BC Wheelchair Basketbali – November 25, 2019 (Vancouver B.C.)  BC Wheelchair Basketball’s top competitive athletes begin their competitive season this weekend. The 2019-2020 opening CWBL tournament will be hosted at the Saville Centre, Edmonton, November 30 and December 1, 2019.

“This Team BC roster is a mix of rookie and veteran players,” states Simon Cass, Head Provincial Coach.  “By going with seven players on our roster for the Edmonton tournament, it will give us some strong line-up options.  It will be a good chance to see where we (BC Royals) match up against the other Western Canadian teams, and provide development opportunities for all of the players attending.”

BC Royals finished in 3rd place at the 2019 CWBL Open National Championship. After a tough loss in round-robin play to the 3-time reigning champs, Laval Gladiateurs, the BC Royals went on to play for the bronze medal where we beat Team Saskatchewan to take the Bronze Medal.

BC Royals, 2019 CWBL National Championship Team.
Photo Credit: Wheelchair Basketball Canada

BC Wheelchair Basketball is pleased to announce the following athletes named to the BC Royals travelling to Alberta this week:

Joel Aukema – 4.5 (Langley)                         Ben Hagkull – 2.5 (Chilliwack)          

Tara Llanes – 1.5 (North Vancouver)             Aidan Love – 1.0 (Victoria)       

Derek Mitchell – 4.5 (Vancouver)                  Amanda Pinheiro (née Yan) – 3.0 (Burnaby)

Alphonsus To – 4.5 Vancouver)

Joel Aukema (Langley) and Ben Hagkull (Chilliwack were key members of Team BC at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, and Tara Llanes (North Vancouver) and Amanda Pinherio (Burnaby) brought home Bronze as members of the BC Breakers at the 2019 CWBL Women’s National Championship. 

BC Royals rookie player, Aukema is up for the challenge. “Being selected to play in my first CWBL tournament is a great way to gain confidence and experience as a player,” commented Aukema.  “This is a step up from my previous tournament experiences and I am ready to play at this higher level and represent Team BC again.” Rookie player, Derek Mitchell is joining the team for the first time at this level as well, having started in 2018 with the Bridging the Gap program.

Tournament Schedule: Saville Centre, Edmonton

Saturday, November 30, 2019
9:30am Alberta Northern Lights vs Calgary Grizzlies
11:15am BC Royals vs Team Saskatchewan
1:00pm Alberta Northern Lights vs BC Royals
2:45pm Calgary Grizzlies vs Team Saskatchewan
4:30pm Calgary Grizzlies vs BC Royals

Sunday, December 1, 2019
9:00am BC Royals vs Team Saskatchewan
11:00am Alberta Northern Lights vs Team Saskatchewan
1:00am Alberta Northern Lights vs Calgary Grizzlies

About BC Wheelchair Basketball Society
The BC Wheelchair Basketball Society (BCWBS) is the provincial sports’ governing body which provides support to wheelchair basketball programs throughout BC. BCWBS’s mission is to provide experiences that inspire inclusion, participation and excellence through wheelchair basketball.
 
About the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League
The Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League (CWBL) was founded in 1986 and has two primary divisions: the open division and the women’s division. The league features wheelchair basketball club teams from across Canada and culminates each season with a national league championship for each division. The league is fully integrated as both divisions welcome athletes with a disability as well as able-bodied athletes to play in the spirit of competition. It often features some of the country’s best wheelchair basketball players, including past, present and future members of Team Canada.

For more information:
Please contact:
Michelle Comeau
BCWBS Communications Manager
Mobile: 403-512-7671 or email: michellercomeau@gmail.com