Markham ready to welcome 2019 Senior National Championships

Home Markham ready to welcome 2019 Senior National Championships

Water Polo Canada – (March 26, 2019) – The top water polo teams in the country are traveling to Markham this weekend for the 2019 Senior National Championships. During this three-day event, the Markham Pan Am Centre will play host to the highest level of Canadian water polo as eight men’s and eight women’s teams vie for the title of Canadian National Champions.

Senior Nationals will mark the end of the fantastic 2019 Major League Water Polo season. Twenty-two teams battled it out over the course of three months for a chance to compete in the biggest tournament of the year. After competing in their separate divisions, the best teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences will now converge on Markham for the Championship. The action will begin Friday, March 29 at noon EST with the first of eight quarter-final matchups and culminate Sunday afternoon with the men’s and women’s championship games.

“Ontario’s government for the people is pleased to support this highly anticipated event through our sport hosting program,” said Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Ontario is the best place to be an athlete, and I would like to congratulate the City of Markham for hosting this great event. Sporting events like this are economic drivers for their host cities, and keep Ontario open for business and visitors. I would like to welcome all participants to Ontario and wish all athletes the best of luck!”

“Beginning in 2015 with the Pan American Games, the Markham Pan Am Centre has been the site of some of Water Polo Canada’s most prestigious events. Water Polo Canada is proud of the strong ties and relationships that have been built within the local community in Markham; and with the support of the Ontario Government and the City Markham, WPC is excited to showcase the sport of water polo in Markham once again” commented Martin Goulet, Water Polo Canada Executive Director.

Senior National Preview

CAMO is the defending champion on the women’s side and will be looking to win their fourth championship in five years; however, for the first time in NCL history, the CAMO women do not enter the Championships as the number one seed from the Eastern Conference. CAMO did finish as the number two seed in the East but lost as many games this year (4) as they did in the previous four years combined. Mavericks were the team that dethroned CAMO in the East, going 9-0-3 throughout the season, and now will look to capture the first-ever NCL MLWP Championship in Mavericks history. The field has never been stronger though, as for the first time in the NCL era eight women’s teams will play for the title at Senior Nationals, including three Western Conference teams, another record.

On the men’s side, defending champion Dollard Black will have a tough road ahead if they wish to repeat as champions, entering the tournament as the number four overall seed. The number one seed is St-Lambert-Laval who are looking to capture their first ever NCL MLWP Championship. Many players on the St-Lambert-Laval squad were apart of the St-Lambert team that won the first ever NCL 19U Men’s Championship in 2015. From the Western Conference, the Calgary Torpedoes are seeded 3rd overall after an impressive season and will be looking to become the first Western men’s team to win Senior Nationals in the NCL era. All eight teams on the men’s side have a legitimate shot at the Championship, and it’s anybody’s guess as to how the tournament will unfold.

The Quarter Finals for both men and women will begin Friday afternoon.

Women’s side

Quarter-Final #1, 12:00 pm, (4) Calgary Renegades (6-2-1) vs (5) Dollard (7-1-4)