Water Polo Canada announces 2026 16U / 18U National Championship results

Water Polo Canada announces 2026 NCL 16U and 18U National Championship results and award winners

Over 950 athletes compete across two national championship events in Surrey, BC and Markham, ON

Ottawa, June 1, 2026 — Water Polo Canada is pleased to announce the champions and individual award winners from two landmark National Championship League (NCL) events: the 16U National Championships, held April 30 – May 3 in Surrey, BC, and the 18U National Championships, held May 8–10 at the Markham Pan Am Centre in Markham, ON.

Both events were open nationals featuring tiered competition that brought together clubs from across the country. The 16U championships drew 34 teams and more than 550 participants, while the 18U championships featured 26 teams and over 400 participants — a combined total of 60 teams and nearly 1,000 athletes, coaches, and officials.

The level of competition at both events was exceptional, with closely contested matches from the opening whistle through to the medal rounds.

16U National Championships – Surrey, BC

Final Standings

Men

1.     Surrey White

2.     Team Sask

3.     Ottawa Titans

Women

1.     Capital Wave A

2.     Team Sask

3.     Pacific Storm

16U Individual Award Winners

Men

•       Most Valuable Player: Nelson King (Surrey)

•       Most Valuable Goaltender: Aleksandr-Mark Cheliubeev (Surrey)

•       Most Valuable Defensive Player: Joe Rodriguez (Team Sask)

•       Most Valuable Coach: Vladyslav Ushakov (Surrey)

•       Tournament Top Goal Scorer: Mohammad Mani Norouzi (Blue Hawks) and Jalen Landry (DDO) – 26 goals each (tie)

Women

•       Most Valuable Player: Clara Milliker-Shyiak (Team Sask)

•       Most Valuable Goaltender: Aline Borowiec (Capital Wave)

•       Most Valuable Defensive Player: Naomi Jones (Capital Wave)

•       Most Valuable Coach: Gabriel Cooper (Capital Wave)

•       Tournament Top Goal Scorer: Izzie Hyman (Vortex) – 38 goals

18U National Championships – Markham, ON

Final Standings

Men

1.     Pacific Storm

2.     Shadow

3.     Surrey White

Women

1.     Calgary Renegades

2.     Team Sask

3.     CAMO

18U Individual Award Winners

Men

•       Most Valuable Player: Ivan Khramtsov (Pacific Storm)

•       Most Valuable Goaltender: Elliott King (Surrey)

•       Most Valuable Defensive Player: Wesley Woods (Shadow)

•       Most Valuable Coach: Branko Pekovic (Pacific Storm)

•       Tournament Top Goal Scorer: Darius Sterean Tarigradschi (Tiburon) – 30 goals

Women

•       Most Valuable Player: McKenna Pineda McLean (Calgary Renegades)

•       Most Valuable Goaltender: Vallie Guiver (Calgary Renegades)

•       Most Valuable Defensive Player: Clara Milleker Shyiak (Team Sask)

•       Most Valuable Coach: Brooke Coburn (Calgary Renegades)

•       Tournament Top Goal Scorer: Jennika Linthicum (Team Sask) – 20 goals

All individual award winners at both championships were selected by the respective technical delegate teams.

Acknowledgements

Water Polo Canada gratefully acknowledges the partners and supporters who made these championships possible.

The 16U National Championships in Surrey were made possible with the support of the City of Surrey, Sport Surrey, and viaSport, whose commitment to grassroots sport development helped deliver an outstanding experience for the more than 550 young athletes and their families.

The 18U National Championships in Markham were supported by Destination Markham, the City of Markham, and the Ontario Government through the Ontario Sport Hosting Grant, whose partnership ensured a world-class competition environment at the Markham Pan Am Centre.

Water Polo Canada also extends its sincere thanks to the Government of Canada through Sport Canada for their continued support of water polo in Canada.

About the National Championship League

The 16U and 18U National Championships are part of Water Polo Canada’s National Championship League (NCL), which was created in 2014 to bring domestic club age-group programs under a country-wide umbrella that promotes the development of the sport. The NCL offers three categories of play: Senior, 18U, and 16U.

More information is available on the Water Polo Canada website at waterpolo.ca.

About Water Polo Canada

Water Polo Canada is the national governing body for the sport of water polo in Canada. Working in partnership with provincial and territorial associations, clubs, and sport partners, Water Polo Canada leads the development of athletes, coaches, and officials from grassroots to high performance and delivers national competitions that support excellence, national team success, and long-term growth of the sport across the country.