Joel Ewert of Prince George has found a perfect way to escape the January chill.
He’ll soon be off to Mexico to compete in the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation men’s under-23 Americas zone qualifying tournament, Jan. 7-16, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Ewert is among 11 Canadian athletes named to the team this week by Wheelchair Basketball Canada.
“The group selected are some of the top athletes in our country, and they have dedicated themselves to finding ways to stay in shape and train when opportunities present themselves,” said U-23 national team head coach said Darrell Nordell, in a prepared release. “I could not be happier to work with this group of athletes and the rest of the coaching staff as we compete for a spot at the U23 world championship in May 2022.”
Ewert, who turns 22 on Saturday, has cerebral palsy and is a dual-sport athlete who also competes nationally and internationally in wheelchair rugby. He represented B.C. at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George and played for the provincial team at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.
“You know, I never really take no for an answer. I never say I can’t do anything because of my disability, or because I don’t have time, or whatever it is,” said Ewert, in a 2019 story posted on the Team B.C. website. “I always find a way.”
He competes locally with the Prince George Hammerheads, part of the Northern Adapted Sports Association. He started playing wheelchair sports as a teenager after years of struggling to find his niche as an athlete.
“Then I heard there was wheelchair basketball in town,” he said. “I went to that first practice and I was committed to it. I have been living the dream ever since.”
The U23 team is vying for one of two berths available for the 12-team U23 world championship, May 27-June 4, 2022, in Chiba, Japan. At the qualifier, Canada will compete against the United States, Mexico and Brazil.
“We feel we have selected a group of players that put us in the best position to secure a spot at the U23 World Championship next spring,” said Jeff Dunbrack, high performance director for Wheelchair Basketball Canada. “Our players and staff are excited for the opportunity to represent Canada in Mexico as we build towards our ultimate goal of winning gold in Japan.”
The U23 roster also includes: Ben Hagkull (Chilliwack); Matthew Norris (Langley); Garrett Ostepchuk (Regina, Sask.); Reed De’Aeth (Sherwood Park, Alta.); Josh Brown (East St. Paul, Man.); Collin Lalonde (St-Clet, Que.); Austin MacLellan (Fredericton, N.B.); Matthew Wilton (Winnipeg, Man.); Bernard Rosello (Winnipeg, Man.) and Gabriel Giguere (Drummondville, Que.)
