Patrick Anderson of Canada's senior men's wheelchair basketball team sets up a shot against Team USA at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Both teams are meeting again this week at Brock for three matches before heading to the Games in London next month. Photo courtesy of Wheelchair Basketball Canada.
Canada’s Sr. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team is holding their final training camp at Brock University before heading to the London 2012 Paralympics.
They will host Team USA in a three-game Pre-Paralympic Test Series July 16, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. Game 3 will be streamed live online for those can’t catch the action in person.
The games will serve as a re-match of the double-overtime thriller in which Canada beat the U.S. in the semi-final game at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics - one of the greatest matches in Canadian wheelchair basketball history. Canada went on to win silver in Beijing, while the U.S. finished fifth.
This week’s pre-Games run could also provide a glimpse of what’s to come in London in a few weeks during the medal round.
Canada heads to London next month, hungry for its third Paralympic gold and fourth consecutive podium finish, following back-to-back gold in 2000 and 2004 and silver in 2008.
The Canadian roster is bolstered by the return of Patrick Anderson (Fergus, ON), considered the No. 1 player in the world, and 11 returning players, nine of whom have Paralympic experience. Seasoned veterans Dave Durepos (Fredericton, NB), Joey Johnson (Winnipeg, MB) and Richard Peter (Vancouver, BC) will tie a Canadian record by competing in their fifth Paralympic Games. It will be the first Paralympic Games for Brandon Wagner (Burlington, ON), Chad Jassman (Calgary, AB) and Tyler Miller (Kitchener, ON).
