INNISFAIL - They were younger. They were smaller. And they did not win a single game.
But that was not the point. Each player on the U-12 Innisfail Hurricanes water polo girls and boys teams made up for it all with heart, and plenty of it.
For the first time ever the Innisfail Hurricanes Water Polo Club entered a team from any age category to play in an Alberta Water Polo Association's Provincial League tournament, and the one played locally on Oct. 22 and 23 was also the first hosted in town.
“I think this has been a great event. We are playing against clubs that have a lot more experience than us but this is a great experience for us and we are hanging in for each of the games. I think we are playing very well,” said Ray Bergeron, president of local club.
Even more impressive for Bergeron was that most of the other teams in the U-12 tournament had players aged 10, 11 and 12, while the Innisfail club had players at the age of just 11, 10 and nine.
“We even had one eight-year-old playing,” he said.
The tournament, which was attended by 120 athletes, kicked off with the girls on Oct. 22 and then the boys the following day. Six teams were entered - three from Calgary, one from Edmonton, one from Okotoks and Innisfail, which partnered with the Edmonton Tsunami Water Polo Club. The teams played three games each.
The Edmonton Thunderbirds emerged as winners on the girls side with a record of three wins and no losses with the Calgary Wild coming in second by finishing with two wins and one loss. At the end of the following day with the boys, the Calgary Seawolves came first with a perfect 3 – 0 record while Calgary Mako came second with two wins and one loss.
As for the Innisfail Hurricanes, both the boys and girls finished with no wins and three losses.
“Both teams were very competitive and had some really close games,” said Bergeron. “This was our first taste of provincial calibre play and all of our young athletes competed extremely hard. Our athletes improved each and every game.”
Bergeron said entering and hosting the provincial tourney was a big step for the club, one that will help them get closer to an equal playing level in the near future.
“We've been slowly building our program over the past few years and we are actually close enough to have our own team at this age group in both girls and boys,” said Bergeron. “We are really excited to see the sport continue to grow in Innisfail and we are hoping that next year we can have our own team and not have to partner with somebody else.”
In the meantime, Bergeron is looking at Edmonton Tsunami for new opportunities to partner at other tournaments.
“We are hoping to send some of our U-14 athletes to a tournament in Calgary on Nov. 5 and 6,” he said. “Our goal is to continue to get the word out that a water polo program is available in Central Alberta. The Innisfail Hurricanes is a great option as a competitive winter sport for youth. If your child loves the water, they will love water polo.”
For more on the Innisfail Hurricanes Water Polo Club visit the website at www.hurricaneswaterpolo.ca
Ray Bergeron, president of the Innisfail Hurricanes Water Polo Club
"This was our first taste of provincial calibre play and all of our young athletes competed extremely hard. Our athletes improved each and every game."
