Learning about new sports is key to the development for tomorrow’s generation of up and coming athletes and now we are hearing of a new sport called Canoe Polo.

OK – so what exactly is Canoe Polo?

This sport uses elements of different sports such as Kayaking, Water Polo and Basketball and combines them into one where each team is comprised of 5 players who play in two 10-minute halves.

Winning requires a team to score a goal into a net/goal that is suspended above the water at each end of the playing pitch – yes pitch.

The sport is played in 50 different countries around the world and is a sport that is open to both male and female players.

The clubs and/or teams compete against each other in various competitions that are graded according to the skill level of the team or organization that is competing.

The more highly skilled players at National and International level show a high level of kayak control, fitness and ball skills which provide additional high level action for spectators.

This tournament saw Canada drop a 5-2 loss to the Netherlands in the final match of the tournament which was a Top 6 finish in Women’s Canoe Polo at the World Games.

This clearly shows that Canada is among the top international teams and in over 7 matches played Team Canada managed a win over the host country Poland and a tie with Italy – the eventual Bronze medalists.

James Petryk, Team Canada Manager mentioned “It’s exciting to know that when you put together a team of our best athletes, and we prepare properly, then we can compete with the best teams in the world and with Canada hosting the Canoe Polo World Championships next summer (2018) what a confidence builder this is.”

The 2018 Canoe Polo World Championships will be held in Welland, Ontario and will include Canadian Men’s and Women’s teams at the U-21 and Senior levels.

Germany took gold in both the men’s and women’s events at this year’s World Games and are the early favorites for top prize at next year’s world championships in Canada.

If you want to play rough think of this as a full-contact sport where teams of five paddlers (three reserves) attempt to score a ball into the opponent’s goal while paddling in specially-made canoes.

Players can pass to each other and shoot on goal by either throwing the ball or flicking it with their paddles.

Roster

• Chaz Cheung (Edmonton, AB)
• Mary Lukasik (St. Albert, AB)
• Athena Hauck (Grande Prairie, AB)
• Sarah Kerestes (Grande Prairie, AB)
• Kristina O’Brien (Edmonton, AB)
• Hannah Patrick (Calahoo, AB)
• Kassandra Reaume (Morinville, AB)
• Christie Siddle (Calgary, AB)
• Coach – Brad Cameron (Grande Prairie, AB)
• Coach – Stephen Gale (Radium, BC)
• Team Manager – James Petryk (Edmonton, AB)
• Team Sport Scientist – Scott Forbes (Penticton, BC)
• About Canoe Kayak Canada

Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 24 Olympic medals, and a leader in the Paralympic movement.

Canoe Kayak Canada is a member-based organization that includes an intricate network of clubs as well as provincial, territorial and divisional paddling associations.

Follow Canoe Kayak Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.