Ottawa, ON — The 2026 Wheelchair Rugby National Championships concluded this past weekend at the Carleton University Raven’s Nest in Ottawa, Ontario, with Team Ontario capturing gold in both Division One and Division Two competition.

In Division One, Ontario Thunder defeated Québec 1 to claim the prestigious Campbell Cup, while Ontario Lightning secured the Division Two Zbieranowski Cup following a tightly contested final against Québec 2.

Division One featured five teams from across the country: Ontario Thunder, Québec 1, New Brunswick, Sasktoba, and the BC Bandits. Division Two competition included Ontario Lightning, Ontario Storm, BC Rapids, Alberta Bighorns, Alberta Prospects, and Québec 2.

Final Placements

Division One

• Gold — Ontario Thunder
• Silver — Québec 1
• Bronze — BC Bandits
• Fourth — New Brunswick
• Fifth — Sasktoba

Division Two

• Gold — Ontario Lightning
• Silver — Québec 2
• Bronze — Ontario Storm
• Fourth — Alberta Bighorns
• Fifth — BC Rapids
• Sixth — Alberta Prospects

Following the on-court competition, athletes, coaches, officials, and Wheelchair Rugby Canada representatives gathered for the Championships Awards Banquet, where exceptional individual performances were recognized.

Championship Award Winners

• Judith Zelman Rookie of the Year — Mason Rae (BC Rapids)
• Rising Star Most Improved Award, presented by Resolution Fitness — Kim Payzant (Alberta Bighorns)

Division One – Best in Class

• 0.5 — Eric Rodrigues (Ontario Thunder)
• 1.0 — Maxime Drolet-Gauthier (Québec 2)
• 1.5 — Max Arsenault (BC Bandits)
• 2.0 — Cody Caldwell (Ontario Thunder)
• 2.5 — Julia Hanes (BC Bandits)
• 3.0 — Mike Whitehead (Ontario Thunder)
• 3.5 — Austin MacLellan (New Brunswick)

Division One Garett Hickling Most Valuable Player Award — Austin MacLellan (New Brunswick)

Division Two – Best in Class

• 0.5 — Connor Matheson-Webster (Ontario Lightning)
• 1.0 — Ashley Munro (Alberta Bighorns)
• 1.5 — Dave Guiry (Alberta Bighorns)
• 2.0 — Steve Mastine (Québec 2)
• 2.5 — Alexi Macias (Québec 2)
• 3.0 — Christian Zyp (Alberta Bighorns)
• 3.5 — Reid Mulligan (Ontario Lightning)

Division Two Most Valuable Player Award — Erika Schmutz (Ontario Lightning)

This year, the Division One Most Valuable Player Award was officially renamed the Garett Hickling MVP Award, in honour of the late Garett Hickling; one of the most accomplished and respected athletes in wheelchair rugby history, who passed in 2025.

Hickling was a five-time Paralympian, multiple Paralympic medallist, Opening Ceremony flag bearer for Team Canada at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and MVP at his first three Wheelchair Rugby World Championships. Beyond his achievements on the court, he was widely admired as a leader, mentor, coach, and ambassador for the sport.

The renaming of the award recognizes Hickling’s extraordinary contributions to wheelchair rugby in Canada and internationally, while ensuring his legacy remains an enduring part of the sport for future generations.

The 2026 Wheelchair Rugby National Championships once again showcased the depth of talent, competitiveness, and community spirit that continue to drive the sport forward across Canada. With athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and supporters coming together from coast to coast, the event highlighted the continued growth of wheelchair rugby at both the grassroots and high-performance levels. 

Wheelchair Rugby Canada extends its thanks to the Ottawa Stingers, volunteers, partners, and fans whose support helped make the Championships a tremendous success.

This event was made possible through the support of the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and Ottawa Tourism. 

Thank you to our event sponsors: Resolution Fitness, Vesco, Adaptive Living, National Capital Sports Council of the Disabled, The Good Access Company, Hollister, Farm Boy, Sullivan & Son, Multilogements Chez Toit, 49 Bespoke, Redbull and Melrose.