2019 National Boccia Training Squad Announced
Ottawa, ON (December 20, 2018) – Boccia Canada is pleased to announce the 17 athletes in four classifications named to the 2019 National Boccia Training Squad who will be selected to compete and represent Canada at various International events.
Athletes named to the 2019 National Boccia Training Squad include:
BC1
Lance Cryderman (Val Caron, ON)
Hanif Mawji (Burnaby, BC)
Josée Lamothe (Trois-Rivières, QC)
Éric Lefebvre (Montreal, QC)
BC2
Kristyn Collins (St. John’s, NL)
Mike Mercer (St. John’s, NL)
Haley Redmond (St. John’s, NL)
Dave Richer (Sainte-Julie, QC)
Danik Allard (Bois-Des-Filion, QC)
BC3
Eric Bussière (Verchères, QC)
Bruno Garneau (Montreal, QC)
Joelle Guérette (Montreal, QC)
Philippe Lord (Blainville, QC)
Marylou Martineau (Quebec, QC)
BC4
Iulian Ciobanu (Montreal, QC)
Marco Dispaltro (St-Jérôme, QC)
Alison Levine (Côte Saint Luc, QC)
These athletes have the potential to compete at some of the following competitions based on the 2019 BISFed competition calendar:
- American World Open: Montreal, QC (April 2019)
- Asian World Open: Hong Kong (May 2019)
- Parapan American Games: Lima, Peru (August 2019)
- America Regional Championships: Sao Paulo, Brazil (September 2019)
- European World Open: Povoa, Portugal (October 2019)
2019 National Boccia Training Squad Quotes
“I’m extremely excited about this group of athletes for 2019 and am really looking forward to working with five new athletes that are making the Squad for the first time,” said Mario Delisle, National Team Head Coach. “Along with the coaches and veteran athletes that are setting their sights on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, I am hoping that we can increase the level of play for everybody and eventually show medal potential in all classes.”
“I’m very excited and looking forward to starting this very important Paralympic qualification year with Marco and Iulian,” said Alison Levine, Bc4 athlete. “We are the strongest we’ve ever been in terms of team cohesion and we are definitely going to be ones to watch on the international scene this year.”
“I am very proud of myself and the rest of the newly-named Squad for how hard we have worked to make it here,” said Joelle Guérette, new Bc3 athlete. “I am looking forward to my first year on the Squad and hope to continue to improve and eventually participate in my first international event.”
About Boccia Canada
Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. CCPSA collaborates with partners to increase the participation of Canadians with cerebral palsy and related disabilities in sport and physical activity, while leading, developing and growing boccia from grassroots, to producing World and Paralympic Champions.
About boccia
Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3 BC4, BC5, and Open.
Media Contact
Jennifer Larson
Program Manager, Boccia Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 613-748-1430 x2