Team profile |
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Canada will enter the World League in confident mood on the back of an impressive display in last year’s competition in Argentina when they finished fifth. That performance followed the ending of a five-year absence from the World League in 2012, when the team finished third in their pool and 12th overall. A win over Finland in the last match of pool play secured their place in the 2013 edition of the competition. The team also finished second behind the United States in last year’s NORCECA Continental Championship in Langley, US. Under the guidance of coach Glenn Hoag - a veteran of the 1980s side which is considered Canada’s best ever - the present crop will be highly motivated to build on their recent good form. Also in their sights is the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto with the ultimate goal being qualification for Rio 2016 and the prospect of ending a 24-year absence from the Olympic Games.
Canada have taken many steps forward since they began competing at international level in 1959. Their achievements include a fourth-place finish at the 1984 Olympic Games, a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games and top-three NORCECA Championship finishes. The team narrowly missed out on qualification for London 2012.
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Coach profile |
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Glenn Hoag played for Canada from 1981 to 1986 and was part of the team that produced the country’s best ever result, a fourth-place finish at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. He played for clubs in Europe for a decade, winning three national titles in France and the French Cup twice. As a coach in France he guided Paris Volley to 2011 triumphs in the championship, the French Cup and European Champions Cup. Hoag also has a Turkish national title on his coaching resume along with two Slovenian championships. He was appointed head coach of Canada’s men’s team in 2006. In 2011 he was inducted into the Quebec Volleyball Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments as a player. |
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