STOCKTON, Calif. – The Chris Kjeldsen Pool was host to a couple of extra people this week as the Tigers hosted the Canadian Men's National Water Polo team for a week of practice and scrimmages.
 
The teams share three members: Bogdan Djerkovic, Jeremie Cote and Reuel D'Souza. The connection those members bring, plus the relationship between Head Coach James Graham of the Tigers and Head Coach Patrick Oaten of Team Canada, brought the team from the north into the sunshine state.
 
"First, I'd like to thank Water Polo Canada for this amazing opportunity," said Graham. "It is an honor to have the Canadian National Team here at the University of the Pacific using our facilities and training with our program. We're excited to be able to support the Canadian National Team Members here at Pacific."
 
"We need to train together before a big qualification tournament like this," said Oaten, referencing the National Team's upcoming play at the FINA Intercontinental Cup starting March 7 in Lima, Peru. "The facilities, the high level of the Pacific team, it's great to help us prepare. COVID-19 significantly impacted us. Most of these players haven't had an official game in at least a year, most of them two years, so this was a big plus for us coming here."
 
Cote, who plays right side for the Tigers and left side for Canada, said the opportunity will benefit both teams. "Canada, going forward, we have our tournament in Peru, so it's going to help us get on the same page and improve a lot and our team here at Pacific, it helps us get in great competition during the off-season."
 
Djerkovic, a center for both teams, said the Tigers could see how much preparation Team Canada puts into even a practice. "International play is the highest level of water polo, so [the Tigers] get to see that side of the competitive level and the fitness level, hat we do to prepare. They see us coming out before practices warming up, playing, cooling down, stretching, taking care of our bodies."
 
D'Souza, who plays on the right side for both teams, said the teams get to see the different styles of play they each bring to the table. "For us in college, the way the game is refereed is a lot different, so it's good for [the Tigers] to see a different style of water polo, and for us, it's good to see how things are officiated in America. There are components of the scrimmages that we can take going forward to Peru next week."
 
D'Souza said he's happy to see teammates from both programs working together in Stockton.
 
Graham said the unique opportunity of playing against an elite team will help prepare the Tigers for the 2022 season.
"The university and the program have been so accommodating for a foreign team to come here," said Oaten. Everyone is so nice on the campus and around the school. We have access to a great weight room a great pool. You really can't ask for more than what we're getting here. Thank you to the community, we are really enjoying our stay, and we look forward to doing it more in the future."

To see some photos of the teams' practices, follow the Pacific men's water polo team on social media. Follow the team on Twitter (@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (@pacificwaterpolo) and Facebook (@pacificmenswaterpolo).