“Osaka will be a good test of the improvements we have made during two weeks of training at Douglas College prior to leaving for Japan,” said head coach Tim Frick. “We will be missing a few starters, so it will be an excellent chance for some other athletes to expand their roles and rise to the occasion. I expect our defence to be more technically sound, and our attack to be more intelligent in nature.”
Not making the trip are Jennifer Krempien, Sabrina Pettinicchi and Lori Radke.
“Overall, the Osaka Cup will provide valuable experiences for both players and staff as we build to the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in September,” added Frick. “Our goal is to capitalize on this opportunity as the Japanese Wheelchair Basketball Federation is paying a significant portion of the event costs to allow the teams to attend. For this, we are truly thankful.”
At the Osaka tournament, the women will compete against some of the world’s top-seeded teams, including Australia, Japan and the United States. At the first ever Osaka Friendship Games in 2007, Canada won gold with a 66-41 win over Australia.
“Although it will be at the end of a tiring five-week stretch, the Osaka Friendship Games is critical to our preparation for the Paralympics Games,” noted Frick.
Debbie Low, the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s 2008 Beijing Games Chef de Mission agreed that adequate preparation will be key: “The competition at the Paralympic Games has intensified as countries are becoming more interested in and are investing more in Paralympic sports.”
The Canadian women’s team is the current reigning World Champions, and is looking to re-capture at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing the Paralympic gold medal it earned at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games. The team won bronze at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.
The Beijing Paralympic Summer Games run from September 6-17, 2008 in China.
Canadian women’s team roster
**The first city in brackets is the athlete’s city of birth and the second is his current city of residence.
Athletes
Chantal Benoit (Beloeil, QC/Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC)
M.J. Boudreault (Prince George, BC/Prince George, BC)
Jessica Desmazes (Kamloops, BC/Burnaby, BC)
Elaine Allard (Montreal QC/Laval QC)
Tracey Ferguson (Toronto ON/Toronto ON)
Tara Feser (Edmonton, AB/St. Albert, AB)
Lisa Franks (Moose Jaw, SK/Saskatoon, SK)
Arley McNeney (Prince George, BC/Prince George, BC)
Kendra Ohama (Brooks, AB/Calgary, AB)
Cindy Ouellet (Rivière-du-Loup, QC/Quebec, QC)
Elisha Williams (Prince George, BC/Prince George, BC)
Coaches
Tim Frick, Head Coach
Bill Johnson, Assistant Coach
Trish Nicholson, Assistant Coach
Gretchen McLennon, Physiotherapist
Friendship Games Osaka Cup – Schedule
Tuesday, February 12
Arrival in Osaka Japan
Thursday, February 14
10 a.m: Opening ceremony
10:45 a.m.: Japan vs. USA
1:30 p.m.: Australia vs. Canada
Friday, February 15
10 a.m.: Japan vs. Australia and USA vs. Canada
1:30 p.m.: Canada vs. Japan and USA vs. Australia
Saturday, February 16
10 a.m.: Bronze medal game
1:30 p.m.: Gold medal game
Sunday, February 17
Departure from Osaka
