Wheelchair Rugby Canada – (Toronto, ON) – Though Canada’s wheelchair rugby team is focused on its quest for gold in Rio, Director of Development Duncan Campbell will have his sights set on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games when he searches for wheelchair rugby’s next stars at the Wheelchair Rugby Prospects Camp in Toronto from Jan. 11 – 14. Campbell, who is a co-founder of wheelchair rugby, has invited eight new athletes from across Canada to train with national team staff in an intensive environment.

“We’re ranked number one for the first time in 13 years and if we want to stay there, we need to find the next Zak Madell or Trevor Hirschfield,” said Campbell. “This camp is aimed at athletes the very beginning of their career. If we can give them a foundation of skills early on, we can accelerate their progress.”

The selected athletes are:
·      Joel Ewert (Prince George, BC)
·      Jeff Scott (Victoria, BC)
·      Mike Barker (Calgary, AB)
·      Branden Troutman (Edmonton, AB)
·      John Loeppky (Regina, SK)
·      Matt Delby (Windsor, ON)
·      Anthony Letourno (Montreal, QC)
·      Jeremy McDonald (Halifax, NS)

The athletes will be joined by peer mentor Kristen Cameron. Cameron, who is the niece of Ottawa Senators coach Dave Cameron, was a high-level hockey player and coach before she sustained a spinal cord injury.

Many of the athletes attending next week’s camp were inspired to take part thanks to the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games. Ewert’s family, for example, flew him out from BC to watch the gold medal game in person. This year’s camp is also unique because half of the athletes attending participated in wheelchair basketball at the 2015 Canada Winter Games last year. After the Canada Games, Wheelchair Basketball Canada helped to identify Canada Games athletes who might also be appropriate for wheelchair rugby.

The Prospects Camp will take place from Jan. 11 – 14 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. From Jan. 15 – 16, TPASC will also host the Toronto Invitational Wheelchair Rugby Tournament. ​

 

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

 

Arley Cruthers

Communications Manager

Wheelchair Rugby Canada

778-788-9091
arley@cwsa.ca