Canada’s sitting volleyball teams smash into world championship action

Although the first berths to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games are on the line, Canada’s immediate goal is something different at the men’s and women’s sitting volleyball world championships which start Friday in Hangzhou, China.

Both teams are embracing the opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best and continue to establish themselves among the sport’s elite in what is effectively the first chapter on the road towards LA28.

Canada’s second ranked women’s team is still settling into a new cycle after some line-up changes following the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

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The Paralympic Games bronze medallists are in Pool C with world number-five Slovenia, Hungary and Japan. Team captain Heidi Peters of Neerlandia, Alta., believes Canada can challenge for first place in its pool then do some damage in the playoffs.

‘’I’m feeling confident in our ability to show up and have a chance at winning a lot of games and topping our pool,’’ she said to CPC from Vancouver where the team was at a staging camp. Both squads left for China on Sunday.

Peters, a three-time Paralympian and a member of the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s athlete council, says this world championship help lay the foundation for the push toward LA28.

‘’This is an immense opportunity for this group,’’ she said. ’It’s going to be a big learning curve for the new athletes on the team to experience the world championships.’’

Along with Peters, other members of Canada’s Paralympic bronze medal-winning team in China include: Jolan Wong of Pembroke, Ont., Katelyn Wright of Edmonton, Jennifer McCreesh of Smithers, B.C., Allison Lang of Edmonton and Amber Brown (formerly Skyrpan) of Wandering River, Alta.

New members since Paris are Julia Chisholm of Victoria, Natasha Sexton Quillan of Halifax, Kerrie Buchberger of Langenburg, Sask., Chelsea Coates of Calgary and Anna Dunn of Halifax.

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Buchberger, an Olympian in volleyball, is the sister of former NHLer Kelly Buchberger. She has undergone eight orthopedic surgeries and a total knee replacement since retiring from the standing game.

‘’Her blocking and attacking presence change the dynamics at the net,’’ said Peters. ‘’Her voice and competitive drive have been a shot in the arm for us. She literally wants to win every single point. She brings a lot to our group.’’

Men’s team on the rise

The men’s team is in Pool A with number-eight Germany, Thailand and host China.  Veteran Doug Learoyd of Calgary says Canada’s rise to No 8 in the world reflects a program that has developed greater depth while gaining valuable experience against the world’s top teams.

‘’Good things are happening for sure,’’ said Learoyd, a national team member since 2007.  ‘’We’ve had the opportunity to travel more and play those top teams and that’s been a big difference maker for us.’’

Learoyd is joined by several experienced teammates who provide Canada with a veteran presence. Among them is libero Mikael Bartholdy of Calgary, who, like Learoyd, starred for Canada’s standing para volleyball program in the early 2000s. Learoyd won world championship gold in 2006, while Bartholdy captured Paralympic silver in 2000.

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Riley Brinnen of Kelowna, B.C., successfully transitioned to Canada’s national sitting volleyball team after surviving a tragic car crash in November 2023 that resulted in an incomplete spinal cord injury.

Bryce Foster of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Jason Beaman of Calgary—who competed at the Paralympic Games in Para alpine skiing—are also among the athletes helping move the program forward.

Other team members are Brad Hunter of Thompson, Man., Andrew Tucker of Brampton, Ont., Chris Bird of Brandon, Man., Nicholas Aldrich of Toronto, Darek Symonowicz of Toronto, Kyle Eriksen of Toronto and Connor Compton of Calgary.

The tournament features 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams. The competition opens with a three-day pool stage from July 10 to 12 with teams divided into four pools of four in each tournament. All teams will then progress to Round of 16.

Egypt, Brazil and Bosnia-Herzegovina are ranked 1-2-3 in the world for the men while the U.S., Canada and Brazil are top-three women’s teams.

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The knockout phase begins on July 14, with teams continuing to compete for both championship honours and final placings. Semifinals are scheduled for July 15, followed by bronze medal matches and classification contests on July 16. The men’s final will be played on 17 July with the women’s final following.

The men’s and women’s champions will each secure the first direct qualification berth for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

The full match schedule is here: https://tournaments.worldparavolley.cn/wc2026/competition/schedule

Follow the results here: https://tournaments.worldparavolley.cn/wc2026/competition/results

How to Watch

Matches will be live-streamed on the event’s YouTube channel. More info to come.

Schedule (all times ET)

July 10

12 a.m. Can vs Hungary (W)

3:30 a.m. Can vs Germany (M)

July 11

1 a.m. Can vs Slovenia (W)

3 a.m. Can vs Thailand (M)

July 12

2 a.m. Can vs Japan (W)

3:30 a.m. Can vs China (M)

July 13-17 Playoffs

Team Canada Rosters

Women
1, Julia Chisholm, Victoria, BC
8, Jolan Wong, Vermilion, AB and Pembroke, ON
11, Heidi Peters (Captain), Neerlandia, AB
12, Amber Brown, Wandering River, AB
13, Natasha Sexton Quillan, Halifax, NS
14, Katelyn Wright, Edmonton, AB
15, Kerrie Buchberger, Langenburg, SK
16 Jennifer McCreesh, Smithers, BC
17 Allison Lang, Edmonton, AB
28, Chelsea Coates, Calgary, AB
93, Anna Dunn, Edmonton, AB

Staff
Head Coach: Nicole Ban
Assistant Coach: Leah Mousseau
Assistant Coach: Dione Kristel
Physiotherapist: Tricia Hayton
Scout: Nadine Plett
Mental Performance Consultant: Onika Green Valente
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Amber Wardrop
Team Manager: Megan Kuciak

Men
2, Mikael Bartholdy, Calgary, AB
6, Bryce Foster, Thunder Bay, ON
7, Douglas Learoyd (Captain), Calgary, AB
8, Brad Hunter, Thompson, MB
9, Andrew Tucker, Toronto, ON
10, Christopher Bird, Brandon, MB
12, Nicholas Aldrich, Toronto, ON
13, Jason Beaman, Calgary, AB
19, Riley Brinnen, Kelowna, BC
25, Dariusz Symonowicz, Toronto, ON
26, Kyle Eriksen, Toronto, ON
77, Connor Compton, Calgary, AB

Staff
Head Coach: Reid Brodie
Assistant Coach: Taylor Dyer
Assistant Coach: Tania Harrison
Physiotherapist, Cassandra Downe
Scout: Adriana Vassek
Team Manager: Tashie Macapagal