Volunteer!

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Want to help out? We’re looking for volunteers for the Vancouver Invitational from March 11th through the 13th. It’s a great way to get some work experience in and watch some of the best wheelchair rugby clubs in the world battle it out right at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Volunteers can play a variety of roles, including the following departments:

Scorekeeping
Penalty box
Food service
Information
Set-up and takedown
Beer garden

If you are interested in being a table official, we will be offering a training session at the Richmond Oval on Monday, February 15th, 2016 from 6:30 – 10:00 pm. These scrimmages will include our local Paralympians so you will get to experience some high quality matches! Please email Lisa Myers by Feb. 11th if you want to attend this training opportunity.

To sign up, click here. If you have questions, email Michelle McDonell (BCWSA intern extraordinaire!) or call her @ 604-333-3520 ext. 208.

C’mon. Agatha Christie was a volunteer. Who doesn’t want to be like Agatha Christie?

Congrats to the Phoenix Heat!

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Thanks to everyone who has watched, supported, and helped at the 16th annual Vancouver Invitational! Congratulations to the Phoenix Heat, who went undefeated in the tournament to win 1st place.

It’s been an absolute blast, and we look forward to having everyone out next year.

1st Place – Phoenix Heat
2nd Place – Ontario Lightning
3rd Place – Seattle Slam Div. 1

Seth McBride: Most Clutch
Jeremy Hannaford: Best Picker
Mike Whitehead: Most Heart
Jim Roberts: MVP

Friday, Day 1

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On Day 1, we’ll be gearing up to watch the Phoenix Heat, the #2 ranked club in the USQRA (United States Quad Rugby Association) take on the Ontario Lightning in the first match of the day.. Nearly the entire Phoenix club has been invited to participate at the USA Wheelchair Rugby selection camp. Scott Hogsett, Joe Delagrave, and Nick Springer also appeared in the 2012 London Paralympics, where they USA took bronze. The Ontario Lightning are no slouches either – their roster features longtime Canadian national team staple Garrett Hickling and paralympian Jason Crone.

On court B, we have the Ontario Thunder facing off against the Alberta Roughnecks. The Thunder will be working hard to contain the speedy Zak Madell, considered one of the most dominant players in the world.

We have a lot of games over the weekend, so check back as we update with scores and stories, and if you’re in the area, get over here!

Congrats Seattle Slam!

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Congratulations to the Seattle Slam for placing 1st in the Pacific Sectionals Quad Rugby Tournament and advancing to Nationals! Also in attendance were the Portland Pounders, who finished 5th in the tournament. Both clubs will only have a week to rest before heading to Vancouver to battle Team BC (unofficially referred to as the BC Bandits).

Team Seattle has an impressive roster featuring Japanese national team member Daisuke Ikezaki. He’s a class-3.0, and is known for both his agility and his endurance on the court. He often plays entire games for Team Japan.

The Seattle Slam and the Portland Pounders are not the only two American clubs appearing. The tournament will also feature strong competition from the Phoenix Heat, ranked 2nd in the country by the USQRA in January.

I can’t believe we’re only a few days away. See you on Friday!

Volunteer!

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So! Are you looking for work experience? Want to lend the wheelchair rugby community a hand? Care to meet some new friends? We might even have a shirt for you.

Volunteer for the Vancouver Invitational. The tournament is a longstanding staple for wheelchair rugby clubs and enthusiasts, and it’s one of the few opportunities to see some of the best wheelchair rugby athletes in the world.

Volunteers have been helping at the Vancouver Invitational since it’s inception 16 years ago. We would not be able to hold events like this without support from individuals like yourself. Click here to sign up, or if you have any questions, be in touch.

It Might Get Loud

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We’re excited to announce the Vancouver Invitational will be back at the Richmond Oval on March 13th through the 15th. We’ll be hosting 12 clubs, including a stacked Seattle Slam featuring Japanese national player Daisuke Ikezaki,  the Alberta Roughnecks led by wheelchair rugby powerhouse Zak Madell, and of course, our own clubs, Team BC and Team BC-B (or is it Busy Bee?)

