Training in Hungary takes senior men’s team one step closer to Olympic qualification attempt
Water Polo Canada – (OTTAWA, January 11, 2016) – The Canadian senior men’s water polo team will spend the next few weeks training in Hungary, preparing for the crucial Olympic Games Qualification Tournament (OQT) to be held in Trieste, Italy from April 3 to 10, 2016.
Centralized players have left the team’s national training centre in Calgary on January 7, while the other Canadians are taking a pause from their international season with European clubs in order to be reunited with their Canadian teammates for the first time since last summer.
Throughout the camp lasting until January 20, Canada’s national squad will train with at least four Hungarian clubs (FTC, OSC, BVSC and Miskolc). The men will be looking to work out any kinks through gameplay with a variety of opponents and to once again find their rhythm as a group.
“Hungary tends to play an attractive style, where good offense is appreciated more than stifling defense,” said Canadian team captain Kevin Graham, who has had an extensive career in Europe and was contracted by OSC Budapest this year. “Their style of play is quite open and quick. Being exposed to this will be beneficial to our group since getting ourselves into game speed is absolutely essential in order to be successful over the next months,” he said.
The trip will also allow newly-hired coach and advisor Giuseppe Porzio to get better acquainted with the athletes and to start his mandate alongside members on the team’s staff
In Hungary, the coaches will aim to slightly narrow down the group of 17 and make a selection for the team’s next international activity, one penultimate camp likely held in Greece, before heading down to the Olympic qualification tournament in Italy. Canada will then attempt to claim one of the four remaining spots for Rio 2016. Initial opponents for OQT will be known after the draw in Budapest, on January 23.
Athletes participating in the January 2016 camp in Hungary:
First |
Last |
Hometown |
Position |
Dusan |
Aleksic |
Gatineau, QC |
Goaltender |
Justin |
Boyd |
Beaconsfield, QC |
Driver, right side |
Nicolas |
Constantin-Bicari |
Repentigny, QC |
Centre forward |
John |
Conway |
Ottawa, ON |
Driver, right side |
Kevin |
Graham |
Regina, SK |
Driver, left side |
Matthew |
Halajian |
Maple Ridge, BC |
Centre forward |
Constantine |
Kudaba |
Port Coquitlam, BC |
Centre check |
David |
Lapins |
Gatineau, QC |
Centre forward |
Jared |
McElroy |
Calgary, AB |
Driver, right side |
Gaelan |
Patterson |
Vancouver, BC |
Centre check |
Milan |
Radenovic |
Toronto, ON |
Goaltender |
Dusan |
Radojcic |
Toronto, ON |
Driver, left side |
(Continued… Athletes participating in the January 2016 camp in Hungary):
Robin |
Randall |
Drinkwater, SK |
Goaltender |
Scott |
Robinson |
Calgary, AB |
Driver, left side |
Alec |
Taschereau |
Ottawa, ON |
Driver, left side |
George |
Torakis |
Calgary, AB |
Centre check |
Oliver |
Vikalo |
Calgary, AB |
Centre forward |
|
|
|
|
Staff:
|
|
|
|
Position |
First |
Last |
Hometown |
Team Leader / Manager |
Neil |
Muir |
Calgary, AB |
Lead Coach |
Brian |
Parillo |
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC |
Consultant Coach |
Giuseppe |
Porzio |
Naples, Italy |
Coach |
Andrew |
Muir |
Calgary, AB |
Physiotherapy |
Nicole |
DeFillippo |
Mississauga, ON |
Sports Psychology |
John |
Dunn |
Edmonton, AB |
-30 –
For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Pascale Beaudoin, Water Polo Canada Communications, (514) 758-7472, pbeaudoin@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. (www.waterpolo.ca)