2023 Canada’s Indoor Men’s U21 Roster

Sports takes agility for all athletes with some simply not getting enough exposure from the main-stream media in the larger cities.

Media outlets in “small-town” Canada are much more involved in Amateur sports and are open to today’s youth which directly gives Amateur Athletes exposure who don’t necessarily have “tons” of money for additional coaching like Athletes in the City.

True, Universities or Academy’s offer additional coaching, but this all comes at a cost to the Parent, who in coma cases take a second job to help out, which their Son or Daughter appreciate and regardless the ride is extra special.

We received the note below from TWU and want to share it with you. 

Enjoy the read.

Trinity Western University men’s volleyball setter Mathias Elser (Calgary) and incoming Spartan middle Cory Schoenherr (Waterloo, Ont.) have been named to Canada’s Indoor Men’s U21 team for 2021.

This U21 team will represent Canada at the FIVB U21 World Championships scheduled to take place in Italy/Bulgaria from September 23 to October 3.

This year will mark the fourth consecutive summer that Elser has been part of Canada’s U21 program.

In previous years, he represented Canada at the NORCECA U21 Championship in 2018 and at both the U21 Pan American Cup and U21 World Championship in 2019. In 2020, he was part of the U21 group that trained together virtually.

For Schoenherr, this will be his second opportunity with the national program as he was part of Canada’s U19 virtual training group in 2020.

“This group of athletes represents the future of the men’s program, and I congratulate the hard-working players and coaches who kept the momentum going during the pandemic,” said Julien Boucher, Volleyball Canada high performance director for indoor teams. “We’re looking forward to seeing them train and compete later this year.”

 This year’s U21 team is comprised of athletes with the potential to represent Canada at the 2028 Olympic Games. The program will run in Gatineau, Que. from July 5 to early October.

 Team Canada U21 Men’s Roster

Steven Abrams, Georgetown, ON

Chris Byam, Bow Island, AB

Samuel Cooper, Hamilton, ON

Michael Donovan, London, ON

Cole Duncanson, St. Catharines, ON

Mathias Elser, Calgary, AB

Isaak Fast, Winnipeg, MB

Maxime Gratton, Orleans, ON

Isaac Heslinga, Orangeville, ON

Cole Ketrzynski, Toronto, ON

Darian Koskie, Winnipeg, MB

Jon Lockie, Winnipeg, MB

Jonathan Pickett, Wiarton, ON

Jonathan Portelance, La Prairie, QC

Cory Schoenherr, Waterloo, ON

Erik Siksna, Markham, ON

Jacob van Geel, Calgary, AB

James Vincett, Calgary, AB

Jackson Young, Etobicoke, ON

 Program Staff

Ryan Marsden – Head Coach

Ian Eibbitt – Assistant Coach

Gabriel deGroot – Assistant Coach

Lionel Bonnaure – Performance Analyst

Jovana Smoljanic – Athletic Therapist

Louis-Jean Tremblay – Strength Coach

Wes Chen – Team Coordinator

About Spartan Athletics

As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women’s rugby sevens.

TWU also competes as an independent team in men’s rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.