History Of Water Polo In Saskatchewan The Sport of Water Polo was first introduced into Saskatchewan in 1913 by an Englishman named Don Mackay. He played water polo with the Lancashire International team. He brought the sport to Moose Jaw where he introduced it to the Moose Jaw Aquatic Club. He is also responsible for generating the interest, enthusiasm and developing the aquatic skills within the first water polo clubs in Moose Jaw.
Regina, having few indoor aquatic facilities prior to 1967 did not have a strong aquatics program. After the University pool was constructed, Steve Jerkovits is credited with creating the interest in the sport of water polo in Regina. He approached a number of speed swimmers and life guards at the University pool about playing the game. As a result of his effort, the first University Cougar Team was formed in 1968. He was quoted as saying "In the beginning there was very little skill, but lots of determination."
The first team members of the University team included Jim Ursan, Lynne Anderson, Mike Donegan, Cliff Chase, David Dexter, Craig and Keith Bertram, Bob Kennedy, Ian Watch, Carl Ellard, Mike Boyd and Dave Pettigrew. The Regina team represented the south in the 1968 Saskatchewan Summer Games and Provincial Championships in Saskatoon. The team continued to grow and take shape and after a 20 game schedule was played, Regina was able to send an All-Star Team to the National Championships. For the first time in history, a Saskatchewan team was represented in the Canadian Water Polo National Championships. The Regina team showed better than expected, by defeating teams from Victoria, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg. | |
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