Sask. teammates win 3×3 wheelchair basketball bronze for Canada at Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games bronze medals are headed back to Saskatchewan with three members of Canada’s wheelchair basketball team.

Regina’s Garrett Ostepchuk and Aberdeen Kyrell Sopotyk helped Team Canada win bronze in the men’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball tournament in Glasgow, Scotland on Wednesday.

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Ostepchuk had five points, two rebounds and three assists in the 19-9 win over host Scotland, while Sopotyk added one point from off the bench.

It’s the first international medal for the pair, with Ostepchuk previously playing for Canada at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2024 Paralympics.

Sopotyk, who was a member of the Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers prior to a snowboarding injury, made his Commonwealth Games debut for Canada.

Also winning bronze for Canada was coach Jared Sajtos, who grew up in Saskatoon.

Team Canada’s Lee Melymick (left), Kyrell Sopotyk (second from left), Garrett Ostepchuk (second from right) and Reed De’Aeth (right) with Commonwealth Games bronze medals around their necks. (Wheelchair Basketball Canada/Instagram)

Speaking with Wheelchair Basketball Canada, Ostepchuk said it was a strong response after Team Canada fell 18-13 in the semi-finals to England earlier on Wednesday.

“I think mentally we just stayed focused on the moment,” Ostepchuk said.

“We didn’t let too much affect us mistakes-wise, or the officiating, or what Scotland were doing. We just focused on our game and that was the goal the entire time.”

It’s the third medal headed back to the province, after Saskatoon gymnast Jordan Carroll won a pair of gold medals in the men’s team event and men’s pommel horse earlier this week.

Wednesday’s bronze brings Canada up to 39 total medals in Scotland, and the nation sits second in the medal tally with 14 gold medals.