By Martin Zeilig
Captain Daniel Hrichishen, known in the powerlifting community as "Captain Bench Press," has made a significant mark in the 2025 Canadian Powerlifting Union National Championships in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (February23-March 1).
The Canadian Powerlifting Association, which identifies itself with the International Powerlifting Association, sets high standards for athletes to qualify for nationals.
Meeting these standards is a challenging feat, but Manitoba boasts many exceptional athletes who can rise to the occasion.
"If you meet a certain standard from your local or provincial body, you can qualify for nationals," says Capt Hrichishen, who works at 2 Canadian Air Division. "It’s something that’s very hard to do for a lot of people. But, we do have a lot of amazing athletes in Manitoba who can qualify for the Nationals. If you can show up, you can place, which is always amazing. The first three placings allow you to dive into the North American championships or world championships to earn your spot on Team Canada."
Capt Hrichishen splits his training between Brickhouse Gym and Cornerstone Barbell, where his coach is based and where he tests his heavier weights. "The latter is putting a lot of people into the national championship," he notes.
At 29 years old, Capt Hrichishen has been in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for six years. A native of Winnipeg, he attended the University of Manitoba, where he studied criminology, and earlier Grant Park High School, where he was a competitive swimmer for the MANTA Swim Club. Initially, law enforcement was his goal. He considered joining the RCMP and the Winnipeg Police Service before ultimately joining the 38 Service Battalion at Minto Armoury. "I absolutely fell in love with the army," he says.
Capt Hrichishen's athletic journey began as a competitive swimmer from the age of 8 or 9 until he was 18. However, he eventually grew to dislike swimming due to the early mornings and cold pools. He transitioned to boxing and, ultimately, weightlifting.
"At the end of the day, lifting weights was the one. I always wanted to show up and get stronger. At first, it was very casual."
Capt Hrichishen's first competition was a bench press-only meet, where he qualified for nationals—a rare achievement.
"Squats and deadlifts won’t take me to the world championships, but bench press will," he explains. He trains rigorously, bench pressing five times a week, squatting three times a week, and doing deadlifts as well.
At the recent national championships, Capt Hrichishen benched 220 kilograms (485 pounds), more than twice his body weight of 204 pounds, to win the title. He is now preparing for the North American Powerlifting Championships in Panama in October and the Bench Press World Championships in May 2026 in Kielce, Poland.
"To do bench press only is to define a niche in powerlifting. I don’t excel at the other two lifts like I do in bench press," he says. "I started this as an introduction to powerlifting in my first competition. It was absolutely fantastic. I said, 'Hey, I didn’t know that I was so good at this and something I’d like to pursue.' I never dreamed that I’d be at this level now. It’s completely surreal to be at this level now and looking down the barrel of representing the CAF at the world championships and Team Manitoba and Team Canada is incredible."
Capt Hrichishen recently benched 491 pounds in the gym and has reached 501 pounds in training. He aims to bench 501 or even 507 pounds at the Provincial Powerlifting Championships on May 3, which would set a national record. His diet is clean and protein-rich, consisting of eggs, chicken, and vegetables. He is also a self-taught baker, creating scrumptious donuts, cupcakes, cakes, and cinnamon buns.
His coach, James Kornelson, co-owner of Kornerstone Barbell Gym, provides the necessary stimuli for Capt Hrichishen to grow and develop, he emphasizes.
"I’d love to see powerlifting as an Olympic sport," he says. "Often times you will be shocked by what you can do. The community in powerlifting has been incredible to work with. There’s always someone who inspires me to take this journey. The consistency will take you to places you never thought possible."
Capt Hrichishen no longer swims but maintains his cardio through running and enjoys racquetball and pickleball at the Re-Fit Centre. He credits his father for introducing him to weightlifting at the downtown YMCA when he was 13 or 14 years old. "I enjoyed it. I could see the progress in weightlifting, and the community has always been incredible."
Powerlifting has opened up a new world of athleticism for Hrichishen, providing structure and motivation to his training. He now has new goals to achieve, including representing Team Canada at the World Bench Press Championships in May 2026.
The Manitoba Powerlifting Association (MPA) supports athletes across the province, allowing members to compete and grow within the sport. Capt Hrichishen has been working with PSP staff within 17 Wing to grow support for powerlifting, encouraging more personnel to develop a healthy community within the sport. The MPA is holding its provincial championships on May 3 and has another local meet for beginners on July 19.
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