By Scott Roblin

Friendly rivalry helping to grow wheelchair basketball community

Jan 29, 2018 | 4:40 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Organized wheelchair basketball in Medicine Hat was just a thought a few years ago, but now that dream is coming to fruition.

A historic weekend for the Medicine Hat Mustangs, as they played their first ever home game at the Family Leisure Centre on Saturday against the Lethbridge Steamers.

Mustangs player Courtney Okrainec said after years of playing traditional basketball, she’s fallen in love with the sport.

“I’ve just been volunteering and then I started played sledge hockey, and then I started playing basketball,” said Okrainec. “I was a stand-up basketball player for quite a while in my life so I thought, ‘Of course, why not come and try wheelchair basketball.’”

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Lethbridge controlled the pace of play throughout the first three quarters, before players swapped jerseys to even up teams in the fourth.

As part of a new southern Alberta squad, Sam Villeneuve said they’re looking up to the experienced, Lethbridge-based club.

“They help us because they’ve been playing way longer,” said Villeneuve. “So, it’s nice to get pointers from them.

Although they rolled to an easy victory, Lethbridge’s John Banman said he can see the potential in the young team.

“They’re starting off, they’re developing a team and yeah it was good,” said Banman. “Yeah, I hope we come out more often.”

While some athletes are permanently in wheelchairs, many others are able-bodied players wanting to try out a new sport.

According to Steamers player Enrique Smith though, the sport doesn’t come easy for everyone.

“Lots and lots of pushing, you have to have lots of chair control,” said Smith. “If you don’t you’re going to end up in a wreck.”

Seeing the team double from six players last year to 12 this year, Okrainec said the Mustangs are improving each time they take to the court.

“It’s awesome to see the team learning so much and us scoring more points, and being able to just be patient and passing the ball to each other,” she said. “It’s so good to see, and how far we’ve come from even just playing one game together.”

Sporting new wheelchairs purchased through a community grant, Medicine Hat Adaptive Sports and Recreation is now turning their attention to fundraising for new jerseys.

Okrainec said the wheelchair basketball community is growing, bridging the gap between able-bodied and disabled athletes.

“It’s just amazing because we would never have those opportunities to play with people who do have disabilities, competitive sports,” she said. “So, it’s nice to be able to play these kind of sports where we can all just play together and have fun.”