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The selection camp for the Canada Men's National Senior B Team has opened up this week at the Centre Sportif in Gatineau, Québec and the head coach of the UBC Okanagan men's volleyball team, Brad Hudson, is one of the select few coaches in attendance as member of the national team coaching staff.
With Hudson training some of Canada's best talent and learning from some of the best volleyball minds in the country, he says he is still honoured for being chosen, and that he has been extremely busy in the first week of the camp.
"This is a wonderful opportunity, both personally and professionally, and I hope we can continue to add to our country's recent successes on the international stage," stated Hudson. "There is no greater honour in sport than representing your country. I am grateful for UBCO's support in allowing me to pursue this."
Although not the person that initially supported Hudson's stint with the national program, the new athletic director at UBC Okanagan is excited to step into the role and have one of his staff considered to be on that level of coaching.
Tom Huisman, who has been working in University Sport in for nearly two decades, took the reins as head of the universities athletics and recreation department on May 1, 2018. Huisman knows a little something about national programs and university sports programs.
"Brad's appointment to the National Team program is a testament to the calibre of coaching we have at UBCO and a great opportunity for him to work alongside some of the best coaches in the country," stated Huisman.
"The exceptional experience he will have as a member of the national team staff is something we look forward to having him bring back to the benefit of our program and student-athletes."
Brad Hudson will have a few familiar faces with him at the camp, several of his current, and former players, are also in attendance.
Just after finishing his fifth and final season with UBCO, Lars Bornemann, is at the camp, along with one of the 2017 Heat graduating players in Alex Swiatlowski. Bornemann finished his career as the all-time kills leader and was also a three-time student-athlete of the year for UBCO.
Devon Cote, the Kelowna Secondary product who will return for his fourth year after posting a career-best year in his junior season, is also at the camp. Those three, along with a couple of players from Hudson's previous coaching stint at Douglas College, are amongst the close to forty players at the camp.
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