Tournament of Courage Recap: Kelowna Athletes, Pacific Storm Medals, and Regional Collaboration

The Silvia McDermaid Tournament of Courage ran January 23–25, 2026 and delivered exactly what the name promises: high-effort water polo, close contests, and big moments—with teams travelling from British Columbia and Washington State to compete.

For Kelowna athletes and families, it was a weekend of proud results, strong team culture, and a clear reminder that our region continues to develop players who can compete in tough, fast-paced tournaments.

Pacific Storm: Gold in 14U Boys and 16U Girls

A major headline out of the weekend was a gold-medal run by the Pacific Storm 14U Boys, with Ian Appel helping lead the team to a decisive championship result. The final saw Pacific Storm defeat Surrey Water Polo Club Boys with a final score of 21–10.

Pacific Storm also captured gold in the 16U Girls division, with strong performances from Aanika Jonson, Eleanor Butterfield, and Zoe Pauling. The group played with composure and intensity throughout the weekend, earning top spot in a competitive field.

Silver for Pacific Storm 16U Boys

In the 16U Boys division, Liam Halsall and the Pacific Storm team put together a strong tournament run, finishing with silver after a demanding weekend against top competition.

Pacific Storm 14U Girls: Strong Fourth-Place Finish

The Pacific Storm 14U Girls also delivered a solid performance across the weekend, finishing fourth overall in a competitive division.

Kelowna player Lux Brasnett was part of the Pacific Storm lineup, contributing to a tournament run that featured disciplined play, steady improvement, and valuable high-level game experience against strong opposition.

The fourth-place finish capped a positive weekend for Pacific Storm programs across multiple age groups, reinforcing the club’s depth and development across boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Kelowna 14U Boys: Close Battles and a Strong Finish

The Kelowna 14U Boys took on a challenging schedule and showed real growth across the tournament. They played close games against Fraser Valley 14U Boys, keeping pressure on and competing hard in every quarter.

The team finished the weekend with momentum, earning wins in their last two games against Bainbridge Island Water Polo Club A and B teams. It was a strong finish that reflected persistence, teamwork, and improved execution as the weekend progressed.

12U and 14U Collaboration: Kelowna + Vancouver Vipers + Coquitlam Lions

One of the best stories from the weekend came from the 12U tournament and the 14U Boys, where Kelowna athletes teamed up with players from the Vancouver Vipers and Coquitlam Lions to form combination teams.

The collaboration was a success on and off the deck. The teams performed well and benefited from a shared coaching approach led by Kelowna head coach Kristin Smart and Andrew Cho (Vancouver Vipers), with Ben Halsall supporting as assistant coach. The combination team model created valuable game experience for developing athletes and showed what regional cooperation can achieve in youth sport.

A Tournament Run Worth Celebrating

With gold and silver medal results for Pacific Storm athletes, hard-earned wins and close battles for Kelowna teams, and a strong regional partnership across clubs, the Silvia McDermaid Tournament of Courage delivered an impressive weekend of water polo.

Congratulations to all athletes, coaches, and families who travelled, competed, and supported across the weekend. The results were strong—and the experience will carry forward into the rest of the season.