(Ottawa, Ont.) Wheelchair Basketball Canada is pleased to announce the 12 athletes named to the 2014 Canadian Senior Men’s National Wheelchair Basketball Team.
The roster features a group of experienced veterans and new talent as Team Canada begins the next phase of preparations toward competing for the gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
“With the departure of some of our veterans comes the opportunity for new blood and energy to enter our program at the elite level,” said Team Canada Head Coach Jerry Tonello. “The team is now comprised of an even combination of new and veteran players and this will be an excellent mix for mentorship development and skill transference within the team. The core values of our team still remain with the emphasis on effort and the will to compete.”
The 12 athletes named to Team Canada are: (athletes’ city of residence indicated / returning athletes denoted with a *)
- Aaron Moseley-Williams (Winnipeg, Man.) *
- Abdi Dini (Scarborough, Ont.) *
- Adam Lancia (Halifax, N.S.) *
- Chad Jassman (Calgary, Alta.) *
- David Eng (Montreal, Que.) *
- Deion Green (Victoria, B.C.)
- Jonathan Vermette (Sherbrooke, Que.)
- Nikola Goncin (Regina, Sask.) *
- Philippe Vermette (Sherbrooke, Que.)
- Robert “Bo” Hedges (Wonowon, B.C.) *
- Tyler Miller (Kitchener, Ont.) *
- Vincent Dallaire (Quebec, Que.)
Head Coach: Jerry Tonello (Toronto, Ont.)
Eight athletes are returning from last year’s team, including six players that captured the gold medal for Canada at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Four rookies were also named to the team.
The team was named following an annual, weeklong selection camp at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas that included 19 of the top players in the country.
About Team Canada
The Senior Men’s National Team went undefeated at the London 2012 Paralympics to capture their third gold medal in four Paralympic Games. It is the latest accomplishment in a sport dynasty that has placed them on the podium at four consecutive Paralympics and at five of the last six World Championships.