Wheelchair Rugby Canada – (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – Canada’s wheelchair rugby team will begin its quest for gold at a test event in Rio this weekend. Team Canada, which is currently ranked #1 in the world, will face off against Australia, Great Britain and Brazil in its Paralympic venue.

“It’s fitting that our road to gold begins here,” said head coach Kevin Orr. “Playing against some of the best teams in the world in the venue we’ll actually be competing in is an amazing opportunity.”

The athletes who will be attending the competition are:

• Byron Green (Vancouver, BC)
• Trevor Hirschfield (Vancouver, BC) – Captain
• Patrice Dagenais (Ottawa, ON) – Captain
• Patrice Simard (Alma, QC)
• Travis Murao (Vancouver, BC)
• David Willsie (Dorchester, ON)
• Cody Caldwell (Peterborough, ON)
• Mike Whitehead (Windsor, ON)
• Fabien Lavoie (Quebec City, QC)
• Garett Hickling (Dorchester, ON)

Competition will begin on Friday, Feb. 26^th and continue to Sunday, Feb. 28^th. The team will be available for interviews over the phone or Skype.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:

Arley Cruthers
Communications Manager, Wheelchair Rugby Canada
Cell: 778-788-9091
Email: arley@cwsa.ca