(Seulement disponible en anglais)

The 2011 Canadian Blind Sports National Goalball Championships saw the Ontario Trillium Women’s Team win their 4th consecutive National Championship title, while the BC Men’s Team won their second consecutive gold medal for the provinces 2nd ever Championship Title. The event was hosted by Blind Sports Nova Scotia and ran at the Citadel High School and Community Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia from May 13th – 15th, 2011.

The Ontario Trillium faced perhaps their toughest challenge of their reign as 7 women’s teams entered the tournament – the most there have been since they won their first title in 2008. The Trilliums, made up of Whitney Bogart, Amy Kneebone, Jessica Khoury, and Lara Strik with coaches Rob Christy, Jenn McMillen and former team member Annette Lisabeth managed to once again finish the tournament undefeated. They placed 1st in the round-robin, beat BC 2 – 0 in the semi-finals, and then won the gold by beating Alberta 4 – 1 in the final, once again showing their dominance in the Canadian Goalball scene.

Staying with the women’s side, Team Alberta took the biggest jump in the standings moving from 5th place in 2010 to the silver medal in 2011. They finished 2nd in the round-robin and beat the Ontario Deuces 5 – 2 in the semi-final to lock up the silver medal.

In the bronze medal game BC and the Ontario Deuces were deadlocked with only minutes to go when BC scored on a late penalty shot to win the bronze medal by a score of 3 – 2, while the Ontario Deuces finish 4th.

In the 5th vs 6th match-up Quebec and Saskatchewan played a highly entertaining and close game where Quebec emerged victorious by a score of 4 – 3.

For hometown Nova Scotia, this was only the second tournament ever for most of their athletes, and they showed marked improvement throughout the event, ultimately finishing in 7th place.

Switching to the men’s side, the BC Team won the province’s first ever gold medal in Goalball in 2010 and now has followed up by defending their National Championship Title in 2011. Brendan Gaulin, Doug Ripley, John Tee, and Ahmad Zeividavi with coaches Robert Lebel and Cherie Lu went a perfect 7 – 0 to win the gold. In the final everyone expected, the 3 Canadian National Team members from BC faced off against the 3 Canadian National Team Members from Quebec in a game that saw Quebec get frustrated by penalty trouble early on and BC staying patient yet relentless to win by a final score of 9 – 2.

Quebec finished the round-robin in 2nd place with a record of 3 wins 1 loss and 1 tie, and then handily defeated Alberta in the semi-final by a score of 12 – 2 to win the silver medal.

Alberta rebounded from their tough semi-final against Quebec to win the bronze medal by beating New Brunswick 8 – 1and get back on the podium after missing out last year. Tournament newcomers New Brunswick showed they will be a team to contend with as they finished 4th in the round-robin to earn the final semi-final berth.

The men’s 5th vs 6th match saw both the Ontario All-Blacks and host Nova Scotia come out fired up as they played a spirited, high-scoring game that needed overtime to be decided. The All-Blacks managed a second half comeback culminated by a goal with only 7 seconds remaining to force overtime, and then eventually won the game by a score of 6 – 5.

In the individual awards, BC’s Brendan Gaulin took home his first National Championships MVP Trophy after helping lead his team to victory. The Ontario Trillium’s Amy Kneebone won her second consecutive MVP trophy after displaying both stellar defensive and offensive skills while playing centre. Nova Scotia’s Oliver Pye was presented with the Spirit Award for the athlete that best exhibits the characteristics of sportsmanship, fair play, and a love for the game.

Canadian Blind Sports congratulates all of the athletes and coaches on another fine performance at the 2011 Canadian Blind Sports National Goalball Championships, and thanks all the volunteers, especially the officials as without them the event would not be possible. Finally congratulations and thanks to Blind Sports Nova Scotia for hosting a successful event.

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.

-30-
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