Water Polo Canada – (Ottawa, March 2^nd, 2017) – Water Polo Canada (WPC) is pleased to announce that Montreal has been selected as the host city for the 2018 National Championship League Finals that will crown Canada’s National Champions. Water Polo Canada is proud to partner with the City of Montreal in conjunction with Tourisme Montréal to bring the 14 and under, 16 and under, 19 and under, and Senior National Championships to Montreal in the spring of 2018.

The National Championship League (NCL) is a 7-month competition featuring the best water polo teams in Canada at the 14 and under, 16 and under, 19 and under, and Senior levels. The first portion of the NCL season consists of regular season events held across the country from November to April where each NCL team plays between 12-20 games depending on their category .In late April and May, a series of playoff events are held to reduce the field until only the top teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences of Canada remain to vie for the National Championship.  

Montréal was one of the original cradles of water polo in Canada; and clubs, coaches, and athletes from Montreal dot the rich history of Water Polo in Canada. The Goulden Cup, which is awarded to the top Senior Men’s team in Canada and is one of the oldest continuously awarded trophies in Canadian sports (first awarded in 1907), has been won a record 44 times by Montreal area clubs, including the first 31 times consecutively. The success of local clubs has carried through to present day. In 2016, Montreal clubs captured gold in the Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s, 19U Women’s and 14U Girls categories, silver in the 16U Boys, and 14U Boys categories, and bronze in the 19U Men, 16U Girls, and 14U Girls categories. Montreal was the only city in Canada to claim a medal in all 8 NCL categories.

In total, Montreal’s hosting of the 2018 NCL Championship events will bring more than 1000 athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers to the city for five weekends of top level water polo competition. The NCL is WPC’s flagship domestic initiative and partnering with the City of Montreal and Tourisme Montreal represents a great opportunity for the development and growth of the NCL.

“With international-calibre aquatic facilities and a festive ambiance, Montréal is the perfect place to hold the Water Polo National Championship League’s events in 2018,” said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. “These events are a great opportunity to benefit the region economically and socially, while boosting its sport capabilities.” he added.

“We are looking forward to work with such a high-quality host in putting together a total of 5 events that will most definitely enhance the visibility of our sport” said Water Polo Canada’s Executive Director, Martin Goulet.

The dates and location for the 2018 National Championships are as follows:

Event	Dates	Location
Senior Nationals	March 23-25, 2018	Centre Sportif Claude-Robillard
19U Eastern Nationals	April 20-22, 2018	Centre Sportif Claude-Robillard
16U Eastern Nationals	May 4-6, 2018	Centre Sportif Claude-Robillard
14U Eastern Nationals	May 11-13, 2018	Centre Sportif Claude-Robillard
National Finals (16U & 19U)	May 24-26, 2018	Centre Sportif du Parc Olympique

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For further information and interview requests, please contact:

Mylène Turcotte-Fitzgerald, Water Polo Canada Communications (613) 748-5682 x 325, mfitzgerald@waterpolo.ca

About Water Polo Canada

Water Polo Canada is the National Sport Federation and governing body for the sport of water polo in Canada.  It manages the National and Olympic Teams as well as the domestic development plan