Canada’s Toronto 2015 wheelchair basketball teams named

Twenty-four athletes will play in the Parapan Am Games, which serves as a direct qualifier for Rio 2016. 03 Jun 2015

Two female basketball players in wheelchairs fight for the ball. A referee watches them from behind

Germany defeated Canada on day 4 of the 2014 Women’s World Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Toronto, Canada

ⒸWheelchair Basketball Canada

By Wheelchair Basketball Canada

"Winning the World Championship last year in Toronto, and getting to play in the same venue that we will be competing in come August, gives us some momentum heading into the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games,"

With a pair of berths on the line for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Wheelchair Basketball Canada has selected 24 athletes from the men's and women's national wheelchair basketball teams for nomination to compete in the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games (7-15 August).

Toronto 2015 will be as a crucial tournament for wheelchair basketball teams in the region because it serves as a direct qualifier for Rio 2016

The Canadian men's team is the defending London 2012 Paralympic champion and must finish in the top two teams in Toronto 2015 to qualify for Rio 2016. They won bronze in 2011 and silver in 2007 at the Parapan Am Games.

"It is a rare and special privilege to compete in front of family and friends in a big international competition with so much at stake," said Steve Bialowas, who is stepping-in as interim head coach of Canada's men's team.

On the women's side, Team Canada sits atop the world rankings as the reigning world champion and must finish among the top three in Toronto 2015 to punch their ticket to Rio. They captured back-to-back silver medals at the Parapan Am Games in 2007 and 2011.

"Winning the World Championship last year in Toronto, and getting to play in the same venue that we will be competing in come August, gives us some momentum heading into the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games," said Bill Johnson, head coach of Canada's women's team.

Six on the men’s team and seven on the women’s team carry Paralympic Games experiences.

Below is the complete roster:

Men

Deion Green

Peter Won

Robert Hedges

Vincent Dallaire

Liam Hickey

Adam Lancia

Abdi Dini

Chad Jassman

Nik Goncin