INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Hurricanes' water polo season is underway.
The club hosted an annual provincial 12-U tournament at the Innisfail Aquatic Centre on Oct. 20 and 21.
Four 12-U girls' and four 12-U boys' teams from across Alberta took part in the two-day event.
Three athletes from the Innisfail Hurricanes -- Kayla Richmond, Sophie Bergeron and Aubry Haldorson -- participated in the tournament by joining the Sea Wolves grey team out of Calgary.
“We lost the first game but they won the second game,” said Ray Bergeron, president of the Hurricanes of the team’s progress on Saturday (Oct. 20). “Our girls played very well."
The two-day tournament is an Alberta Water Polo Association event, he added.
“They have many provincial tournaments throughout the year,” said Bergeron. “They look for pools across Alberta to host their provincial events. We started hosting the first tournament of the year for 12-U about four years ago.”
The tournaments throughout the season provide water polo players with an opportunity to play at a competitive level and test their skills, said Bergeron.
“At the 12-U level it’s the first age level that they’re playing a competitive tournament," he said, noting it is also an opportunity to strengthen relations between clubs.
“It’s a good time for the Innisfail Hurricanes to continue a good relationship with the Alberta Water Polo Association and also having those relationships with the Calgary and Edmonton teams is something that’s important to our club as well,” explained Bergeron.
“We’re the only team between Calgary and Edmonton so it’s good to bring them here and have a tournament.
“There’s a lot of positives that come out of running a tournament like this,” he added.
Bergeron said the Hurricanes are off to a great start this season.
“This year we are just shy of 40 athletes and it’s the most we’ve ever had,” he said. “We’re excited to see the sport continue to grow in our community.
“We’re hoping to continue that growth and hopefully at some point see enough athletes in any one age group, to enter these tournaments with our own club. That’s our goal,” Bergeron concluded.
The Hurricanes play intramural games throughout the season between September and March, from 5 to 7 p.m. every second Wednesday at the aquatic centre.
