For the second straight year, Brad Gunter of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team will represent his country internationally.
The fourth year outside hitter from Courtenay was chosen to be a part of Canada’s Senior “B” men’s national team. This followed a four-day selection game which ended Tuesday at the National Team’s training facility in Gatineau, Quebec.
“This camp was very competitive,” said Gunter, who was the Canada West and CIS Player of the Year in 2013-14. “There were 58 guys trying out and much of my competition was older than myself. Many of them had experience with the full time training centre.”
Gunter had been to a pair of Junior National team training camps the previous years but said this camp, under the direction of Georges LaPlante of the University of Montreal, was more vigorous. “We went hard for four days straight. It consisted to lots of jumps. After the first couple of days, some nagging injuries started to come up. But I wasn’t the only one. I played hard and excelled in the last two days of scrimmages.”
Gunter led the CIS this year in kills per set (5.31), points (404.5) and points per set (6). He was second in the nation in kills (356), fifth in total attacks (742) and service aces (27).
After starting for Canada at the World Junior Championships in 2013, Gunter is looking forward to again wearing the maple leaf. “Making this team is another step towards playing for the Senior 'A' team. My skills will continue to develop and the insight of the other coaches will help so much in helping me prepare for the 2014-15 CIS season. It also means that I will be helped financially and will be doing something I love this summer instead of working in a non-sports related job.”
The Senior “B” team will train a couple of times this summer including July 28-Aug. 9. Canada will compete at the Pan-Am Cup in Mexico (Aug. 9-17). Canada finished in sixth place the last time they appeared at the Pan-Am Cup (July 7-15, 2012 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic).
“I hope to compete for a spot on the travelling team and hopefully, I will get the chance to start. “ Gunter states.
– TRU WolfPack