TORONTO, ON (April 27, 2016) - With 100 days to Rio, Canada Basketball is pleased to announce the women’s national team's summer 2016 staff and schedule, which includes hosting China at the Edmonton Grads International Classic (EGIC) from July 9th-11th at the Saville Centre in Edmonton, AB.
"After a historic 2015 for our team, we're excited to get back to work and prepare for the ultimate goal - representing Canada on the Olympic stage in 100 days," said Lisa Thomaidis, head coach, women's national team. "The EGIC will be a great opportunity to tune-up prior to the Olympics and play on home soil in front of the fans and the city that have supported us on our road to Rio."
The 2015 back-to-back gold medalist will reunite in Edmonton on May 21st for the first phase of training before travelling to Spain and France for exhibition games. The team will re-group on June 28th in Edmonton for the second phase of training, including the three-game series vs. China.
Ticket information for the EGIC will be announced in the coming weeks. China, currently ranked 8th in the world, will take part in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in June for one last chance to qualify for the Games.
The final phase of training of Team Canada will begin July 22 in Toronto, ON. The team will then head to the U.S. for an exhibition tournament before journeying to Rio De Janeiro for the Olympic Games from August 5-22.
The women's national team will be led by head coach, Lisa Thomaidis (University of Saskatchewan), along with assistant coaches Bev Smith, Shawnee Harle and Steve Baur. The coaches will be supported by 11 staff covering performance analysis, sport medicine and team management roles.
A full schedule and staff list below. Camp invitees and team roster will be announced in the coming weeks.
2016 SUMMER SCHEDULE
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>DATE</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>EVENT </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>LOCATION </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>May 21-30</strong></p></td><td><p>Tryouts and training</p></td><td><p>Saville Centre, Edmonton</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>June 1-9</strong></p></td><td><p>Training & Exhibition</p></td><td><p>Spain & France</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>June 26-July 8</strong></p></td><td><p>Training</p></td><td><p>Saville Centre, Edmonton</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>July 9-11</strong></p></td><td><p>Edmonton Grads International Classic vs Team China</p><p><strong><em>Game Times:</em></strong></p><ul><li>Saturday, July 9<sup>th</sup> @ 7:00 p.m. MST</li><li>Sunday, July 10<sup>th</sup> @ 4:00p.m. MST</li><li>Monday, July 11<sup>th</sup> @ 7:00 p.m. MST</li></ul></td><td><p>Saville Centre, Edmonton</p><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>July 22-26</strong></p></td><td><p>Training</p></td><td><p>TBC, Toronto</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>July 27-31</strong></p></td><td><p>Exhibition</p></td><td><p>TBC, USA</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>August 5-21</strong></p></td><td><p>Olympic Games</p></td><td><p>Rio De Janeiro, Brazil</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
2016 SENIOR COACHES & STAFF
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p><strong>NAME</strong></p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p><strong>HOMETOWN</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>AFFILIATION</strong></p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p><strong>ROLE</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Lisa Thomaidis</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Dundas, ON</p></td><td><p>University of Saskatchewan</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Head Coach</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Bev Smith</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Eugene, OR</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Assistant Coach</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Shawnee Harle</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Calgary, AB</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Assistant Coach</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Steve Baur</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Sackville, NS</p></td><td><p>Canada Basketball</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Assistant Coach</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Dipesh Mistry</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Markham, ON</p></td><td><p>Ryerson University</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Performance Analyst</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Joan Mlynarczyk</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Toronto, ON</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>SW Physiotherapist & Therapy Lead</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Danielle Dobney</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Toronto, ON</p></td><td><p>McGill University</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Athletic Therapist</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Chris DalCin</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Toronto, ON</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Basketball Scientist</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Sarah Kim</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Toronto, ON</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Lead Physician</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Marni Wesner</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Edmonton, AB</p></td><td><p>University of Alberta</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Edmonton Lead Physician</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Peter Jensen</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Toronto, ON</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Sport Psychologist</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Susan Cockle</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Edmonton, AB</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Sport Psychologist</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Anne Marie Thuss</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Hamilton, ON</p></td><td><p>McMaster University</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Team Manager</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Elaine Sun</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Thornhill, ON</p></td><td><p>Canada Basketball</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Team Manager</p></td></tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Mikaela Berza</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Mississauga, ON</p></td><td><p>Ryerson University</p></td><td nowrap="nowrap"><p>Team Manager</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Schedule and staffing subject to change.
For more information & media requests, contact:
Bailey Williams, bwilliams@basketball.ca, 647.460.7976
ABOUT THE EDMONTON GRADS INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC
2016 marks the second Edmonton Grads International Classic (EGIC), an event highlighting the relationship between Canada Basketball's woman's national team and the City of Edmonton. The tournament will take place from July 9-11th at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, AB.
Named after the legendary Edmonton grads women's basketball team - a team which swept four consecutive Olympic Games from 1924 to 1936 on their way to compiling an insurmountable 96.2 winning-percentage over 35 years - this series of games will reconnect current players with Canada's rich history in women's basketball and international competition. For more information, please click here.