(CHARLOTTETOWN, Î.-P.-É.) – For the first time in Canada Games history, Team BC won gold in wheelchair basketball, beating Alberta 79-32 on Saturday in Charlottetown, PEI- P.-E.
Since making their wheelchair basketball debut at the Canada Games in 1995 in Grand Prairie, Alta., British Columbia’s best result at the Games has been second place (1995, 2003), with a bronze medal ( 1999). Alberta has won gold twice (1995, 2019) and a bronze medal in 2015.
“I’ve been involved in the sport all my life and this is the most special moment I’ve ever had,” exclaimed BC coach Simon Cass. “It’s an incredible group of young people; they worked incredibly hard: empty gymnasiums, long days – all together. We pulled it off as a team and it’s great to see – and it all ended up being our best performance in eight years in the biggest game. Myself and the rest of the coaching staff couldn’t be more proud. . »
British Columbia went a perfect 5-0 at the 2022 National Junior Championship in Charlottetown and went undefeated at the Canada Winter Games, finishing 5-0 to win gold.
Gabe Harrison led the way for BC with a triple-double, scoring a game-high 27 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. Nick van Bakel added 26 points and five rebounds.
“The whole game was a real team win and I think we pulled together and did what we had to do,” van Bakel said. “This team, throughout the National Junior Championship and the Canada Games, we’re undefeated – I think that’s a testament to the work we’ve done over the last eight years, 12 years for some, and I’m really happy to do it with these players. »
Alberta was led by Reed De’Aeth, who recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jayna Doll added 10 points and four rebounds.
“The first thing that comes to mind is coming back to a gold medal game with a fairly young team and going through a pandemic – I think that’s sensational,” argued the Alberta coach Darrell Nordell. “Certainly the experience and leadership of long-serving players has helped us throughout the week – you’ve seen some of the players who could really manage to play at this level and there are players who needed of this experience for the next Canada Games in 2027.”
Quebec defeated Manitoba 75-46 to win the bronze medal at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Quebec also earned the bronze medal in 2019, beating New Brunswick 56-55 in Red Deer, Alta.
Collin Lalonde had a game-high 29 points, 10 assists and five rebounds on Saturday afternoon. Lionel Tamoki had 16 points, five assists and five rebounds, while Alex Bougie had 13 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.
“Losing to Alberta on Friday in the semi-finals, especially after we were in the lead, was tough for us,” said Quebec coach Nic Palmer. “But we were able to regroup for today’s game. Also, hats off to Manitoba – this team played very well in the tournament. »
“We were lucky to have a solid bench and these players played well today; so we were able to perform at a high level. I’m super proud of my team. »
Thomas Thevenot led Manitoba with 19 points and seven rebounds. Callum Johnson finished with 10 points and five rebounds for Manitoba, bettering his seventh-place finish in 2019.
In the consolation playoff, New Brunswick took fifth place with a 66-44 win over Saskatchewan. Ontario outscored Newfoundland 44-27 to finish seventh at the Canada Winter Games.
Austin MacLellan led New Brunswick with 24 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. Jake Fudge added 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Ibrahim Odza scored a game-high 16 points, five assists and four rebounds for Ontario. Desmond O’Shaughnessy had 10 points and 13 rebounds in the win.
The Canada Games are a milestone in the continued development of the next generation of Canadian wheelchair basketball champions at the national, world and Paralympic Games levels. The competition will feature current and future members of the Canadian National Team program, including those hoping to represent Canada at the IWBF World Championships and Parapan Am Games.
The full tournament schedule and results can be found here. Photos from the matches can be found here. Games are streamed on the official Canada Games web portal. Join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #CGwheelchairbball.
About the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island
As a province known for its hospitality, we are thrilled to host the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island. From February 18 to March 5, 2023, the Games will bring together 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches, in 20 sports, for the largest multi-sport event in the country. With expected economic benefits of over $100 million, the 29e edition of the Canada Games will be the largest organized event in Prince Edward Island’s history.
About Wheelchair Basketball Canada
The national sports governing body responsible for organizing sport in Canada, Wheelchair Basketball Canada is a not-for-profit, charitable organization committed to excellence in the development, support and promotion of wheelchair basketball programs and services. wheelchair basketball for all Canadians, from grassroots to high performance. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, high-energy competitive sport for which Canada is held in high regard around the world, with a combined total of six gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze at the last seven Paralympic Games. For more information, please visit www.wheelchairbasketball.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Dhiren Mahiban
Communications and Digital Media Manager
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
416-574-6682
[email protected]
