One Week to Go Until the 2018 Canada Cup

(Vancouver B.C.) There’s only one week left until the 2018 Canada Cup International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament tips-off at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Six of the world’s best wheelchair rugby teams will compete in the 8th Canada Cup, the final competition ahead of the 2018 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships in Sydney, Australia.

The action gets underway on Thursday June 14, with the hosts 3rd-ranked Team Canada taking on Sweden at 5pm. Round-robin play runs from June 14-16 with the tournament finals taking place on June 17.

Team Canada are bringing a new-look squad to the tournament with five players set to make their Canada Cup debut, alongside 7 returning Paralympians including co-captain and Vancouver-resident Trevor Hirschfield. Currently ranked 3rd in the world, the team will be using the Canada Cup to prepare for the World Championships.

“We are very excited for the 2018 Canada Cup,” says tournament chair Gail Hamamoto. “Fans and spectators are guaranteed excitement as the world-class athletes bring their best to B.C.”

Team Canada includes the following athletes:
*Cody Caldwell (Peterborough, Ont.)
*Patrice Dagenais (Embrun, Ont.)
Matt Debly (Windsor, Ont.)
*Trevor Hirschfield (Parksville, B.C.)
*Fabien Lavoie (Québec City, Que.)
Anthony Létourneau (Boisbriand, Que.)
*Travis Murao (Toronto, Ont.)
Eric Rodrigues (Mississauga, Ont.)
*Patrice Simard (Quebec City, Que.)
Shayne Smith (Toronto, Ont.)
Branden Troutman (Edmonton, Alta.)
*Mike Whitehead (Windsor, Ont.)
*Athlete with Paralympic experience

For more information about the Canada Cup or to schedule an interview, contact:
Nathan Bragg
Communications Coordinator
BC Wheelchair Sports Association | Canada Cup International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament
communications@bcwheelchairsports.com
Phone: 604.333.3520 ext. 203 | Cell: 604.715.7298

Ben Parker-Jones
Communications and Marketing Manager
Wheelchair Rugby Canada
ben@cwsa.ca
Phone: 613.523.0004