Dusko Dakic from Hull, Quebec scores to give Canada a Bronze Medal at the Junior Pan Am Championships

Ottawa – Water Polo Canada’s Junior Men’s National Team captured the Bronze Medal and had their best showing at the Pan Am Championships today. Trailing 5-1 in the fourth quarter, Canada’s Devon Diggle (Dollard Club, Montreal) scored to force the game into overtime. In overtime, Dusko Dakic (Hull, Que) scored to give Canada the edge to defeat Columbia 7-6 and stole the bronze medal away.

Men’s Highlights:

Gyula Toth, Head Coach of Junior Men states: “We won a medal and did better than the last Pan Am Championships where we placed 5th but it still wasn't a great game for Canada. We seemed to only show character and no real water polo skills and strategies. Our rhythm was very slow.”

BRONZE MEDAL GAME

CANADA 7 vs Columbia 6

Leading Scorers
Dusko Dakic CAN 2 goals
Justin Boyd CAN 2 goals
Matt Venner CAN 1 goal
Devon Brudman Diggle CAN 1 goal
Con Kudaba CAN 1 goal

Scoring by Period
Period 1 CAN 0 COL 2
Period 2 CAN 1 COL 0
Period 3 CAN 0 COL 3
Period 4 CAN 5 COL 1

Overtime 1 CAN 1 COL 0
Overtime 2 CAN 0 COL 0

Final CAN 7 COL 6

A goal by Devon Brudman Diggle (Dollard Water Polo Club – Montreal) at the buzzer in regulation time capped a 5 goal 4 th period comeback that sent the game into overtime against Columbia for the bronze medal. Midway through the first 3 minute overtime period Dusko Dakic (Club Aquapolo de Hull – Hull, Quebec) scored what proved to be the winner as the Canadian squad played tough defense to secure the victory and the Bronze Medal. This is the highest placement for a Canadian junior team at this tournament in over two decades.

Overall tournament Scores and Standings
For more detailed information, stats and pictures, visit www.waterpolo.ca

Listed below is the list of the Junior Men`s National Team selected to date:
(Name – Club-Hometown)

Boonzaayer, Jordan Pacific Storm - Vancouver
Boyd, Justin Dollard Water Polo Club -Montreal
Dakic, Dusko Club Aquapolo de Hull – Hull, Quebec
Diggle, Devon Dollard Water Polo Club - Montreal
Glisic, Bojan Club Aquapolo de Hull – Hull, Quebec
Gore, Mathew Pacific Storm - Vancouver
Kudaba, Constantine Pacific Storm - Vancouver
Mumme, Scott Dollard Water Polo Club - Montreal
Pavicevic, Stefan Club Aquapolo de Hull - Ottawa
Robinson, Andrew Dollard Water Polo Club - Montreal
Ruse, Jon Dollard Water Polo Club - Montreal
Sikimic, Djordje Pacific Storm - Vancouver
Singleton-Fookes, Taylor Calgary Torpedoes - Calgary
Tanguay, Marc-Antoine Club Aquapolo de Hull - Ottawa
Tsymbalyuk, Artem CAMO - Montreal
Venner, Mathew Pacific Storm - Vancouver
Yunker, Lars Saanich Water Polo School – Victoria, BC

Coaching Staff:

Gyula Toth, Head Coach, Calgary, AB
Chris Hammer, Assistant Coach, Calgary, AB
Jeff Lindell, Team Manager, Montreal, Que

Past Results: Men 2004 1 USA, 2 BRA, 3 ARG, 4 MEX, 5 CAN