VANCOUVER, July 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian Blind Sports is pleased to name the athletes nominated to the Canadian men's and women's National Goalball teams who will compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The Canadian Blind Sports Women's Goalball Team enters this year's Paralympics as a medal favorite. The women placed first at the IBSA World Championships and Games held in April 2011 in Antalya, Turkey.
Canadian Blind Sports proudly names the following athletes to the Women's National Goalball Team:
| Name | Hometown | Residence |
| Ashlie Andrews | Penticton, BC | Vancouver, BC |
| Nancy Morin | Longueuil, QC | Longueuil, QC |
| Jillian MacSween | Halifax, NS | Ottawa, ON |
| Cassandra Orgeles | Fort Erie, ON | Ottawa, ON |
| Amy Kneebone | Charlottetown, PEI | Ottawa, ON |
| Whitney Bogart | Thunder Bay, ON | Ottawa, ON |
The Women's National Team coaching staff consists of Janice Dawson (Hometown: Ottawa, ON; Residence: Calgary, AB) as Head Coach and Natalie Scott (Hometown: Regina SK; Residence: Outlook, SK) as Assistant Coach.
On the men's side, the Canadian Blind Sports Men's Goalball Team placed third at the IBSA World Championships and Games and boasts veteran Mario Caron, who will be participating in his seventh Paralympic Games.
Canadian Blind Sports proudly names the following athletes to the Men's National Goalball Team:
| Name | Hometown | Residence |
| Brendan Gaulin | Montreal, QC | Vancouver, BC |
| Mario Caron | St Jean Port Joli, QC | St Eustache, QC |
| Bruno Hache | Montreal, QC | Dorval, QC |
| Ahmad Zeividavi | Vancouver, BC | Vancouver BC |
| Doug Ripley | Powell River, BC | New Westminster, BC |
| Simon Tremblay | Alma, QC | Quebec, QC |
National men's team Head Coach Danny Snow (Hometown: Lachine, QC; Residence: Calgary, AB) will be leading the team in his fifth Paralympic Games, along with Assistant Coach Robert Lebel (Hometown: Coaticook, QC; Residence: Surrey, BC).
Canadian Goalball Team Leader is Mike Lonergan (Hometown and Residence: New Westminster, BC), who led the teams to the 2011 IBSA World Championships and Games in Turkey, the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara and the World Junior Championships in Colorado Springs.
This year's team support staff includes Darren Hamilton (Hometown and Residence: Calgary, AB), who will provide video analysis to the teams. The Women's Team physiotherapist is Jackie St. George-Rennie (Hometown: Winnipeg, MB; Residence: Calgary, AB) and the Men's Team physiotherapist is Isabelle Trottier (Hometown: Saint-Marc-Des-Carrières, QC; Residence: Beaupre, QC).
"I am very pleased to have once again two excellent Goalball teams coming to the Games," said Team Canada chef de mission, Gaétan Tardif. "I can't wait to watch their amazing display of strength and agility as they compete against the best in the world."
Canadian Blind Sports is proud of our both of our teams and their successes on the national and international goalball court. We look forward to following these twelve dedicated athletes as they represent Canada, and vie for Paralympic gold in Goalball!
National Team updates and competition results are always available at www.canadianblindsports.ca. To receive direct updates in email format, contact [email protected] and ask to be included in the distribution.
The Canadian Blind Sports Association is the recognized national sports organization for Goalball in Canada and advocates within the sport system on behalf of Canadians who are blind / visually impaired.
Goalball is a fast-paced, Paralympic sport played by athletes who have a visual impairment or who are blind. Played three on three, on a volley-ball size court, players track the ball by sound as they defend blistering shots upwards of 80 kilometers per hour.
For more information on the Canadian Blind Sports Association please visit: www.canadianblindsports.ca.
or to schedule interviews, please contact:
Mike Lonergan
Canadian Blind Sports Association
Goalball Team Leader
O: 604.419.0480
C: 604.789.7614
[email protected]
Share this article