April 4, 2016
Senior Men’s Team Roster Unveiled for Olympic Qualifier
Water Polo Canada – (OTTAWA, April 2, 2016) – The Canadian Senior Men’s Water Polo Team roster has been announced for the upcoming Olympic qualification tournament in Trieste, Italy. The tournament will run from April 3 to 10, 2016 and will have 12 teams from across the world competing for the four Olympic spots still available. With head coach Giuseppe (Pino) Porzio and assistant coaches Brian Parillo and Andrew Muir leading the way, Canada looks to fight their way in and become of the 12 teams to participate in Rio this August.
As Canada looks to return to the Olympics for the first time since the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, a number of experienced athletes will be relied upon to guide this team during the upcoming qualification tournament. Senior National team veterans such as captain Kevin Graham (Regina, SK), fellow field players Justin Boyd (Beaconsfield, QC), Constantine Kudaba (Port Coquitlam, BC) and goalie Robin Randall (Drinkwater, SK), who all represented Canada at the 2008 Games, will help the team in its quest to earn a spot for the Rio Games. Younger players are also expected to make an impact, including 23 year old Torontonian Dusan Radojcic and several athletes from the born in 1991 cohort.
“We know qualification will not be easy, but we also know it is definitely possible,” said Head Coach Porzio as Canada finished up their training session in Greece just before the Olympic qualification tournament.
The men’s qualification tournament will consist of five days of round robin play during which Canada, in group A, will match up with Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and France. From the group round, the top four teams in group A and B will enter the elimination crossover round with the winner of these four quarterfinal games earning berths to the Olympic Games in Rio this August. Four of the twelve spots for the Olympics will be up for grabs in Trieste, while eight nations have already qualified including Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Japan, Montenegro, Serbia and USA.
Canadian Men’s National Team Roster for 2016 Olympic Qualifier
1. Randall, Robin, Goaltender, Drinkwater (SK)
2. Kudaba, Constantine, Attacker, Port Coquitlam (BC)
3. Vikalo, Oliver, Centre Forward, Calgary (AB)
4. Constantin-Bicari, Nicolas, Centre Forward, Repentigny (QC)
5. Boyd, Justin, Attacker, Beaconsfield (QC)
6. Robinson, Scott, Attacker, Calgary (AB)
7. Lapins, David, Centre Forward, Gatineau (QC)
8. Graham, Kevin, Attacker, Regina (SK)
9. Radojcic, Dusan, Attacker, Toronto (ON)
10. Conway, John, Attacker, Ottawa (ON)
11. Torakis, George, Centre Back, Montreal (QC)
12. McElroy, Jared, Attacker, Calgary (AB)
13. Dusan, Aleksic, Goaltender, Gatineau (QC)
Senior Men’s National Team Staff Members
Head Coach: Pino Porzio
Assistant Coaches: Brian Parillo and Andrew Muir
Team Leader: Neil Muir
Physiotherapist: John Roberts
Schedule of Canada’s Games at 2016 Olympic Qualification Tournament (All Times Local)
April 3 – vs Russia 1:50pm
April 4 – vs Hungary 4:30pm
April 5 – vs Slovakia 3:10pm
April 6 – vs Romania 4:30pm
April 7 – vs France 1:50pm
April 8 – TBD (Quarterfinals)
April 9 – TBD
April 10 – TBD
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Media information and interview requests, please contact:
Pascale Beaudoin, Water Polo Canada Communications
(514) 758-7472 or pbeaudoin@waterpolo.ca
Water Polo Canada (WPC) is the National Sport Organization for Water Polo in Canada. It is a not-for-profit, charitable organization operating under a Board of Directors elected by provincial/territorial members. Its purpose is to nationally lead the growth and the pursuit of excellence for the sport of water polo while respecting the following set of values: Accountability, Commitment, Equity, Innovation, Integrity and Teamwork. Water Polo Canada acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada and of other partners such as Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Sport Institutes network and the Coaching Association of Canada.