Team Manitoba Wheelchair showcased its talent, determination and continued growth at the 2026 Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Championship, held June 5–7 in Quebec City, Quebec.
The national championship brought together eight provincial teams from across Canada and served as a key seeding event for the 2027 Canada Winter Games, which are set for February 27 to March 14, 2027. Manitoba entered the tournament with a young and developing roster and quickly showed it could compete with some of the country’s top junior wheelchair basketball programs.
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Led by Head Coach Joey Johnson, a Paralympian and longtime leader in the sport, and Team Manager Brett Turcotte, Manitoba opened the tournament with a strong first day of competition. The team defeated Nova Scotia 66–21 before earning a 55–36 win over New Brunswick, placing Manitoba in a tie atop Pool A after the opening day.
“It’s a new team, we’re slowly building and hopefully fine-tuning our game,” said Manitoba athlete Matthew Wilton following the team’s strong start. “I think cohesion is helping slowly build confidence.”
On the second day of competition, Manitoba faced defending champion British Columbia. Despite a determined effort, Manitoba fell 64–41 to the eventual silver medallists, finishing round-robin play with a 2–1 record.
Throughout the championship, Team Manitoba displayed strong teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship while competing against the nation’s top emerging wheelchair basketball athletes. The experience gained in Quebec City will be an important building block as the program continues preparing for future national competitions and the 2027 Canada Winter Games.
Team Manitoba finished sixth overall in the national standings, an encouraging result for a young squad continuing to build toward future success.
Representing Team Manitoba at the 2026 Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Championship were:
- Brody Johnson (4.5)
- Callum Johnson (4.5)
- Bernard Rosello (3.5)
- Ethan Saguid (1.0)
- Nathaniel Solomon (4.5)
- Alex Wells (3.5)
- Matthew Wilton (2.0)
- Head Coach - Joey Johnson
- Manager - Brett Turcotte
“Our athletes represented Manitoba with pride every time they took the floor,” said Head Coach Joey Johnson. “They competed hard, supported one another, and gained valuable experience against some of the best junior players in Canada. This tournament showed the progress our program is making and gives us a strong foundation moving forward.”
Team Manitoba extends its thanks to the athletes, families, coaches, officials, volunteers and supporters who helped make the championship experience possible.
With the 2027 Canada Winter Games on the horizon, Team Manitoba will look to build on the momentum established in Quebec City as the province’s next generation of wheelchair basketball athletes continues to develop and compete on the national stage.
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