A combination of basketball and hockey in a kayak, canoe polo is gaining a foothold in Alberta. 

It is a very physical sport requiring upper body strength to maneuvre the canoe for offensive and defensive plays. Alberta is the competitive centre of canoe polo. Canada has participated in each World Championship with increasing success and Edmonton has hosted numerous competitions.  The sport may be played in swimming pools (indoor or outdoor) and on lakes. It is a fast game consisting of two 10-minute periods.

A local 17 year old, Andrea Thomas,  has just been accepted on the U21 Women’s Canadian National Team and will be joining the team of eight players with their coach and manager at the seventh World Canoe Polo Championship to be held in Milan, Italy. Before the championship, the team will be competing and training in various venues throughout Italy. Thomas is thrilled to be part of this new sport and will be training with the rest of the team in Edmonton, Sundre  and in Jasper over the Canada Day long weekend. 

Canoe Polo is an amateur sport and Canada Canoe Polo is a not-for-profit sports organization. Canoe Polo athletes receive very limited sponsorship from provincial or national associations. The Canada Canoe Polo Website is: www.canoepolo.ca.

In order to compete each team member has to raise at least $5,000 to cover costs so they are busy fund-raising to reach this goal. Thomas has already received her first donation cheque from Becker’s Chalets and more pledges of support are being received daily. 

You can see a free demonstration of Canoe Polo on Canada Day at the Aquatic Centre from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m.