Twenty-four athletes selected to represent Canada in Chile
Twenty-four wheelchair basketball players have been selected to represent Canada at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Wheelchair Basketball Canada announced on Tuesday.
Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan Am Team – WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL – Women’s Team
- Kady Dandeneau – Pender Island, BC
- Sofia Fassi-Fehri – Montreal, QC
- Melanie Hawtin – Oakville, ON
- Bethany Johnson – Winnipeg, MB
- Puisand Lai – Toronto, ON
- Rosalie Lalonde – Saint-Clet, QC
- Tara Llanes – North Vancouver, BC
- Cindy Ouellet – Quebec City, QC
- Desiree Isaac-Pictou – Eel River Bar First Nation, NB
- Tamara Steeves – Mississauga, ON
- Élodie Tessier – Saint-Germain de Grantham, QC
- Arinn Young – Legal, AB
Coaches
Paul Bowes (Woodstock, Ont.) – Head Coach
Dylan Carter (Toronto, Ont.) – Assistant Coach
Joe Higgins (Delta, B.C.) – Assistant Coach
Janet Zeltinger (Vancouver, B.C.) – Assistant Coach*
(*Janet Zeltinger will not be on-site in Santiago)
Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan Am Team – WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL – Men’s Team
- Patrick Anderson – Fergus, ON
- Vincent Dallaire – Quebec City, QC
- Reed De’Aeth – Sherwood Park, AB
- Nik Goncin – Regina, SK
- Bo Hedges – Wonowon, BC
- Colin Higgins – Rothesay, NB
- Chad Jassman – Calgary, AB
- Lee Melymick – Toronto, ON
- Tyler Miller – Kitchener, ON
- Blaise Mutware – Toronto, ON
- Garrett Ostepchuk – Regina, SK
- Jonathan Vermette – Sherbrooke, QC
Coaches
Matteo Feriani (Padova, Italy) – Head Coach
Nicolas Palmer (Laval, Que.) – Assistant Coach
Santiago 2023 is a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – one spot is available in each of the men’s and women’s competitions, with the gold medallists on each side qualifying for next summer’s Games.
Nine members of the women’s team are returning from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, including co-captains Cindy Ouellet and Tara Llanes. Sofia Fassi-Fehri, Bethany Johnson and Desiree Isaac-Pictou will make their Parapan American Games debuts in Santiago.
“We know it’s a big competition for Paris qualification – probably the most important one we’ve had so far with this group,” said Ouellet. “There’s one opportunity in Chile. We’re going to compete at our best, and we’re going to come out ready to compete. We know Brazil will be tough, and the U.S. is always a formidable opponent.
“We’ll do our best. We’ve been working on the team culture, and we’ll be ready.”
The women’s team finished fifth in Tokyo and fifth at the 2022 IWBF World Championships in Dubai. They are the second-ranked team from the Americas, behind the United States.
At the 2019 Parapan Am Games in Lima, Kady Dandeneau and Arinn Young paced Canada past the Americans to win gold.
The women will play in Group A against Brazil, El Salvador, and Colombia. The competition commences in Santiago on November 18 and ends with the medal games on November 24.
The SWNT will compete at the Parapan Am Games in honour of Maude Jacques. Jacques, a long-time SWNT member, returned to the sport this season after retiring in 2020. A London 2012 Paralympian, Jacques passed away at 31 earlier this month. She was to be part of the team representing Canada in Santiago.
“We have a good team going to Santiago. Our focus is winning,” Ouellet added. “We’re going to be playing for Maude.”
On the men’s side, co-captains Nik Goncin and Bo Hedges, along with Patrick Anderson, are among the 11 returning members from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Reed De’Aeth will make his Parapan American Games debut after suiting up with the national team at the 2022 Americas Cup and 2022 IWBF World Championships.
“We’ve got a good group of athletes, which has been consistent with our last few major events and tournaments, so that allows us to build as we move forward,” said Hedges. “I’m excited about Santiago, and I think our group is ready for the tournament.”
Canada finished eighth in Tokyo and was sixth at the 2022 IWBF World Championships. Canada is ranked second in the Americas zone, behind the United States.
Canada won silver at the 2019 Parapan Am Games, falling to the U.S. in the gold medal game in Lima.
In Santiago, the men will compete in Group A against Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela. The tournament starts November 18 and runs through November 25.
“It’s an important step for qualification for the Paralympics; it always has been,” Hedges said. “It’s a little different now in how it is built out, but you’ve always had to do well at the Parapan American Games to give yourself an opportunity to go to the Paralympics. It’s no different now, and the competition is as strong as it has ever been in our zone, so it’s not going to be an easy tournament.”
“Congratulations to all 24 wheelchair basketball players on their nomination to the team,” said Karolina Wisniewska, co-chef de mission, Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan Am Team. “I know each athlete is excited and ready to compete for Canada, and we are proud to have them wear the Canada jersey. We would also like to recognize the loss of Maude Jacques, who was an integral member of the team. We will be 100 per cent behind the women’s team as they play in Maude’s honour at the Games. We are wishing both teams the best of luck in Santiago, and will be there to cheer them on.”
“I am so pleased to welcome the women’s and men’s wheelchair basketball teams to the Canadian Parapan Am Team,” said Josh Vander Vies, co-chef de mission. “The Parapan Am Games has been circled on their calendars for months now, and it’s a critical tournament for them en route to the Paralympic Games. We know the teams will be focused and prepared, and as co-chefs, Karolina and I will be supporting them all the way through.”
Additional Support Staff
Danielle de Laat (Hamilton, Ont.) – Senior Men’s Physiotherapist
Paul Murata (Toronto, Ont.) – Senior Women’s Athletic Therapist
Dr. Steve Dilkas (Toronto, Ont.) – Team Physician
Joe Leszner (Thornhill, Ont.) – Mental Performance Consultant
Jesse McNalley (Toronto, Ont.) – Performance Analyst
Colby Hathaway (Four Falls, N.B.) – Strength & Conditioning Coach
Jeff Dunbrack (Halifax, N.S.) – High Performance Director
Hailey Roll (Mississauga, Ont.) – High Performance Coordinator
“The Parapan Am Games is a crucial step for us to qualify for the 2024 Paralympics,” said Wheelchair Basketball Canada High Performance Director Jeff Dunbrack. “The athletes have been working extremely hard in preparation for the Parapan Am Games. We are looking forward to producing results thanks to the efforts that our athletes, coaches and staff have put in.”
The Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games will take place November 17-26, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 140 athletes.