Canada to send 55 athletes to Pyeongchang Paralympics

Former sledge hockey Todd Nicholson smiles after it was announced that he is to be Canada's Chef de Mission for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Olympic games at a news conference in Ottawa on January 24, 2017. Todd Nicholson has two distinct memories from his 5 Paralympic appearances. The first was his Paralympic debut in Lillehammer, where it wasn't tough to spot his parents in the stands. They were two of six spectators there that day. His other memory is from 2010 in Vancouver, playing sledge hockey in front of a jam-packed arena. Nicholson is Canadian team's chef de mission for the Pyeongchang Olympics, which open in 100 days. (Fred Chartrand/CP)

OTTAWA — Canada will send 55 athletes to next month’s Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

It’s the largest contingent Canada has ever sent to the Games.

Eighteen members of the team are previous medal winners, including cross-country skier Brian McKeever, who has 13 medals in his collection.

Wheelchair curler James Anseeuw is the oldest Canadian athlete at 58 while Para hockey player James Dunn is the youngest at 17.

"This is a talented team of strong competitors and we are heading to Pyeongchang looking to be leaders both on and off the field of play," said Todd Nicholson, Canada’s chef de mission. "We wish the athletes the best of luck with their final preparations, and encourage everyone across the country to cheer on this group of extraordinary Canadians."

Canada will be looking to improve on the 16 medals it won at the 2014 Games in Sochi.

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