The Canadian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team seized the silver medal at the 2011 Parapan American Games after a 69-31 loss to rival USA in the championship game. Both teams guaranteed themselves a spot at the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games courtesy of top three finishes in Guadalajara.

It’s unfortunate that tonight we didn’t bring our A-game, but I think we are continuing to build and I think we have some pretty aggressive plans for the next year to build toward a gold medal in London,” said Team Canada Head Coach Bill Johnson.

“We always said it’s a process and we have been building toward it,” he added.

Cindy Ouellet (Quebec, QC) scored a game leading 17 points for the Canadians, while teammate Janet McLachlan (West Vancouver, BC) tallied 8 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Canada concluded the tournament with a 4-1 record and reached the podium for the fourth time in four appearances at the Parapan American Games, following gold medal finishes in1999 and 2003, and a silver medal in 2007.

“This tournament was a great opportunity to test ourselves out, to try out some new things, and see where we are, and honestly we are in a good place. This was a great opportunity and we are going to build from here,” said Team Canada athlete Tracey Ferguson (Toronto, ON).

“We have 10 months of preparation and we are focused, we know excactly what we have to do, and I think these games give us that motivation to play, and to train and to practice that much harder.”

The Canadian Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team also secured a Paralympic berth in a must-win bronze medal contest, defeating hosts Mexico 60-42.

Final Results:

Men Women
1 – USA 1 - USA
2 – Colombia 2 - Canada
3 – Canada 3 – Brazil
4 – Mexico 4 - Mexico
5 – Brazil 5 - Argentina
6 – Argentina 6 - Guatemala
7 – Guatemala 7 - Peru
8 – El Salvador 8 – El Salvador

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be held Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, 2012.

For more information, visit: www.wheelchairbasketball.ca

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The following athletes are representing Team Canada at the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico:

Team Canada Men: Team Canada Women:
Abdi Dini (Scarborough, ON)
Adam Lancia (Toronto, ON)
Brandon Wagner (Burlington, ON)
Chad Jassman (Calgary, AB)
Dave Durepos (Fredericton, NB)
David Eng (Montreal, QC)
Joey Johnson (Lorette, MB)
Mickael Poulin (Quebec, QC)
Pat Anderson (Fergus, ON)
Robert Hedges (Wonowon, BC)
Tyler Miller (Kitchener, ON)
Yvon Rouillard (Montreal, QC)

Head Coach: Jerry Tonello (Toronto, ON) Cindy Ouellet (Quebec, QC)
Elaine Allard (St. Eustache, QC)
Elisha Williams (Burnaby, BC)
Katie Harnock (Elmira, ON)
Jamey Jewells (Donkin, NS)
Janet McLachlan (Vancouver, BC)
Jessica Vliegenthart (Victoria, BC)
Kendra Ohama (Calgary, AB)
Maude Jacques (Ste-Catherine, QC)
Tara Feser (St. Albert, AB)
Tracey Ferguson (Richmond Hill, ON)


Head Coach: Bill Johnson (Winnipeg, MB)

For more information or to schedule an interview contact:

Jody Kingsbury, Manager
Communications & Media Relations
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
T: 613-260-1296 ext. 204
011 52 331 602 1576 (in Guadalajara)
jkingsbury@wheelchairbasketball.ca

Courtney Pollock, Assistant
Communications & Media Relations
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
T: 613-260-1296 ext. 200
cpollock@wheelchairbasketball.ca


Alison Korn, Manager
Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
T: 613-569-4333 ext. 243
011 52 331 600 9339 (in Guadalajara)
akorn@paralympic.ca