Invictus 2020 Team Canada hone skills at U.S. Marine Corps Trials

On the road to Invictus Games 2020, Team Canada will have the opportunity to practice their competitive skills at the 10th annual U.S. Marine Corps Trials. 

This year is the first Canadian team to take part in the competition. 

“It is an honour to be part of Team Canada and to participate in the United States Marine Corps Trials! It is a great opportunity for us to train and hone our skills in preparation for the upcoming Invictus Games. It is also a chance for us to connect with our allies from the six other nations, learn from each other’s challenges and triumphs, and build camaraderie and new friendships,” said Rock Ferland, co-captain for Team Canada at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020. 

The U.S. Marine Corps Trials, held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA, is an adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill, or injured serving military personnel and veterans. 

From Feb. 28 to March 12, 250 athletes from seven countries will take part in 11 adaptive sports. 

Team Canada will take part in ten sports including archery, cycling, golf, powerlifting, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. 

“Courage, fortitude, and perseverance—these are a shortlist of the characteristics I know will be on display during this week’s Marine Corps trials at Camp Pendleton. I wish all Team Canada participants the very best of luck; thank you for serving as an inspiration to us all,” said Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff. 

Team Canada consists of 14 serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and 17 veterans, all of whom acquired an illness, physical or mental injury during their time in the military. 

The team will travel to The Hague, the Netherlands in May to take part in the 2020 Invictus Games. The Invictus Games will feature more than 500 competitors from 20 nations in ten adaptive sports.