TORONTO (November 24, 2016) - Dodgeball Canada (DC) is pleased to announce Team Canada will have a familiar face leading the charge ahead of the 2017 World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF) World Championship in Toronto, Ontario. The DC Board of Directors have made the decision to re-appoint Victor Gravili as Canada's head coach in 2017 for both the men's and women's programs for a second consecutive World Championship.
The re-appointment comes on the heels of an impressive showing at the 2016 WDBF World Championship in Australia. The veteran coach led both of Canada’s teams to a combined 18-3 record, helping lead the men to their first gold medal since 2014 and the women to their first finals appearance and medal since 2013. The combined performance was Canada's best showing at a World Championship since a dominant result in New Zealand three years ago.
"On behalf of the Board of Directors at Dodgeball Canada, we’re thrilled to welcome Victor back as our head coach for both of our national programs in 2017. It’s an exciting time for Canadian dodgeball and we believe in having a consistent and strong hand leading the charge. Victor has a proven track record throughout his coaching career and we are confident in his ability to inspire and deliver results the Canadian dodgeball community will be proud of,” said Duane Wysynski, president of Dodgeball Canada.
This will be Gravili's fourth appointment and third consecutive World Championship at the helm of Team Canada. Gravili’s extensive coaching resume includes an 85-12 Ontario Colleges Committee on Campus Recreation (OCCCR) record, 12 OCCCR championships, three Humber Lakeshore Coach of the Year honours and 350+ tournament appearances (outside of the OCCCR) with Humber College over the past eight years. Internationally, Gravili has coached Team Canada to a 21-7 WDBF record, having missed the medal stage just once during his Canadian coaching tenure.
Gravili's one-year term with Team Canada will commence immediately. In the short term, he will carefully develop the 2017 Team Canada vision ahead of team selections next year, where he will lead the committee in assembling this year's Team Canada.
Please join us welcoming Victor back to Team Canada! More information about the selection process and other Team Canada details will be shared over the coming weeks.