Hoopfest 2019 set for November 6 at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

Paralympian and Team Toyota member, Nik Goncin, named honorary chair

Funds raised support Canadians living with a disability to experience the life-changing benefits of wheelchair basketball

(Toronto, Ont.) Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s signature fundraising event, Hoopfest, is back this November. Hoopfest, presented by Toyota Canada, will take place November 6, 2019 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre with up to 16 participating teams going head-to-head in this fun and completely inclusive 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball tournament.

The half day corporate challenge builds team spirit and allows corporate and community teams to enjoy the thrill of wheelchair basketball and interact with Team Canada athletes, all while raising funds to enable more Canadians to experience the life-changing benefits of the sport.

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is pleased to announce Paralympian Nik Goncin as the Honorary Chair for Hoopfest 2019. This summer, Goncin was named to Team Toyota – a group of 10 inspirational Canadian athletes that Toyota Canada will be following on the road to the 2020 Paralympic and Olympic Games in Tokyo. Just two weeks ago, Goncin helped the Canadian Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team win a silver medal at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, thereby qualifying for Tokyo.

“Wheelchair basketball has had a profound impact in my life,” says Goncin, who lost his left leg to cancer at the age of 15. “It played a huge role in helping me deal with the new limitations I thought that I had.

“Being surrounded by such athletic people, and people with disabilities of all sorts, helped me to accept myself and rebuild the self-confidence I once had. Self-image and confidence problems plague many people with disabilities and what wheelchair basketball did for me, as it does for many, is help rebuild this. I am once again confident in myself and have direction in my life all thanks to wheelchair basketball. Being involved in Hoopfest is my way of giving back to help other athletes reach their dreams too.”

Teams of 4-6 players can register now at wheelchairbasketball.ca/hoopfest. The team registration fee is $1,500. All funds raised will support opportunities for Canadians living with a disability to play wheelchair basketball.

To date Hoopfest has raised more than $37,000 in support of grassroots wheelchair basketball programming.

“Hoopfest will be a blast!” says Goncin. “Me and my teammates will be coaching the teams and giving out some tips and tricks, so I hope to meet you on November 6.”

For more information about Hoopfest visit wheelchairbasketball.ca.