Austin MacLellan from Fredericton is making a historic mark this week as the first athlete from New Brunswick to compete for Canada at the world wheelchair rugby championships.
MacLellan’s path to this prestigious international event began with an unexpected invitation to try a new sport.
While he was engaged in wheelchair basketball in 2021, the local wheelchair rugby team found themselves short on players.
“They asked me, ‘Would you like to come out and join us?’” MacLellan recalled. “I thought, sure, just give me a chair and some gloves.”
Austin MacLellan is making his world wheelchair rugby championship debut with Team Canada. (Polina Kozlova/CBC)
He returned and quickly rose to prominence in just five years of participating in this full-contact sport.
Known for its intensity, the sport features athletes colliding and blocking one another, often likened to high-speed bumper cars, with its initial name being “murderball.”
The championships are taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, and will conclude on Sunday.
Sally Chamberlain, the executive director of Parasport New Brunswick, stated that MacLellan’s inclusion in the Canadian team represents a historic milestone for the province.
Sally Chamberlain, the Parasport New Brunswick executive director, stands in a gymnasium with a wheelchair rugby chair visible behind her. (Tara King-Stewart/CBC)
“This is a monumental achievement for us,” Chamberlain expressed. “It’s the first time someone from our province has made that team.”
Chamberlain emphasized that MacLellan’s success demonstrates that athletes from smaller communities can achieve the highest levels in their respective sports.
In 2025, MacLellan was selected for Canada’s senior national team, making his international debut that same year. In May, he earned the Division 1 Garett Hickling most valuable player title at the Canadian wheelchair rugby national championships, where New Brunswick secured a fourth-place finish.
Austin MacLellan is set to become the first New Brunswick athlete to represent Canada at the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.
Now, he is donning the Team Canada jersey for his inaugural world championships.
“It’s an incredible honor,” MacLellan stated. “I still feel that immense sense of pride for where I come from.”
He admitted to still feeling “butterflies” each time he puts on the jersey.
A community supporting him
MacLellan attributes much of his progress to the wheelchair rugby community in New Brunswick.
One of his early mentors was Hal Merrill, a key figure in wheelchair rugby in the province, who passed away last year.
“Hal was a vital part of our team and my personal growth,” MacLellan reflected. He remembers Merrill as someone who understood the challenges athletes encounter both on and off the court.
“He always had insightful advice that I often think back to,” MacLellan shared.
Austin MacLellan with wheelchair rugby Team NB. (Submitted by Parasport New Brunswick)
Chamberlain mentioned that mentorship plays a crucial role in the local wheelchair rugby scene.
“When newcomers start, it’s common for someone to take them under their wing, which is a hallmark of the wheelchair rugby community,” she remarked.
Athletes not only gain technical skills but also life lessons and confidence from their peers.
Now, Chamberlain noted, MacLellan is beginning to offer that same support to others.
After training with the national team, she noted that MacLellan consistently returns to New Brunswick to share his knowledge with local players and coaches.
“He’s already giving back,” she said.
Taking the world stage
MacLellan expressed that his objective at the world championships is to work diligently, enjoy the experience, and trust in the training that has led him there.
Since this is his first world championship, he aims to learn from seasoned players globally and continue enhancing his own skills.
Canada, currently ranked sixth in the world, was set to kick off the tournament against second-ranked Australia on Monday. The team will also compete against Brazil, the United States, the Netherlands, and New Zealand during the pool stage.
For MacLellan, this opportunity transcends his own career.
“I hope that young athletes see me and feel inspired to push their limits and enjoy their own athletic journey,” he remarked.
He recalls his initial practice as a significant leap and hopes that other athletes will take similar risks.
“If anyone is uncertain about trying parasports, I encourage them to go for it,” he urged.