Wheelchair rugby athletes from across Canada gathered in Fredericton, New Brunswick for the inaugural Maddog Memorial Tournament, hosted by Parasport New Brunswick. The event honoured the legacy of the late Hal Merrill, a pioneering figure in the province’s parasport community.

Merrill, a Paralympic track and field athlete, was one of Canada’s most accomplished Para throwers and played an instrumental role in growing opportunities for athletes with disabilities in New Brunswick, playing a large part in the development of wheelchair rugby in the province. The memorial tournament celebrated his impact by bringing together athletes, coaches, and community members for a weekend of competition and development.

Prescribing Possibilities: Connecting Sport and Health

Prior to the tournament, Parasport New Brunswick hosted an educational session titled “Prescribing Possibilities: The Role of Health Professionals in Parasport & Active Living.”

The fireside chat featured several accomplished athletes sharing their experiences, including past and present national team wheelchair rugby players Mélanie Labelle, Zak Madell, and Mike Whitehead, along with Paralympic cyclist Alexandre Hayward. The discussion highlighted the important role health professionals play in introducing individuals with disabilities to sport and supporting lifelong active living.

Maddog Memorial Tournament

The event featured four teams, including two all-women squads representing the Northern Lights, alongside a Parasport New Brunswick team and a mixed team made up of athletes from across the country.

“The highlight for me was seeing everyone come together. Not just the athletes; it was friends, family, healthcare providers, volunteers, sponsors, kids, teens and adults, teammates from other sports, mentors, and even strangers,” said Ellen Doria of Fredericton, New Brunswick. Doria played on both the Parasport New Brunswick and Northern Lights 2 teams. “To watch all of those people show up, spend time together, and just enjoy rugby and the community was truly special.”

The tournament concluded with a tightly contested gold medal game, where the mixed team edged out Parasport New Brunswick 50–47 to secure the title.

Final standings:

• Mixed Team — 4–0 (Gold)
• Parasport New Brunswick — 2–2 (Silver)
• Northern Lights 1 — 2–2 (Bronze)
• Northern Lights 2 — 0–4 (4th place)

Women’s Training Camp Builds Momentum

Following the tournament, female athletes remained in New Brunswick for a women’s wheelchair rugby training camp, providing a rare opportunity for players from across Canada to train together.

“The incredible energy from the Maddog tournament flowed right into the women’s training camp. In just a few short days, I personally learnt a ton, and we saw so much growth as a team,” said Doria. “Training alongside fellow female athletes inspires and empowers me to work hard; it’s a powerful reminder that we truly belong in this sport. Though we’ve now gone our separate ways, we continue to stay connected through chat and video calls, supporting each other and working hard individually as we look forward to the next tournament together.”

The camp is part of the continued growth of the women’s development program launched in late 2025 by Wheelchair Rugby Canada, aimed at creating more pathways and opportunities for women in the sport.

For many athletes, the camp represented both a high-performance training environment and a chance to strengthen connections within the women’s wheelchair rugby community. It also served as a valuable opportunity for the women’s development team to continue building toward the WWR Women’s Wheelchair Rugby World Championship in December 2026.

This event was made possible through the Wheelchair Rugby Canada Podium Club program, as well as Community Sport for All funding from the Government of Canada.