News
PACIFIC STORM ANNOUNCES NEW ELITE COACH
August 21, 2008
Pacific Storm is delighted to announce that former Yugoslavian international player Nikola Maric has been chosen as the new primary coach for its elite youth water polo programs.
Candidates were interviewed on Wednesday by a panel including John Stockdale, the dean of B.C. water polo coaches, and Ian Goodman, a former Canadian junior national champion coach with Pacific Storm.
"It was unanimous by the selection committee that Nikola Maric is the right man for the job," Storm committee chair Cathy Knapp said in welcoming aboard the imposing new coach – a former hole check who was playing senior men's water polo in Belgrade by the time he was a bantam. -->
Pacific Storm Water Polo Schedule
NEW! Pacific Storm Fall 2008 practice schedule for all teams now available.
Local Water Polo players make history with Canadian Junior National team
The Canadian Women's Junior water polo team qualified for the 2009 Junior World Championships with an impressive showing at the Junior Pan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil last week, winning the gold medal for the first time in event history. The Canadians went undefeated in the tournament, solidly beating the USA in the final 13-7.
BC was well-represented with Allison Campbell, Kirstn Mase and Lauren Bridges, all 17, on the starting line-up for the Canadian team. All three girls play for the Pacific Storm provincial program, and are defending U-18 National Champions.
The Canadians dominated most of the round-robin games, beating Mexico (12-3), Brazil (14-6), Puerto Rico (15-7), before meeting the Americans and tying them 4-4. In the semi finals, Canada met Mexico again beating them 13-3 to advance to a gold medal showdown with the Americans.
In the past six Junior Pan Am games, the Canadians and Americans have met in the finals, with the Americans winning all six. This year's outcome was different. While the Americans jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, the Canadians pressed hard and had tied the game at 2 by the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Canadians demonstrated their physical dominance, leading 7-3 at the half, and never looked back.
"While I have won several national championships, this feeling was totally different," reflected Campbell. "To represent your country and to hear your National Anthem being played was an awesome experience – one I will never forget. And to be on the first Canadian team in history to win Junior Pan Ams just made it that much more special".
"I'm so proud of our team," Bridges stated. "We came out with great intensity and were really focused. The win was an entire team effort.
All our training and hard work throughout the summer paid off. Thanks to our coaches for their dedication, effort, and commitment to our team. This Pan American gold medal is a crowning achievement for us and for Canada."
"I can't imagine a more amazing feeling than winning Pan Ams", Mase said. "I'm so glad I had the opportunity to play with these girls and be the first Canadian team to win Junior Pan Ams. It was an unforgettable experience."
Head Coach Nishant Damani had the following thoughts after the game.
"The girls worked extremely hard this summer with the sole purpose of winning Pan Ams. Having achieved this goal allows us to look forward to next summer and our next goal of winning a medal at World Championship. This team has a bright future with water polo Canada."
The team, which had been training in Montreal since early June, is made up of 13 girls from all across Canada. |
