UBC Okanagan Heat men’s volleyball players Thys Weststrate and Zach van Geel have been named to Volleyball Canada’s Next Gen indoor team as the national governing body announced their men’s teams for the 2025 season.
For Weststrate, a native of Kelowna, B.C., it represents his first time competing for the national team while van Geel, a native of Calgary, has competed as part of Canada’s NextGen Beach team for the past two summers.
“Being selected for the Next Gen program is a tremendous honor for Thys and Zach and for Heat men’s volleyball,” commented UBCO head coach Scott Koskie. “They both had outstanding seasons and for them to be recognized acknowledges all of the hard work and determination they have put into themselves and their game over their careers at UBCO. Taking the first steps towards the international level and making volleyball your main focus is hard. The 16-week commitment they have made shows they are willing to accept the challenge of becoming the best they can be.”
Weststrate earns his spot after a breakout season with the Heat in which he became the first player in program history to be named a Canada West First Team All-Star. He finished second in the conference for both hitting percentage (.451) and blocks per set (1.16) while leading the Heat in points per set (3.1) and total blocks (73).
Meanwhile, van Geel was one of top setters in the Canada West conference this past season. A two-time Canada West Player of the Week, he set personal career bests in assists with 639 and finished fourth in Canada West in assists per set at 8.75. He also added 35 kills, 24 service aces and 123 digs.
Weststrate and van Geel will have a familiar face on the sidelines as Koskie will serve as an assistant coach for Team Canada. Koskie, fresh off his first season at UBCO in which he helped the team return to the Canada West playoffs, will work alongside head coach Dave Preston and fellow assistants John Barrett, Grant Wilson and Matthews Harris.
“Moments like this are transformational for the athletes and also for the program,” added Koskie. “What Zach and Thys will bring back with them to Kelowna will be a huge asset in continuing to move Heat men’s volleyball forward. I look forward to seeing their progress when I return to Gatineau later this summer and when working with them in the upcoming 2025/26 season.”
The Next Gen squad will be focused on training and competing at the NORCECA Pan Am Cup, August 24 to September 1, in Mexico.
2025 Volleyball Canada NextGen Team Roster
Athletes
Jordan Canham – Opposite – Avonmore, ON
Jackson Corneil – Middle Blocker – Surrey, BC
Cole Duncanson – Middle Blocker – St Catharines, ON
Zachary Hollands – Libero – Victoriaville, QC
Liam Kristjanson – Middle Blocker – Oak River, MB
Jeremy Love – Setter – Dauphin, MB
Brendan Mills – Opposite – London, ON
Liam Pauls – Outside Hitter – Balmoral, MB
Darian Picklyk – Libero – Winnipeg, MB
Jacob Sargent – Outside Hitter – Lethbridge, AB
Kaden Schmidt – Outside Hitter – Mississauga, ON
Erik Siksna – Outside Hitter – Markham, ON
Tomas Sorra – Setter – Toronto, ON
Zachary van Geel – Setter – Calgary, AB
Jonas Van Huizen – Outside Hitter – Langley, BC
Matthys Weststrate – Middle Blocker – Kelowna, BC
Staff
Dave Preston – Head Coach
Scott Koskie – Assistant Coach
John Barrett – Assistant Coach
Grant Wilson – Assistant Coach
Matthew Harris – Assistant Coach
Raphael Poulin – Strength & Conditioning Coach
Michael Cook – IST Lead
Meredith Waisman – Sport Physiotherapist
Melissa Healy – Medical Coordinator
Brendan Dinsdale – Mental Performance Coach
Donna McDonagh – Mental Health Practitioner
Ashley Armstrong – Sport Dietician
Cassandra Nicol – Team Coordinator
Georges Laplante – Team Manager
Julien Boucher – High-Performance Director
