Oct. 28, 2024: After more than a decade with the Men’s National Team, including back-to-back Olympic appearances, Lucas Van Berkel recently announced his retirement from Team Canada.

Van Berkel’s final appearance came at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Canada finished in 10th place.

"One key memory is competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in front of my family and friends," VanBerkel said. "Unlike Tokyo 2020, where the pandemic kept fans out of the stadiums, having my loved ones in the crowd at the world’s biggest event as I capped off my volleyball career is something I’ll always cherish.”

The 2024 Games marked Van Berkel’s second Olympic appearance, following an eighth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Games. He played a crucial role in Canada’s undefeated run at the NORCECA Continental Qualifier, which secured the team’s spot in Tokyo.

"Another memory that will stay with me forever is playing my first Olympic match in Tokyo against Italy,” Van Berkel recalled. “I vividly remember the bus ride to the stadium, tears in my eyes as I reflected on the long journey that led me to that moment.”

Throughout his time with Team Canada, the six-foot nine-inch middle blocker compiled an impressive resume. His journey began with the U21 team, where he won silver at the U21 NORCECA Championship (2010) and silver Pan American Cup (2011). With the senior team, he captured bronze medals at the Pan American Cup (2016), World League (2017), and NORCECA Championships (2017, 2019). Most recently, he won silver at the 2023 NORCECA Championships.

Van Berkel, who is from Edmonton, Alberta, recognizes all the coaches and staff he has worked with during his volleyball career. "I want to start by thanking (coach) Ben Josephson, who first took a chance on me at Trinity Western University and inspired me to dream bigger. Ben shaped not only my volleyball skills but also my personal development, preparing me for the next level.

“I’d also like to thank Glenn Hoag, who took a chance on me early in my career and taught me the importance of representing your country with pride and passion. His knowledge of the game is unparalleled, and I still turn to him for advice.

"Additionally, I want to thank all the National Team coaches I’ve had over the years, from my Junior National Team days to the Senior National Team — Glenn, Ben, Stéphane Antiga, and Tuomas Sammelvuo. Each brought their own unique perspective to the game, and I learned so much from each of them.”

Before joining the national team, Van Berkel played for Trinity Western University, where he led the team to back-to-back U SPORTS Championship titles. His professional career spanned across Europe, with stints in Sweden, Czechia, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Türkiye, France, and Portugal.

His professional highlights include gold medals in the Swedish Elitserien (2015), Swedish Cup (2015), Swiss Supercup (2017), Swiss League (2017), Swiss Cup (2017), Turkish Supercup (2020), German Cup (2022), and Portuguese Cup (2024) – to name a few.

Now 32, Van Berkel has spent the majority of his adult life as a professional volleyball player, but he’s also embraced another important role: fatherhood.

"I’ve really enjoyed being both a dad and an athlete," Van Berkel shared. “At first, I was worried it might take my focus away from volleyball, but it gave me more drive to excel. Time management is key, as I balance family life with athletic commitments. But not many jobs allow you to spend a good portion of your day at home with your kids before heading to practice, and I truly appreciate that.”

He also credits his wife, Holly, for her support and sacrifices along the way.

Reflecting on his career, Van Berkel has gained a wealth of valuable lessons: "One of the biggest takeaways is to never take the experience for granted. Being a professional volleyball player is the best job in the world, and representing your country is an immense honour that comes with responsibility. You should always carry that honour with pride.

Despite retiring from Team Canada, Van Berkel isn’t stepping away from volleyball entirely as he pursues a new career goal.

“I’m currently coaching private volleyball lessons, running mentorship programs, and leading camps while working towards my ultimate goal of becoming a firefighter. Even as I pursue that path, I’ll continue coaching and running camps on my days off."

Photo: Volleyball World

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