VNL 2023

New coach Sammelvuo picks Canadian roster for VNL 2023

The Finnish coach has called up 30 players in his first selection with the country’s national team

Published 01:43, 04 May 2023

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Sclater, Szwarc and Maar are among the returning players from last year's World Championship campaign

The first selection of new coach Tuomas Sammelvuo ahead of the Canadian men’s national team features 30 players – most of them familiar faces – that will represent the country during the international season, starting with the Volleyball Nations League 2023.

Hired in November to replace the departing Ben Josephson, Sammelvuo, who is still involved in the club season with Polish side Grupa Azoty ‘Zaksa’ Kędzierzyn-Koźle, already has his assistant coaches working with some players in Gatineau. The coach and the remaining athletes will join the group when they complete their club schedules.

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Sammelvuo will be the third different professional to lead Canada in the VNL in three years. The former Finnish player, who guided Russia to take silver at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, comes after Stephenson and longtime coach Glenn Hoag, who was ahead of the Maple Volleys from 2018 to 2021 in his second stint with the team.

Sammelvuo CEV

Sammelvuo will begin his work with Canada after he completes the club season in Poland

In his first selection, Sammelvuo has opted to maintain the core of the squad built by his predecessors, calling up 12 of the 14 players that were in action with Canada at the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship – libero Steven Marshall and outside hitter Ryley Barnes are the only exceptions.

Setter Jay Blankenau, outside hitters Stephen Maar and Nicholas Hoag and opposite/middle blocker Arthur Szwarc are expected to form the core of the team in Sammelvuo’s first season at the helm.

The Canadians, who were 12th in the VNL last year, will start their 2023 campaign in front of their home fans, facing Cuba, Argentina, the USA and Germany in Ottawa in the opening week of the tournament, from June 5-11.

Canada men’s national team full roster:

Setters: Brett Walsh, Derek Epp, Jay Blankenau, Luke Herr, Max Elgert
Opposites: Arthur Szwarc, Christopher Byam, Jordan Canham, Matthew Neaves, Ryan Sclater
Outside hitters: Brodie Hofer, Eric Loeppky, Evan Falardeau, Jackson Young, Jesse Elser, Logan House, Mathias Elser, Nicholas Hoag, Samuel Cooper, Stepher Maar
Middle blockers: Danny Demyanenko, Fynn McCarthy, Jackson Howe, Jordan Schnitzer, Liam Kristjanson, Lucas Van Berkel, Pearson Eshenko
Liberos: Justin Lui, Landon Currie, Zachary Hollands

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