Pickleball Canada is excited to announce that Steve Deakin will Captain Team Canada at the inaugural Major League Pickleball (MLP) Nations Cup, taking place October 30–November 1 in Dallas, Texas. The event will bring together eight teams from around the world for an international competition showcasing some of the top pickleball talent from each participating region.
The Nations Cup continues Pickleball Canada’s partnership with Steve Deakin Pickleball (SDP), which began earlier this year with Team Canada’s participation in the MLP Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That tournament provided a valuable opportunity for Canadian athletes to compete on an international stage and marked an important step in Pickleball Canada’s continued development of its high-performance program.
Steve Deakin will serve as the team’s Head Coach and will lead the selection and preparation of the Canadian roster. With extensive experience in high-performance pickleball and his leadership role with the PPA Canada Tour, Deakin brings valuable experience and knowledge to the team.
Pickleball Canada’s Director of Competition, Ryan Hanes, will serve as Assistant Coach, supporting the team throughout the competition and contributing to the preparation and development of the athletes.
“It is an incredible honour to be named Captain of Team Canada for MLP Nations Cup in Dallas. I am proud to represent our flag and grateful for the opportunity to lead an amazing group of athletes who share the same passion, pride, and commitment to our county. We are headed to Dallas united, ready to compete, and determined to make Canada proud”, said Steve Deakin.
“This partnership helps deliver on Pickleball Canada’s commitment to high performance and development”, noted Pickleball Canada Executive Director Barry Petrachenko. “We are very fortunate that Steve Deakin continues to give back to Canadian players in growing our sport.”
Head to the MLP social media pages to see the full roster of Team Canada.