Toronto Golden Jets Water Polo

A NEW CAREER FOR GOLDEN JETS ALUM

One of the most talented Golden Jets senior men's players, Alan Chung, has just graduated from the Toronto Firefighter Academy. He started his career last week.

Chung, the MVP of the senior men's national championship Golden Jets title team in 2015, decided to become a firefighter two years ago. Actually, he had dreamed of being a firefighter since he was six years old but never acted on it - until now.

"I felt like I lacked purpose even though I owned my own company," said Chung. "I've always wanted to help people and this allowed me to do that and realize my childhood dream."

His new career route began with a 6-month "Pre-Service" stint. Passing that test, he was hired by the Toronto Fire Department and then spent 19 weeks training in the Academy. Now, he is in the first of two one-month postings to fire halls in the GTA. His third posting will be his home base (he has requested the east end of Toronto).

“My time with the Golden Jets was special,” continued Chung. “It helped me cultivate characteristics that are crucial to my firefighting career such as communication, teamwork, spatial awareness, trust in teammates and to be someone that teammates can count on.”

Good luck, Alan and thank you for putting it all on the line for the community!

GOLDEN JETS TO FEATURE ALUMNI/ALUMNAE CAREERS

The Toronto Golden Jets is launching a weekly look at alumni/alumnae and their careers after water polo.

The Jets want to recognize the careers of the alumni/alumnae and showcase the multitude of directions taken by the club's former players.

With the club's establishment in 1980, there will be four decades'
worth of players to feature (some may even have retired!).

Stay tuned!

JETS MEN WIN BRONZE MEDAL AT NATIONALS

The Toronto Golden Jets began Day 3 of the Canadian men's national championships in Calgary with a 8am semi-final against CAMO (Montreal). The Jets had earned the berth the previous day with a 21-4 quarter final victory over the Edmonton Tsunami.

CAMO begin the game pressing the Jets all over the pool. However, Toronto shooters surprised Montreal and propelled the Jets out to a 4-3 first quarter lead.

The Jets expanded their lead to four goals on two occasions in the second period getting ahead 9-5 half way through. However, CAMO caught fire and drilled in three goals in a little over a minute to pull within one. The Jets responded twice to CAMO's once to take a 11-9 advantage into halftime.

The third quarter proved to be disastrous for Toronto in more ways than one as CAMO's counterattack led to a 7-3 win putting Montreal ahead 16-14 entering the fourth. During the quarter, the Jets lost the services of starter Diego Gonzalez and captain Mike Chapman due to concussions.

Though the Jets played CAMO evenly despite being undermanned, it wasn't enough and CAMO held on for a 19-17 victory.

Adam Mekni and Filip Resanovic paced the Jets attack with four goals apiece. Cam Hexter and Euan Scoffield both netted hattricks. Alex Leblanc, Sam Madadian and Richard Laurie added singles.

A little over three hours later, the Jets were back in the pool to face B.C. Storm in the bronze medal game. Both teams would play with only a couple of substitutes - Storm because they only brought 9 players and Toronto because Gonzalez and Chapman had to sit out due to the concussions received in the morning versus Montreal.

The teams tied each other in both of the first two quarters creating a 5-5 deadlock at halftime. A 6-4 third quarter put Storm in front heading into the final quarter.

However, Toronto clawed its way back in the first four minutes to tie the game 11-11 only to see Storm come right back to take a 12-11 lead. Both teams then missed glorious chances including a missed penalty shot by the Jets.

With 28 seconds remaining, Toronto got possession and head coach George Gross, Jr. immediately called time out. Against Saskatchewan on Day 1, the Jets had been in a similar situation and Gross, Jr. had pulled goalie Andrei Velasevic in favour of an extra shooter. The ploy had worked as Mekni won the game with less than a second remaining.

This time, using the same tactic, it was Sam Madadian playing the role of hero scoring with 7 seconds remaining to even the score and send the game into a shootout.

The Jets had not won a penalty shootout in several seasons so things did not look good. B.C. won the toss and elected to shoot first and scored. Toronto matched with its first attempt. Then, in round 2, Velasevic guessed correctly and made a great two handed save. When the Jets scored, the team grabbed a 2-1 lead with three shooters to go. All three Storm shooters scored as did the next two Jets shooters.

This set up the Jets' final shot of the first round and a goal would mean a bronze medal. The hero at the end of regulation, Madadian again played the hero drilling home the game winning goal. Mekni, Scoffield, Resanovic and Laurie combined with Madadian for the perfect shootout round.

During regulation time, Leblanc was a one-man wrecking crew in the center scoring five times to lead the way for Toronto. Mekni followed with four markers. Madadian popped in a pair and Scoffield added the other.

The Jets arrived at the nationals minus their starting center forward and leading scorer (Ivan Khramtsov) and starting 6'7" lefty (Sukhmun Hare) plus a shortened bench caused by the unavailability of the university students in the club due to exams. But those that played showed resilience, cohesiveness and heart and were deserving of the bronzde medal.

JETS MEN WIN TWO TO ADVANCE TO SEMI FINALS

The Toronto Golden Jets senior men's Gold team triumphed twice on Day 2 of the Canadian National Championships to advance to the semi finals in Calgary.

In the morning, Toronto played its last game of the round robin phase facing off against Hamilton.