Like our new website? Tell us below! Don’t like our new website? Internalize that. Bury it deep. We’ll have a schedule for you soon.

BC Wins Vancouver Invitational Wheelchair Rugby Tournament For First Time in The Event’s History

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(Richmond, BC) –For the first time in the event’s 15-year history, BC has won the Vancouver Invitational Wheelchair Rugby Tournament. In front of a packed crowd Sunday afternoon at the Richmond Olympic Oval, BC claimed a 56-53 victory over the Ontario Thunder.
“We lost to the Thunder by 15 points in the round-robins, so it’s great to be able to come back and play the kind of wheelchair rugby we’re capable of playing,” said BC Head Coach Adam Frost. “I’m glad we’ve finally broken the 15-year curse and won Vancouver Invitational.”
BC had to rely on both mental and physical toughness to even make it to the gold medal game. After a key player was injured, BC lost 51-34 to Ontario. In the semi-finals, they overcame a three-point deficit thanks to steals from Ian Chan and scored the winning goal with less than a second on the clock.
For his incredible leadership effort, Richmond’s Ian Chan was named tournament MVP.
“Ian had an outstanding tournament. His court sense and his ability to force turnovers is second to none,” said Frost.
Chan was not the only British Columbian honoured with an All Star Award. Duncan Campbell, who invented wheelchair rugby 37 years ago and still plays today, was named Most Clutch.
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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Arley McNeney
Communications Manager
BC Wheelchair Sports Association
Cell: 778-788-9091
Email: arley@bcwheelchairsports.com

Awards Ceremony

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Awards! 
The Event was quickly followed by an awards ceremony to recognize the people who make this event happen, and the players that make this such an exciting event. 
Best Picker
Patrice Simard
Best Heart
Cody Caldwell
Most Clutch
Duncan Campbell
Tournament MVP
Ian Chan
Congrats to Evan Shaw, who won a pair of Beats by Dre headphones. 
And! A quick shout out to sponsors. 
BC Wheelchair Sports
Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association
Hosting BC
Viasport
Richmond Sport Hosting
Chair Stuff
Ceili’s Richmond
Sheraton @ Vancouver Airport
MTG

Pool A, Gold Medal Game

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Here we go! Watch here for updates.

We’re nearing through the end of the 1st quarter. Ontario is playing fast and loose with their time outs. They’d rather burn them now than leave them unused later. Might cost them in the 2nd quarter. 1:50 left in the 1st, we’re all tied up with 14 a piece.

Ian Chan got a nice steal at 6 minutes, putting BC up by 1. Byron Green is getting some time in, subbing in for Trevor Hirschfield. 21-20, with 3:30 to go in the 2nd.

With .5 seconds left, David Willsie lays a perfect pass to tie the game at the half, 26-26.

Hirsch and Calen McDougall to start the 3rd. Calen taking a few long passes to help BC get out of their own end. Hirschfield with an interception, and BC’s back in front by a point. Willsie misses a pass, and it’s BC ball, up by a point. 4:43 left in the 3rd quarter.
BC tried to run the clock on Ontario, and couldn’t convert on their final possession. Good job by Ontario to stand their ground on the line. BC up by 1, 40-39 at the end of the 3rd.
4th quarter! Kruger reached out to grab a ball at the line that was overthrown. Awesome catch to preserve BC’s slim lead. 7:15 to go.
Cody Caldwell nearly intercepts for Ontario, which would have brought the game back to a tie. 4:50 on the clock. 46-45, BC.
Energy has really ramped up. Ontario’s pressing hard for quick turns. 2:32 on the clock, BC up 50-48.
Fantastic finish for BC! This is BC’s first gold medal win at the Vancouver Invitational. I really expected BC to play clock, but Ontario instead took penalty goals to force the ball back into their hands. Hickling took two hard hits in the final couple of minutes. BC wins, 56-53.