24 Canadian men’s crews will compete in the championship, club, lightweight, and youth categories in Boston. From reigning champions eyeing another victory to first-time entrants soaking in the challenge, every crew will bring something unique to the course. Keep an eye out for strong Canadian talent in the masters and alumni categories as well.
Men’s Championship Singles
- Racing for Brock Rowing Club is Stephen Harris, the 2024 openweight national champion and three-time University Athlete of the Year. He also holds a bronze medal in the lightweight single from the 2022 U23 World Rowing Championships and finished in fourth and fifth place at the 2023 Pan American Games. This year, he placed second in the championship single at Canadian Henley, and fourth at Head of the Trent – top 15 would be a great accomplishment considering how many heavyweight national team athletes are entered this year.
Men’s Championship Fours
- The University of British Columbia last raced in this event in 2005, when they won the title. Liam Smit has represented South Africa and Canada internationally, earning a spot on the senior World Rowing Championships team in 2023. He was the national champion in the single in 2022 and 2023. Adrian Breen has made three age-group national teams for Canada, with coxswain Oscar Wostenholme joining him in 2024 at U23s. Oliver Page-Kuhr is an All-American from Brown University, and stroked the Canadian team to second place in the championship eight at Canadian Henley this summer. Along with varsity rower Ben Buccheit, this crew has a good shot at taking home the College gold, or at least finishing at the very top of the pack.
Men’s Lightweight Fours
- Kingston Rowing Club are sending four of the crew that placed sixth last year at HOCR and won the 2024 University national title – Lauren Schwandt, Leo Biancanello, Liam Shapland, and Nigel Radhakrishnan. Shapland won two Canadian Henley golds this summer, in the U23 lightweight double and senior lightweight quad. Alex Ladage, who raced in five finals at Canadian Henley, joins the crew – they won Head of the Trent by 40 seconds, and look to be in good shape for a top four finish this year.
- UBC is also sending a lightweight crew, and they have great pedigree in this event – they won in 2022 and have been in the top five several times. Peter Scaccabarozzi and coxswain Edward Lalonde return from last year’s seventh-place finish and third-place in 2023. Scaccabarozzi and Henry Sowle won the U23 lightweight pair at Canadian Henley this year. Jack Harris raced the single at the 2025 U19 World Rowing Championships, placing 18th, and last year placed third in the Youth Single at Head of the Charles. Simon DeLuca made the finals in both the heavyweight pair and eight at CSSRA’s this summer. A top-five finish this year should be within reach.
Men’s Lightweight Singles –
- Ahmet Gulsaran of Guelph Rowing Club raced to a gold medal in the heavyweight double (exhibition event) at the 2024 University National Championships. He recently placed seventh in the alumni single at Head of the Trent.
Men’s Club Fours –
- Calgary Rowing Club is a very strong entry, featuring Alberta Harkema, the 2024 national bronze medallist in the single. He won the Canadian Henley in the senior pair with Carter Cranmer-Smith this summer and placed third in the senior four with Angus Robertson. Coxswain Paige Sze won Henley gold in the senior lightweight eight. Andrew Hubbard has represented Canada on multiple occasions, most recently stroking the FISU 2024 eight to a fourth place finish. A top-three finish at HOCR should be in order for this crew.
- Open Aviron Rowing Coastal Association (OARCA) are sending their first-ever crew to HOCR – while primarily an open-water club, they have a number of strong oarsmen at the club to field an experienced crew.
Men’s Club Singles –
- Kai Elrick is representing Guelph. He was the 2024 national champion in the U23 pair and made the final in that event at Canadian Henley this summer. He should have a good shot at a top-half placing.
Men’s Youth Singles –
- Myles Quintyn of Niagara Falls Rowing Club won the U17 category and placed fifth overall at last year’s HOCR, starting from bow #47. At the Canadian Henley, he placed fourth in the U19 single, showing good progress from his U17 results last year. Starting from bow #3 this year will give him a great chance of finishing in the top three overall.
- Frank Lu will be racing for Ridley College Rowing Club. He is a third-year student and last year placed 16th in the U17 coxed four at HOCR, just missing the top 50% mark. His goal this year is to channel the attitude of an F1 driver and place in the top half to secure an entry for next year.
- Thunder Rowing Crew has a U17 athlete racing, starting from bow #4. Thunder typically has very strong athletes (last year, their U19 athlete placed third overall), so this entry may be one to watch.
Men’s Youth Doubles –
- Notre Dame Rowing Club was the top Canadian crew last year, placing tenth overall and winning the U17 category. This year, they are sending Gavin Lewis, who won the senior lightweight four at CSSRAs and Jack Sojda, who placed sixth in that event. Starting in bow #8, they should be able to place in the top half.
- Calgary Rowing Club placed 12th overall last year and also have a new crew. Oscar Nanjad is joined by Jacob Brambell, who placed fifth in the mixed 2x at CSSRAs this year. This crew will also be aiming for a top-half finish.
- St. Catharines and Leander Boat Club also have entries – St. Catharines placed 28th last year.
Men’s Youth Quads –
- Ridley’s quad is their priority boat, and they look to be in form to improve on last year’s 13th-place finish. Ashton Kidd, Luke Winterbottom (both returning) and Aiden MacPhail won CSSRA gold in the senior quad and placed fifth at Canadian Henley in the U19 quad. Kidd raced at the U19 World Rowing Championships this summer, placing 11th in the pair. Hendrik Veld and coxswain Tanner Campbell are new to the crew. With the fastest raw time at Head of the Trent, this crew is one to watch.
- Notre Dame placed tenth last year. William Looby, Chris Lobo, Liam Oliver, Dylan Pietracupa, and coxswain Audrey Hart are all new and will be looking for a top-half finish. Looby and Hart won the CSSRA senior lightweight coxed four, and Oliver won the senior lightweight double (he also won the U17 double at HOCR last year). This crew was a minute behind Ridley at Head of the Trent.
- St. Catharines also has an entry; last year, they placed sixth, and if their winning Head of the Trent coxed quad is entered, they have a good chance of repeating that placement.
Men’s Youth Fours –
- Notre Dame was the top Canadian crew last year, placing sixth. Lucas Riddle is the only returner, but William Babineau comes into the crew after winning the U17 double at HOCR last year. Hunter Guillemette, Aaron Jackson, and coxswain Avery Coles join the crew – all together, they won nine CSSRA medals this year and just won Head of the Trent by 40 seconds. Riddle also competed at the U19 World Rowing Championships, placing 11th in the pair. This crew should have a good chance of winning medals this year.
- Upper Canada College Rowing finished second to Notre Dame at Head of the Trent, putting them on track to match their 17th-place finish from last year.
- Niagara Rowing School just won the U17 category at Head of the Trent by a large margin, and if the same crew is entered for HOCR, they should have a good chance at the top 15.
- St. Catharines placed 22nd last year in the U19 category. They finished third at Head of the Trent.
- Argonaut Rowing Club placed 41st last year and finished fourth at Head of the Trent.
Men’s Youth Eights –
- Brentwood College placed 17th last year, and with a similar result at CSSRAs this year (silver again, but with a closer margin to gold), they will be hoping to stay in the top twenty again.
