Team Sask Brings Home Silver and Bronze Medals
Team Sask concluded the 2025 season with impressive podium finishes at the 18U National Championship League Finals held this past weekend in Calgary. Both the 18U Boys and 18U Girls teams demonstrated skill and determination against Canada’s top 18U water polo teams.
The 18U Boys earned silver after a thrilling 9-8 final against Edmonton Tsunami. The match was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading goals throughout. Riess Anderson, the tournament’s top scorer with 18 goals, along with Adam Smitten and Leo Boutin, who scored 15 goals throughout the tournament, led the offense. Liam and Winston also contributed key goals. Goalkeeper Adrien Lapierre made eight critical saves that kept Team Sask in the game and earned him the tournament’s Most Valuable Goalie award. The boys had faced Tsunami earlier in the tournament, tying 8-8 in their opening round-robin game. Their dominant run included commanding victories over Capital Wave (20-5) and Shadow (18-5), before defeating Mavericks 13-8 in the semifinals.
The 18U Girls secured bronze with a hard-fought victory over CAMO, marking their second win against the same opponent during the tournament. Natalia Blazevic led the team’s scoring with 17 goals, followed closely by Jennika Linthicum with 15. The girls opened round robin play with a 13-10 win against CAMO, followed by close victories against Surrey (10-9) and South Central (18-15). They narrowly missed the gold medal game after a tight semifinal loss to Fraser Valley, 17-18. Despite this, the girls showed resilience and determination, rallying to claim bronze in the final stages. The roster featured a strong mix of athletes from across Saskatchewan, complemented by key contributors from Pacific Storm.
Both teams earned their spots at Nationals by finishing in the top four at the Western Conference Finals, with the boys capturing first place and the girls finishing second. This year’s tournament featured eight teams in each division, evenly split between western and eastern conferences. The western teams dominated the competition, claiming the top three podium positions in both boys and girls divisions.
Congratulations to all Team Sask athletes on a successful season. Special recognition goes to the graduating 18U seniors: Taya Bumpas, Leo Boutin, Riess Anderson, Eric Kaskton, Brighton Snider, Theo Minnaar, Adrien Lapierre, and Adam Smitten. Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in the team’s ongoing success.
