Cody Caldwell and Team Canada Earns First Wheelchair Rugby Win at Tokyo Paralympics

Peterborough’s Cody Caldwell and Team Canada defeated New Zealand in wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics, 51-36 to improve to a 1-2 record on Friday.

Cody Caldwell (pictured) has scored nine tries in the wheelchair rugby round-robin. File Photo.

The win has earned them a fifth-place match against France this Saturday.

Canada outscored New Zealand after all four quarters and never lost the lead.

Caldwell was a starter and logged 8:23 minutes of game time. He scored four tries to help bring Canada to their first tournament win.

Zak Madell led Canada with 12 tries through only 12:37 minutes of gameplay; Barney Koneferenisi led New Zealand with 18 tries.

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Canada was eliminated from playoff contention after two consecutive losses to Great Britain and the United States. Both losses were competitive matches as Canada only lost by a combined score of seven points.

Team Canada Wheelchair Rugby will wrap up its Paralympic journey competing against France for fifth place on Saturday at 7:00 a.m. EST.

To live stream Saturday’s game click here.

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