Pair of wins propels Canada into quarters at World Wheelchair Rugby
Canada advances to World Wheelchair Rugby Championship.
A 59-42 win over Brazil for the sixth-ranked Canadians secured their place in the quarter-finals on Friday. The semi-finals are on Saturday and the medal games on Sunday.
Canada finished third overall in their group after a narrow 58-56 win over fourth-placed Denmark later in the day.
He will meet the runner-up from Group A in his first knockout round.
Canada’s depth shone in Brazil’s win, with 10 different players scoring points. Matt Debly of Windsor, Ont., led the team with 19 points. Zak Madell, who led Canada in each of its previous three games, scored 10 points in the first quarter before resting for the rest of the win.
WATCH | What are the challenges of the wheelchair rugby world championships:
Three-time Paralympian Zak Madell joins Anastasia Bucsis to discuss Canada’s goals at the 2022 Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in Denmark.
Group A includes Great Britain (No. 2), USA (No. 3), France (No. 5), New Zealand (No. 8), Germany (No. 10) and Switzerland (#12). The top four teams from each group advance to Friday’s quarter-finals, which are being held at the world championship for the first time. The semi-finals are on Saturday, with the medal games on Sunday.
More than 130 players, including a record 13 women – three of whom are members of the Australian squad – will take part in the event.
In September, Canada beat reigning Paralympic champions Great Britain in the Quad Nations final and showed significant growth since the disappointing arrival in Tokyo,
Canada’s 12-member world championship team, which includes 11 Paralympians, also won silver in June at the Canada Cup in Richmond, BC.
The Canadians won silver at the 2014 world championships and are seeking their first world title since 2002.
WATCH | Canada defeats Brazil:
Watch Canada take on Brazil at the 2022 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships from Vejle Denmark.
Canada’s List
- Zak Madell— Okotoks, AB.
- Fabien Lavoie Quebec City
- Mike Whitehead— Windsor, Ont.
- Matt Debly – Windsor, Ont.
- Shayne Smith— Toronto
- Cody Caldwell – Peterborough, Ont.
- Anthony Letourneau — Boisbriand, Que.
- Travis Murao— Toronto
- Patrice Dagenais Embrun, Ont.
- Trevor Hirschfield – Parksville, BC
- Eric Rodrigues — Mississauga, Ont.
- Byron Green—Vancouver
cbc sp
