sackville, NS	Canada Basketball	Assistant Coach
Dipesh Mistry	Markham, ON	Ryerson University	Performance Analyst
Joan Mlynarczyk	Toronto, ON	n/a	SW Physiotherapist & Therapy Lead
Danielle Dobney	Toronto, ON	McGill University	Athletic Therapist
Chris DalCin	Toronto, ON	n/a	Basketball Scientist
Sarah Kim	Toronto, ON	n/a	Lead Physician
Marni Wesner	Edmonton, AB	University of Alberta	Edmonton Lead Physician
Peter Jensen	Toronto, ON	n/a	Sport Psychologist
Susan Cockle	Edmonton, AB	n/a	Sport Psychologist
Anne Marie Thuss	Hamilton, ON	McMaster University	Team Manager
Elaine Sun	Thornhill, ON	Canada Basketball	Team Manager

 

2016 SUMMER SCHEDULE

June 1-9	Spain Tournament Saturday, June 4 vs Spain Sunday, June 5 vs Cuba   France Tournament Tuesday, June 7vs. France Wednesday, June 8 vs. Australia Thursday, June 9 vs. China	Spain & France
June 26-July 8	Phase 2 camp	Saville Centre, Edmonton
July 9-11	Edmonton Grads International Classic vs Team China Game Times: Saturday, July 9th @ 7:00 p.m. MST Sunday, July 10th @ 4:00p.m. MST Monday, July 11th @ 7:00 p.m. MST	Saville Centre, Edmonton
July 22-26	Phase 3 Training	TBC, Toronto
July 27-31	Phase 3 Exhibition	TBC, USA
August 5-21	Olympic Games	Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

 

Schedule, staffing and athletes subject to change. -30- For More Information & Media Requests, contact: Bailey Williams, bwilliams@basketball.ca, 647.460.7976

ABOUT THE EDMONTON GRADS INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC 2016 marks the 2nd Edmonton Grads International Classic (EGIC), an event highlighting the relationship between Canada Basketball’s Women’s National Team and the City of Edmonton. The tournament will take place from July 9-11th at the Saville Community Sports Centre. Named after the legendary Edmonton grads women’s basketball team – a team which swept four consecutive Olympic Games from 1924 to 1936 on their way to compiling an insurmountable 96.2 winning-percentage over 35 years – the EGIC will reconnect current players with Canada’s rich history in women’s basketball. For more information visit basketball.ca or click here to purchase tickets.