2006-04-26-release-national-team

Men’s Volleyball (National Team)
Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Team Canada Announces Men’s National Team Camp Invites
-Three Spartans get the call

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western University men’s volleyball team will be sending three student-athletes to this year’s Senior Men’s Selection Camp, to be held this May at the University of Manitoba’s Investors Group Athletic Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Spartan men will be represented by Canada West Player of the Year and BLG finalist Chris Meehan (middle, Clearwater, B.C.), CIS All-Canadian setter Josh Howatson (Victoria, B.C.) and middle Doug van Spronsen (Comox, B.C.).

Meehan and Howatson are no strangers to the national team camps. The two All-Canadians both represented Canada at last summers FISU games, while Doug van Spronsen trained with the A2 team last summer. These invites to the senior camp is a first for the Spartans men’s volleyball program.

"I'm excited for Chris and Doug to challenge themselves against the best in our country.  Canada is known for having some top level international players in their position and they will definitely learn from the experience,” said TWU Head Coach Ron Pike. “Josh has really started to come into his own over the last year.  He is ready to be challenged at the international level and I feel he will respond well.”

They will arrive for their camp, which is scheduled for May 4th – 8th. The core of last year’s Senior Team roster will be in attendance and are expected to be joined by 14 athletes who were identified at Team Canada’s first-ever Prospects Camp in March. This group is made up of members of last year’s Senior A-2 squad, with others taking their first crack at the senior roster.

The purpose of the Selection Camps is to identify athletes who will have immediate and long-term impact on the Senior National Teams. Athletes who are selected at the conclusion of the camp will be asked to stay in Winnipeg to train through the summer, and will also be considered for Team Canada’s full-time centre this fall and winter.

The team is expected to keep approximately 18-20 athletes for the summer. The extended rosters will provide the teams with consistent, quality training and increase the depth of the talent pool.

Men’s Selection Camp:

Setters:
Scott Koskie - Winnipeg, MB
Michael Munday - Winnipeg, MB
Josh Howatson - Victoria, BC
Brock Davidiuk - Edmonton, AB
Olivier Faucher - Quebec City, QC

Right Side Hitters:
Paul Duerden - London, ON
Dallas Soonias - Red Deer, AB
Kris Brand - Quesnel, BC
Ben Schellenberg - Winnipeg, MB
Frédéric Desbiens - La Malbaie, QC

Left Side Hitters:
Pascal Cardinal - Pincourt, QC
Fred Winters - Vancouver, BC
Christian Bernier - Montreal, QC
Mark Dodds - Lucky Lake, SK
Nicholas Cundy - Edmonton, AB
Alex Gaumont - Marieville, QC
Louis-Pierre Mainville - Notre-Dame-de- L’isle-Perrot, QC
Jean-Francois Grondin - Sherbrooke, QC
Adam Ens - Saskatoon, SK

Middle Blockers:
Murray Grapentine - Wetaskiwin, AB
Steve Brinkman - Bowmanville, ON
Brett Youngberg - White Rock, BC
Chris Meehan - Clearwater, BC
Adam Kaminski - Chatham, ON
Nathan Toews - Winnipeg, MB
Doug van Spronsen - Comox, BC
Jonathan Marcoux - Gatineau, QC

Liberos:
Chris Wolfenden - Peterborough, ON
Jeff Weiler - Scarborough, ON
Women’s Selection Camp:

Also returning to the Senior Men’s team later this summer will be veterans Terry Martin and Jason Haldane.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2007-10-21
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca