The Canadian national quidditch team made its debut in 2012 at the IQA Summer Games in Oxford, UK, where it placed 4th of five teams. The team once again represented Canada at the 2014 IQA Global Games in Burnaby, BC on July 29, 2014 where it took third place, coming behind the United States and Australia, respectively.[3]
History
The national team made its debut in 2012 at the International Quidditch Association (IQA) Summer Games in Oxford, UK.[4] The team featured players from Ontario, British Columbia, and Québec. The team was created just two months before the championships and thus had no tryouts and was composed of players who were able to travel to the UK to compete. The tournament format began with a round-robin between all five participating teams (USA, Canada, France, Australia, and the UK) and then a ranked bracket. After the round-robin, Team Canada was seeded second; however, after back-to-back losses to France and Australia, they fell to fourth place.
The selection process for the 2014 Global Games involved rigorous tryouts for potential players. Tryouts saw 74 potential candidates between video submissions and two tryouts: one in Eastern Canada in Kingston, ON and one in Western Canada in Vancouver, BC. Players who were unable to attend either the East or West try-outs were able to submit video tryouts.[5] The selected team features players from a variety of backgrounds and university teams, notably University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Université de Montréal, McGill University, Queen's University, Carleton University, Tufts College, and Kansas University.
The 2014 Canadian national team competed on July 19, 2014 at the Burnaby Lake sports complex in Burnaby, British Columbia against 5 other announced national teams: Belgium, Italy, Australia, the UK, and the USA.[6] The Global Games is a biennial event run by the International Quidditch Association that, unlike regular-season IQA games, features national teams from quidditch-playing nations instead of collegiate or community teams. Canada took third place in the 2014 IQA Global Games following the United States and Australia, respectively.[3]
Roster and coaches
2019
2019 Panams Games - Eastern Regional Team
Number
Pos.
Player
Team
16
C/S
Alex Naftel
Valhalla Quidditch
18
K/C
Andrew Kusters
Valhalla Quidditch
3
B
Arjun Patel
Valfreyja Quidditch
9
K
Bryan Melchior
Ottawa Otters
1
K/S
Cayden Peixoto
Ottawa Otters
32
B/S
Christos Kaldis
Ottawa Otters
7
C
Derek Taylor
Valfreyja Quidditch
79
C
Emily Naftel
Carleton Quidditch
67
C
Guillaume Hamelin
Université de Montréal
4
C
Hailey Yhap
Ottawa Otters
19
B
Heather Nakanishi
Carleton Quidditch
44
C/S
Jeremy Burrows-Balka
University of Guelph Gryphons
11
C
Karen Douglas
Ottawa Otters
13
B
Martin Chiasson
Ottawa Otters
94
C
Michael Beda
Valhalla Quidditch
45
B/S
Michael Gomes
University of Guelph Gryphons
20
C
Michael Wanless
Université de Montréal
22
C
Nathan Reid
Ottawa Otters
27
B
Rachel Fabbri
Ottawa Otters
5
B
Samantha McCaul
Valhalla Quidditch
26
C
Yara Kodershah
Valhalla Quidditch
55
B
Zac MacDonald
University of Guelph Gryphons
70
C
Zoe Mastellotto
Valhalla Quidditch
2019 Panams Games - Western Regional Team
Number
Pos.
Player
Team
76
C/K/S
Austin Wallace
Vancouver Stormcrows
88
C
Katie Olfert
Vancouver Stormcrows
96
B
Nathan Christopher Unrau
Vancouver Stormcrows
91
B
Cait Woolner
Vancouver Stormcrows
23
B
Cayley Mendoza
Edmonton Aurors
33
C
Soleil Heaney
Edmonton Aurors
36
C
Chris Radojewski
Edmonton Aurors
8
K/S
Wyatt Verchere
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Sports Club
85
B
Colin Crowe
Edmonton Aurors
93
C
Jane Arnett
Valhalla Quidditch
80
K
Brian Gallaway
Edmonton Aurors
47
C
Alim Ismail
Edmonton Aurors
10
C
Kraig Yeh
Vancouver Stormcrows
63
B
Nathan Ross
SFU
7
C
Jessyka Schwandt
Vancouver Stormcrows
15
K
Mathias Wienicke
Vancouver Vipertooths
20
C
Julian Cowden
University of Victoria Valkyries
2
C
Megan Hirst
Edmonton Aurors
25
B
Taylor Attrill
Vancouver Stormcrows
2018
For the 2018 IQA World Cup in Florence, Italy, the Canadian National Quidditch team had a change of leadership in which Michael Howard (Valhalla Quidditch formerly, uOttawa Quidditch) took over as head captain and Rachel Malone was retained as an assistant coach and former National Team beater Mathew McVeigh joined as the second assistant coach. In addition Brian galloway served as team coordinator and Bethan Morgan, Jill Staniec, and Lisa Tubb served as National team Fundraising Lead, National Team Manager, National Team Communication Lead respectively. The Canadian team was placed in Group E with Malaysia, Germany, and Iceland. Gieven their grouping they competed the teams in Group F: Norway, New Zealand, Spain, and Switzerland. In these four games against the teams in Group F, Canada finished 3-1 beating Switzerland 200*-0, Norway 120*-80, and New Zealand 240*-0 while losing to Spain 50-70*.
Canada finished Day 1 in 9th place pitting them in a matchup against the 8th seeded Turkey, which ended with a 130*-110 Turkey victory. Following this loss, Canada's title chances were dashed but they proceeded through the Consolation brackets with wins against the Czech Republic, Norway and a redemption win against Spain to close out the tournament with a final seeding of 9th place.
2018 IQA World Cup
Number
Pos.
Player
Team
15
C
Matt Bourassa
Valfreyja Quidditch
17
B
Katie Brown
Valhalla Quidditch
44
C/S
Jeremy Burrows-Balka
University of Guelph Gryphons
13
B
Martin Chiasson
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
11
C/S
Karen Douglas
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
3
C
Lynden Evers
Valhalla Quidditch
14
C
Robyn Fortune
McGill University
7
B
Jonathan Golla
Valhalla Quidditch
57
C
Brock Lowery
University of Waterloo Ridgebacks
91
K/C
Joel Martens
Calgary Mavericks
24
C/K
Ittaana Krow
Valhalla Quidditch
18
K
Andrew Kusters
Queen's University
89
B
Piotr Makuch
Valhalla Quidditch
5
B
Samantha McCaul
Queen's University
6
B
Erin McCrady
Valhalla Quidditch
16
C/S
Alex Naftel
Carleton Ravens
34
K
James Neuman
Edmonton Aurors
2
C
Nina Patti
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
88
C
Katie Olfert
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Sports Club
36
C
Christopher Radojewski
Edmonton Aurors
0
B
Raphael Roy-Laurore
uOttawa Quidditch
1
K
Denver Staines
University of Guelph Gryphons
9
C
Claire Steckle
Valfreyja Quidditch
71
B/C
Jessalynn Tsang
Valhalla Quidditch
10
B
Tyson Worrall
Valhalla Quidditch
2016
For the 2016 IQA World Cup in Frankfurt Germany, the Canadian National Quidditch team had a change of leadership in which Chris Radojewski (Alberta Clippers Quidditch) took over as head captain and Matthew Bourassa (Carleton Quidditch) and Paul Gour (Dalhousie Quidditch) were selected as Assistant Coaches. For medical reasons Paul Gour was unable to travel with the team and was replaced by Alternate Roster member Rachel Malone and served as speaking captain. The Canadian team finished 4th losing to Australia 80*-40 in the semis finals and the United Kingdom in the bronze match 190*-60.
2016 IQA World Cup
Number
Pos.
Player
Hometown
Team
15
C
Matt Bourassa
Grande Prairie, AB
Carleton University
17
B
Katie Brown
Ottawa, ON
University of Waterloo Ridgebacks
13
B
Martin Chiasson
Dieppe, NB
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
30
C
Cameron Cutler
Southlake, TX
UBC Thunderbirds
42
C
Devin Dutt
Whitby, ON
Carleton University
27
C
Michelle Ferguson
Ottawa, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
14
C
Robyn Fortune
Whitehorse, YT
McGill University
7
K
Jonathan Golla
Mississauga, ON
University of Waterloo Ridgebacks
2
C
Steven Kimball
Lindsay, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
24
K
Ittaana Krow
Toronto, ON
Valhalla Quidditch
18
K
Andrew Kusters
Oakville, ON
Queen's University
12
B
Mathew McVeigh
Kemptville, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
6
B
Erin McCrady
London, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
16
S
Alex Naftel
Ottawa, ON
Carleton Ravens
16
S
Gordon Noel
Vancouver, BC
McGill Quidditch
19
C
Jonathan Parent
Kingston, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
36
C
Christopher Radojewski
Brantford, ON
Alberta Clippers Quidditch Club
77
B
Raphael Roy-Laurore
Montréal, QC
Université de Montréal
9
C
Claire Steckle
Ottawa, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
41
B
Ema Shiroma-Chao
Burnaby, BC
Université de Montréal
76
S
Austin Wallace
Shawnigan Lake, BC
UBC Thunderbirds
2014
The 2014 team coaches were selected by IQA Canadian Director Tegan Bridge after an application process. Hugh Podmore of Valhalla Quidditch was selected as Head Coach, and Rebecca Alley of the University of Ottawa GeeGees was chosen as Assistant Coach. The roster for the 2014 Global Games was announced on May 18, 2014.[7]
2014 Global Games
No.
Pos.
Player
Hometown
Team
8
B
Sarah Basciano
Oakville, ON
University of Toronto
15
C
Matt Bourassa
Grande Prairie, AB
Carleton University
91
B
Jon Braun
Woodlawn, ON
UBC Thunderbirds
42
C
Devin Dutt
Whitby, ON
Carleton University
25
C
Michelle Ferguson
Ottawa, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
14
C
Robyn Fortune
Whitehorse, YT
McGill University
22
S
Alexander Graham
North York, ON
Valhalla
18
K
Andrew Kusters
Oakville, ON
Queen's University
1
C
Louis Leung
Vancouver, BC
UBC Thunderbirds
12
B
Mathew McVeigh
Kemptville, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
32
C
Rithy Min
Montréal, QC
Université de Montréal
33
B
Samy Mousa
Pickering, ON
University of Kansas
0
K
Adam Palmer
Whitby, ON
York University
19
C
Jonathan Parent
Kingston, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
7
K
Hugh Podmore
White Rock, BC
Valhalla
36
C
Christopher Radojewski
Brantford, ON
Queen's University
93
S
Adam Robillard
Ottawa, ON
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
27
B
Arlene Rosenberg
Montréal, QC
Tufts College
11
C
Alexa Rowe
Sydney, Australia
UBC Thunderbirds
41
B
Ema Shiroma-Chao
Burnaby, BC
Université de Montréal
23
K
Matthew Stone
Sydenham, ON
Carleton University
94
C
Brian Wong
Langley, BC
Ottawa Maple Rush
2014 Global Games Alternative Roster
No.
Pos.
Player
Hometown
Team
20
B
Alexandra Bassa
Windsor, ON
uOttawa Gee-Gees
13
C
Matthew Bunn
Barrie, ON
uOttawa Gee-Gees
3
C
Wesley Burbidge
Utopia, ON
University of Guelph
9
B
Martin Chiasson
Dieppe, NB
uOttawa Gee-Gees
88
C
Tiffany Croteau
Ottawa, ON
uOttawa Gee-Gees
92
C
Robert Halas
Kamloops, BC
UBC Thunderbirds
There was no selection process for the 2012 team, which was composed largely of individuals who were able and willing to travel to Oxford, England, to play.
2012 IQA Summer Games Roster
Pos.
Player
Team
B/C
Tegan Bridge
uOttawa Quidditch
C
Derek Burrows
McGill University Quidditch
B
Benjamin Carlisle
McGill University Quidditch
B
David Danos
UBC Thunderbirds
B/C/S
Alain Desroches
McGill University Quidditch
K
Steven Foster
University of Victoria
B
Caitlin MacLeod
University of Toronto
C
Drew Marubashi
Queen's University Quidditch
K
Jamie Lafrance
uOttawa Quidditch
S
Plunger Pârvulescu
McGill University Quidditch
B
Leila Quigley
University of Victoria
C
Adam Robillard
uOttawa Quidditch
C
Mason Silviera
Queen's University Quidditch
B
Mary Warner
University of Victoria
Jerseys
The 2012 Summer Games jerseys were designed by David Danos. After the games, they were discontinued due to their similarity to Hockey Canada's logo.
Quidditch Canada announced on May 29, 2014 that Adam Robillard's jersey submission had been selected[8] featuring a stylized maple leaf on a black background.
Competitive record
Team Canada made their debut at the 2012 IQA Summer Games, where they placed fourth of five teams. Due to how the team was chosen (those who could afford to make it over having try-outs) and the fact that the team had a smaller roster of newer players, the Canadian team had difficulties keeping pace with the other teams toward the end of the day. However, only Team France and Team USA posed formidable threats to the Canadian team, whereas the loss against Team Australia was due to a withering team and a lost snitch catch in the end.
At the 2014 IQA Global Games, however, Team Canada was a favoured team. Ultimately, Team Canada lost against both the US and Australia, coming close in the game against Team Australia, ending in third place.[9]
