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

 

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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)