Canada squad for the Commonwealth Games

**madbad** · 09-25-2010, 07:25 PM

Women
- Anna Rice, 29, (Vancouver, BC), Women’s Singles, 2nd Commonwealth Games, 2-time Olympian
- Michelle Li, 18, (Toronto, ON), Women’s Singles & Women’s Doubles 1st Commonwealth Games, silver medalist in Women’s Doubles at 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games
- Alexandra Bruce, 20, (Toronto, ON), Women’s Doubles, 1st Commonwealth Games, silver medalist in Women’s Doubles at 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games
- Grace Gao, 20, (Calgary, AB), Mixed Doubles 1st Commonwealth Games
- Joycelyn Ko, 24, (Toronto, ON), Women’s Singles, 1st Commonwealth Games

Alternate: Milaine Cloutier, 38, (Airdrie, AB), Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Men
- David Snider, 22, (Winnipeg, MB), Men’s Singles, 1st Commonwealth Games
- Alexander Pang, 22, (Calgary, AB), Men’s Singles, 1st Commonwealth Games
- Alvin Lau, 25, (Vancouver, BC), Men’s Doubles, 1st Commonwealth Games
- Jon Vandervet, 28, (Edmonton, AB), Men’s Doubles, 1st Commonwealth Games
- Toby Ng, 24, (Calgary, AB), Mixed Doubles, 1st Commonwealth Games

Alternate: Joseph Rogers, 21, (Ottawa, ON), Men’s Singles

http://www.badminton.ca/News_Article...aspx?sflang=en

All the best to our men and women in the CWG. I'm hoping to see a them create a few upsets.

Feel free to send your well wishes and encouragement to Team Canada on this thread. They need your support!

**ctjcad** · 09-26-2010, 06:14 PM

..what's your (realistic) expectation of the CAN squad in the team event?..QF Rd? Semis Rd.? Finals Rd.?

**visor** · 09-26-2010, 06:18 PM

Are they still going? Living quarters in New Delhi fixed up yet?

**visor** · 09-26-2010, 06:21 PM

Alternate: Milaine Cloutier, 38, (Airdrie, AB), Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Is that a typo, or is that her real age?
If she's really 38, that gives hope for me yet!

**madbad** · 09-26-2010, 06:23 PM

Yes, Canada is going.

As to how they will do. QF is realistic but will probably finish 2nd in their group and face either MAS, IND or SIN in the next round. Adios!

**madbad** · 09-26-2010, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by visor

Alternate: Milaine Cloutier, 38, (Airdrie, AB), Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Is that a typo, or is that her real age?
If she's really 38, that gives hope for me yet!

That's what it says on the Badminton Canada website, unless it's a typo. Unfortunately we have a few older players in the women's game (Charmaine Reid jumps to mind) holding the fort until the younger ones emerge.

**Fidget** · 09-26-2010, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by visor

... If she's really 38, that gives hope for me yet!

You ought not quit your day job quite yet, though.

**Fidget** · 09-26-2010, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by madbad

... we have a few older players in the women's game (Charmaine Reid jumps to mind) holding the fort until the younger ones emerge.

So how is the state of youth badminton in Canada?
That international event in Vancouver showed some pretty good talent (Mr. Pang), but how deep is Canada's talent pool? Are we making steady progress or just floundering to keep where we are in the world?

Any informed opinions?

Here on the East Coast we are far from the action .... but in February we get to see first-hand Canada's young baddy talent at the Canada Games 2011!

**visor** · 09-26-2010, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Fidget

You ought not quit your day job quite yet, though.

Heh, if I quit my day job, my wife will kill me as I'll be spending 8 hrs/d on BC.com!

***cobalt*** · 09-26-2010, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by visor

Heh, if I quit my day job, my wife will kill me as I'll be spending 8 hrs/d on BC.com!

Then you'll be the Phantom of BC, inhabiting the dark recesses of the BC server.

And become the #1 seed in the rankings

Softly, deftly, the shuttle shall caress you
Hear it, feel it, secretly posess you
Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the shuttle in its flight

**towbsss** · 09-27-2010, 02:13 PM

The final team is:

Dave Snider, Alex Pang, Jon Vandervet, and Toby Ng. Alvin Lau withdrew for his own reasons (unrelated to the lack of preparation of the Athlete's Village). There will be no alternate as it is too late to make changes.

Anna Rice, Joycelyn Ko, Grace Gao, Michelle Li, and Alex Bruce are going. Milaine Cloutier will not be attending.

We leave Thursday, September 30th.

***cobalt*** · 09-27-2010, 05:10 PM

All the best to the entire squad!! GO CANADA!!

**aZn_Popcorn** · 09-27-2010, 10:14 PM

That's to bad Alvin Lau is not going. He is suppose to play MD with Jon Vandervet. As well, he brings experience and leadership.

**suetyan** · 09-27-2010, 11:43 PM

why Stephan Wojcikiewicz is not in the list? And I thought Grace Gao and Joycelyn Ko are women doubles players? Coz I saw them playing WD in the USA open this year.

**ctjcad** · 09-28-2010, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by suetyan

why Stephan Wojcikiewicz is not in the list? And I thought Grace Gao and Joycelyn Ko are women doubles players? Coz I saw them playing WD in the USA open this year.

Grace Gao and Joycelyn Ko can play both WD and XD. But Joycelyn Ko has played WS before during the 2008 U.S. Open.
For why Mr. Wojcikiewicz didn't make the squad, my guess is team Canada is sending the players based on their current national ranking. Mr. Wojcikiewicz, i believe is ranked no.5., While the ones being sent are ranked in the top 4, nationally.

**tranqq** · 09-28-2010, 02:40 AM

i'm so close to vancouver yet i've never made it out to a tournament in vancouver (mostly because i'm always broke) so i've never had a chance to watch our top players in action. i wish them all the best, and i'm hopeful (and possibly naive) that they will make some upsets

. i hope when you do see me at a vancouver tournament (hopefully later this year) you will have some good international experience to show off.

**towbsss** · 09-28-2010, 11:06 AM

The criteria for Commonwealth was more or less based on domestic results, with results from 2 Elite Series tournaments, Nationals, Canadian International (Montreal), and Canadian Open. In terms of that criteria, Stephan was behind Dave and Alex.

Michelle and Anna will probably the the main WS.
Michelle/Alex and Grace/Joycelyn and the main WD
Dave and Alex will be the MS
Toby and Jon will be the MD
Toby and Grace will be the XD.

Aside from the new MD partnership because of Alvin's absence, all other partnerships can be reflected in the World Rankings.

Also, Jeff White (AB) and Ram Nayyar (BC) will be our coaches.

(Edit: typos)