Pickleball Canada is proud to announce the inaugural Team Canada roster that will travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to compete in the Major League Pickleball (MLP) event taking place July 8–12.
The team was selected through an MLP Combine, delivered by Steve Deakin Pickleball (SDP), held May 15–17 at Club 315 in Calgary. A total of 32 athletes participated throughout the weekend, showcasing their skills during a highly competitive selection process.
“I have learned the most exciting victories often don’t involve a podium at all. Our nation committing to training its own elite athletes is a journey worth celebrating. It’s an honour to be a part of Canadian pickleball history and the naming of the first Official Team Canada,” said Steve Deakin.
Further selections for the Pickleball Canada High Performance Program will take place during the 2026 IG Wealth Management National Championship Presented by HearingLife in Toronto this August. Winners of the Open event categories throughout the week will earn individual spots in the National Development Program Pool, with four women and four men selected through this pathway. In addition, six junior athletes will be selected based on their performances at the event.
The Provincial Team Competition (PTC) at Pickleball Canada Nationals will also serve as a key scouting opportunity, with athletes being evaluated for their fit within the 2026 National Development Program Pool. The remaining spots in the program will be selected in September by Pickleball Canada’s High Performance Task Team through an evaluation process based on results from the PTC and other events held throughout the year.
“This is an incredible pathway and an important step in building a strong high-performance pickleball structure within Canada,” said Pickleball Canada Executive Director Barry Petrachenko. “We are excited to be kicking off our High Performance programming and wish these athletes the very best of luck in Grand Rapids this July.”
Team Canada Roster – Grand Rapids, Michigan:
- Rosie Johanson – British Columbia
- Kim Layton – Alberta
- Kyle Hermetz – Ontario
- Mackonner Dy – British Columbia
- Ryan Torresin – Ontario
- Jordann Vigna – Quebec
Further information regarding Team Canada and Pickleball Canada’s High Performance Program will be shared throughout the summer.