History was made by Team BC at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
For the first time in Canada Games history, Team BC took gold in wheelchair basketball defeating Alberta 79-32 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Since wheelchair basketball debuted at the Canada Games in 1995 in Grand Prairie, Alta, B.C.’s best finish at the Games was second (1995, 2003), to go along with a bronze (1999). Alberta has won gold twice (1995, 2019) and a bronze in 2015.
“I’ve been in sport my whole life, and this is the most special moment I’ve ever had.,” said BC Coach Simon Cass. “It’s an incredible group of kids; they’ve worked incredibly hard: empty gyms, long days – working and just doing it together. We did it as a team, and it’s great to see – it culminated with our best performance of the last eight years in the biggest game. Myself and the rest of the coaching staff could not be more proud.”
BC went a perfect 5-0 at the 2022 Junior National Championship in Charlottetown and remained undefeated through the Canada Winter Games, finishing with a 5-0 record in capturing gold.
Gabe Harrison led the way for BC with a triple-double scoring a game-high 27 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. Nick van Bakel added 26 points and five rebounds.
“The whole game was a real team win, and I think we pulled together and did what we needed to do,” said van Bakel. “This team, throughout Junior Nationals and Canada Games, we’re undefeated – I think that speaks to the work we put in over the past eight years, 12 years for some, and I’m really happy to do this with these guys.”
- Wheelchair Basketball Canada Release.
Big shout out to the amazing Cheer Squad who also joined us in PEI! Your support makes a HUGE difference to all of us! Thank you for making the trip!
