Brinnen to represent Canada with men’s national sitting volleyball team

KAMLOOPS – Just over a year-and-a-half after a fatal car crash caused Riley Brinnen life-altering injuries, the former member of the TRU WolfPack men’s volleyball team is back on the court and competing at the highest level.
 
“It’s pretty incredible, just thinking back to after the accident to where I am now,” said Brinnen, who played four seasons with the ‘Pack and was an assistant coach with the team this past year. “I feel really good about myself, I did struggle a lot with confidence throughout this process, so this feels almost like a rebirth moment. It’s sort of like I’m shedding my old skin and moving into this one.”
 
After impressing at a recent training camp, Brinnen has earned a spot on the Canadian men’s sitting volleyball team and is now preparing for an upcoming international level tournament in the Netherlands.
 
“Having my last name on a national team jersey is incredible and pretty emotional, to be able to throw that jersey on in the Netherlands will be a pretty big moment,” said Brinnen.
 
Brinnen’s road to making the sitting volleyball team started back in September when WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly brought up the possibility while the two were coaching together with the ‘Pack.
 
“I was in this lost state, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do but I knew that I wanted to compete,” said Brinnen. “I liked being around the guys on the TRU men’s volleyball team, but I was watching them compete and I was really just craving that opportunity myself.”
 
After being invited by the head coach of team Canada, Reid Brodie, to a training camp in Calgary in late April, Brinnen headed to Alberta with no prior sitting volleyball experience but an eagerness to return to the court.
 
“I just got thrown right into the deep end, some things transfer over but there are some rules and movements that are different,” said Brinnen. “It’s all about figuring out how my body works and what movements work best for me.”
 
While figuring out the game on the court, Brinnen also quickly gelled with the team off it, making the most of his time in Alberta.
 
“There were a bunch of presentations throughout the training camp from guys on the team telling their story which was really cool because it made me feel more comfortable and closer to the guys,” said Brinnen. “They brought me in, the whole team. They are super talkative and really welcoming.”
 
After receiving an invitation to join the squad on a permanent basis, the decision to accept was an easy one for Brinnen.
 
“It was a really interesting process and as a kid your dream is always to represent your country through playing a sport, so I knew that as soon as the head coach offered me a spot on the team that I was in 100 per cent,” said Brinnen. “It’s such a cool experience and I’m looking forward to the future years and growing with this team.”
 
While Brinnen and his teammates will head to the Netherlands for a tournament in early July, the product of Kelowna is already setting his sights on the World Championships next Summer in Hangzhou China and the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics beyond that.
 
“100 per cent, I want to help this team create success,” said Brinnen. “Qualifying for the Paralympics will definitely be goal number one, but also kicking some butt at these tournaments and the World Championships is on the list.”