The 2011 Canadian Blind Sports Junior Goalball Championships saw 2 new champions crowned this past weekend at the W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario. Now in its 6th year, the annual championships had a field of 5 men’s teams and 4 women’s teams featuring some of Canada’s top up and coming Goalball athletes aged 20 and under. 

Host Ontario had finished in 2nd place on the men’s side each of the previous 6 years, and in 2011 they kept their streak alive – with a twist. In an all-Ontario final, the Ontario Blacks defeated Ontario White 10 – 9 to claim their first ever National Junior Title, while Ontario White maintained the streak of 2nd place finishes by winning the silver medal. The ON Blacks had finished the round-robin in first place, and finished the tournament undefeated by knocking off BC in the semi-finals, and the ON Whites on a last minute goal by Aaron Prevost to win the gold. 

Congratulations to Team Ontario Black: Aaron Prevost, Tony Fraser, Justin Lowrey, and Kevin Rawlings, with coaches Bob Mannen and Mike Breuls. 

In the bronze medal game, last year’s champions from BC returned with a revamped line-up and claimed the men’s bronze by beating last year’s bronze medalist from New Brunswick 15 – 5. V.I.P Pittsburg, the only American team in the tournament, left after Saturday’s games and finished 5th. 

In the women’s gold medal match, BC’s Ashlie Andrews managed to score 1 goal on the tight Alberta defense and that was all it would take as BC won its first-ever junior women’s gold medal 1 - 0. BC finished the women’s double-round-robin in first place, and then defeated the newcomers from New Brunswick in the semi-final, and Alberta in the gold match to claim the title. 

Congratulations to Team BC: Angell Lu-Lebel, Ashlie Andrews, Sophie Audet (Quebec), Courtland Northcott, and Jessica Rideout with coaches Robert Lebel and Cherie Lu. 

As on the men’s side, last year’s women’s champions had to settle for bronze, as team Ontario beat New Brunswick 10 – 0. The Ontario Women had pushed Alberta to the limit in their semi-final by tying the game 3 – 3 in the final minute; however Alberta showed resilience and rallied to win the game in extra-throws. Team New Brunswick made their competition debut this year and improved rapidly throughout the tournament, finishing in 4th place. They are a positive addition to the Canadian Junior Goalball landscape and will be a welcome addition to the event for years to come. 

The organizers of the tournament name 3 male and 3 female athletes to an all-tournament team. This year the junior men were Justin Lowrey (ON Black), John Tee (BC), and Calahan Young (V.I.P Pittsburg). The junior women were Jillian MacSween (ON), Sophie Audet (BC), and Tiana Knight (AB). 

Many of these great junior athletes will now turn their attention to competing for their provinces at the 2011 Canadian Blind Sports National Goalball Championships taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia from May 13 – 15. 

Canadian Blind Sports congratulates the Ontario Blind Sports Association and the local organizing committee at W. Ross MacDonald – especially tournament directors Mick Ferras and Mike Breuls - for hosting another successful Canadian Junior Goalball Championships. Thank you to all of the sponsors, volunteers, referees, and officials – this event would not be possible without your generous contributions. 

More information about the Paralympic Sport of Goalball is available at www.canadianblindsports.ca with a short promo video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sjoe5yD7TI. 

Canadian Blind Sports 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 throw and defend blistering shots upwards of 80 kilometers per hour. 

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For more information on the Canadian Blind Sports Association please visit: www.canadianblindsports.ca. 

For more information please contact: 

Matt Morrow 
Participation Director / 
Communications 
Canadian Blind Sports / Sports Aveugles Canada 
#325 - 5055 Rue Joyce Street, 
Vancouver, BC V5R 6B2 Canada 
Telephone/ Téléphone : 604 419-0480 
Toll Free / Sans frais: 1-877-604-0480 
Mobile / Cellulaire: 604 812-6786 
Fax/ Télécopieur : 604 419-0481