First up in our team profiles are our neighbours to the south, The Seattle Slam Wheelchair Rugby Club.

History at the Vancouver Invitational

Seattle is the only team other than BC to compete at every Vancouver Invitational. Our southern neighbours have a rich history at the tournament. They won back-to-back D2 title in 2008 and 2009 and won last year’s D2 Championship in 2OT vs Portland.

In addition to their successful D2 campaigns, Seattle has also been a D1 contender. From 2015-2017, Japanese import and world champion Daisuke Ikezaki led the team to three top-four finishes. During this run, the Slam posted impressive victories over established teams like Germany, BC and Quebec.

Watch Out For?

Seattle’s captain and head-coach Jeremy Hannaford is one to look out for. However, as a picker, his impact might not be obvious to the casual fan.

Hannaford’s a tough defender who does a fantastic job of opening up lanes for his teammates and clamping down on opponents.

The Slam won’t have one clear go-to scorer. Instead, they have four or five guys who will all be expected to carry the ball and make decisions, whether that means firing off a pass or turning on the jets and burning someone for the try.

Seattle’s full roster is available here

Fun Facts

• Seattle are currently ranked 21st in the United States Quad Rugby Association
• They used to be called the Seattle AllNight
• For the 2018/2019 season, Seattle imported BC’s Andrew Davis for their domestic competitions. Canadians Rod Bitz and Fabien Lavoie have also played for the team in previous years.
• The Slam are partnered with the Seattle Saracens Rugby Club (Will we see some of them in the stands?)

Learn more

For more information on the Seattle Slam, you can follow them on Facebook here.

To stay up-to-date on all things Vancouver Invitational and Wheelchair Rugby, keep checking this site. Additionally be sure to follow BC Wheelchair Sports on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more content leading up to and during the tournament.