Water Polo Canada – (Ottawa, April 13^th, 2017) – Water Polo Canada (WPC) is pleased to announce that the cities of Surrey and Edmonton have been selected as the host cities for the 2018 National Championship League (NCL) Western Championships.

The NCL is the highest level of domestic water polo in Canada. The NCL was designed to bring the domestic club programs under a country wide umbrella that promotes the development of the sport. NCL competitions run from November to May and include over 750 water polo games a year, played in six provinces and fifteen cities. In the spring of each season, WPC holds a series of NCL Championship events that determine who will earned a coveted spot at the National Finals. In 2018, the Championships for the Western Conference of the NCL will be hosted by the cities of Edmonton and Surrey.

“The awarding of the 2018 NCL Championship events to Edmonton and Surrey reflect the strong hosting partnership these cities have developed with Water Polo Canada since the inception of the NCL in 2014. As demonstrated by the success of the 2016 NCL Western National Championships in Surrey, and the 2016 Junior Pan Am Games in Edmonton, each of these cities have the facilities, staff, and volunteers to ensure a great experience for all of our participants.” – Martin Goulet – Executive Director, Water Polo Canada.

In February 2018, The Guildford Aquatics Centre in Surrey will play host to the 19U Interconference Crossover, the largest event on the NCL Calendar. Every 19 and under men’s and women’s NCL team in the country will converge on Surrey for over 60 games during four days of competition. In April, the Guilford Aquatics Centre will also be the venue for the 19U Western National Finals that determine which two 19U men’s and women’s teams will represent Western Canada at National Finals in Montréal.

“Sport Surrey is pleased to once again welcome Water Polo Canada & NCL Events back to the City of Surrey, and we look forward to supporting a great event at the Guildford Aquatics Centre” – Matt Holbrook, Sport Tourism Manager, Sport Surrey.

The NCL focus will then shift to Edmonton, where the Kinsmen Sports Centre will host the 16U and 14U Western National Finals. The 16U Western National Finals will decide which 16 and under teams join their 19 and under counterparts in Montreal for the National Finals, while the 14U Western National Finals will crown the best 14 and under boys and girls water polo teams in Western Canada.   

“We are thrilled that Edmonton has been chosen to host the 14U and 16U Western National Championship events at the Kinsmen Sports Centre in 2018. Building off the hosting of the UANA Pan American Water Polo Championships here in 2016, we look forward to working together with Water Polo Canada, Water Polo Alberta and the local Edmonton clubs to make these two competitions a great success next year.” – Lindsay Harrison, Senior Manager at Edmonton Events.

In total, the hosting of the 2018 Western NCL Championship events will bring more than 700 athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers to Edmonton and Surrey for four weekends of top level water polo competition. The NCL is WPC’s flagship domestic initiative and partnering with the City of Surrey, Sport Surrey, the City of Edmonton, and Edmonton Events represents a great opportunity for the development and growth of the NCL.

The 2018 Western National Events are scheduled as followed:

Events	Date	Location
19U Interconference Crossover	February 1-4, 2018	Guildford Aquatics Centre, Surrey, BC
19U Western National Finals	April 20-22, 2018	Guildford Aquatics Centre, Surrey, BC
16U Western National Finals	April 27-29, 2018	Kinsmen Sports Centre, Edmonton, AB
14U Western National Finals	May 4-6, 2018	Kinsmen Sports Centre, Edmonton, AB

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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. (www.waterpolo.ca)