The opening quarter featured a slow start by the Jets defence and Toronto found itself down 5-3. The teams reversed roles in the second period with Toronto outscoring Hamilton 6-3 to take a 9-8 lead into halftime.

The teams traded goals twice in the third leaving the Jets with a 11-10 lead heading into the final frame.

In that final frame, the Jets registered another three goal victory (5-2) to win 16-12.

Adam Mekni had a monster game scoring six goals. Teammate Filip Resanovic almost matched him by scoring five times. Diego Gonzalez netted two goals while Cam Hexter, Alex Leblanc and Euan Scoffield each tallied once.

The victory landed Toronto in second place in Group A which meant a quarterfinal match-up later in the day against Edmonton Tsunami, third place finishers in Group B.

This time, the Jets wasted no time determining the outcome of the game. Utilizing a stifling full court press defence coupled with a lethal counterattack offence, Toronto ran away to a 11-0 first quarter.

The Jets put up another shutout in the second quarter albeit only tallying three times to lead 14-0 at halftime. A 7-4 second half led to a 21-4 victory.

Scoffield led the way powering home five goals with Mekni right behind socring four times. Richard Laurie, Sam Madadian, Hexter and Leblanc each scored twice. Captain Mike Chapman, Harrison Young, Ethan Abblett and Gonzalez added singles as every Jets field player but one got on the scoreboard.

The quarterfinal win sets up a semi-final encounter with long time rival CAMO (Montreal) early in the morning on Day 3.

JETS SENIOR MEN OPEN NATIONALS 1-1

The Toronto Golden Jets men's Gold team travelled to Calgary recently for the Canadian national Championships.

On Day 1, with an early morning start after the flight the night before, the Jets were sloppy and listless facing Team Saskatchewan (Sask). The teams kept trading goals in the opening quarter leading to a 4-4 standoff.

Both teams tightened up defensively in the second period with Toronto outscoring Sask 2-1 to take a slim 6-5 lead into halftime.

However, Sask reversed the tables in the third quarter to pull even at 8-8 heading into the final frame.

It took almost half a quarter before the Jets pulled ahead 9-8 only to see Sask respond half a minute later. Again the Jets pulled in front by one and this time it only took Sask 18 seconds to tie it up. Then Sask scored again to forge ahead. Toronto came back less than aminute to tie things up 11-11.

With 41 seconds left, Sask called time out to set up a potential game-winning goal. But the Jets defence rose to the occasion getting the ball back with 14 seconds to go. Head Coach George Gross, Jr. immediately called time out. Going back to set up, Gross, Jr. pulled goalie Andre Velasevic in favour of an extra attacker setting up a 7-on-6 situation. The move paid off when Adam Mekni blasted in his third goal of the game with seven seconds remaining to give Toronto a hard-earned 12-11 victory.

Diego Gonzalez and Mekni led the way for the Jets with hattricks. Richard Laurie and Sam Madadian popped in a pair of goals each. Cam Hexter and Filip Resanovic added singles.

With only a few hours rest, the Jets were back in the pool for a round robin tilt against the heavily favoured host Calgary Torpedoes.

Toronto shook off the morning lethargy and shocked Calgary getting out to a two goal halftime lead. However, the hosts were not to be denied and the Jets fell 14-13 to finish the first day with a win and a loss.

Next up on Day 2 is the final round robin match against Hamilton followed by a quarter final game later in the day.

JETS WOMEN's GOLD TEAM FINISHES SECOND

The Toronto Golden Jets senior women's Gold team split a pair of games on the final day of NCL weekend tournament play at Markham's Pan Am pool.

It was an early morning semi-final against Montreal Touski that would decide whether Toronto would play for first place or third place later in the day.

The day before during round robin play, the Jets defeated Touski 8-7 on a buzzer-beater shot by goalie Grace Bobyk. It was another in a string of close contests between the two squads.

The first quarter was a tight defensive struggle with the visitors netting the only goal. The teams opened up in the second period scoring three times each to leave Montreal ahead 4-3 at the half.

The floodgates opened on both sides in the third with Touski edging the Jets 6-5 to extend the lead to 10-8 heading into the final frame.

Toronto responded with a 2-0 quarter to knot the game at 10-10 and send it to a shootout.

Despite Bobyk blocking Touski's first attempt, the Jets missed three consecutive shots after scoring twice to fall 13-12 overall.

Josie Andrist led the regulation time scoring for the Jets with four goals. Leanne Bolstad and Devon Lynch both scored twice while Tyanna Supreme and Hannah Levin added singles.

Bobyk was strong in the nets making a dozen saves.

The loss dropped the Jets into what normally would have been the third place game. However, with Saskatchewan at the tournament making the first place game as an exhibition team whose points wouldn't count in the Eastern Conference standings, the game with Montreal CAMO became a game for second place. By virtue of being in the final against Saskatchewan, Montreal Touski was guaranteed first place.

Both teams started out tentatively, not to mention a bit tired after the morning semi-final games. CAMO won the quarter 2-1.

Toronto then roared out to a five goal quarter while holding Montreal to three and took a 6-5 lead into the half.

The Jets again won a quarter by a goal, this time 4-3, and extended their lead to 10-8 heading into the fourth period.

Each team only managed one goal and the Jets came away with a 11-9 victory and second place on the weekend. The two goal margin followed three consecutive one goal wins.

Ava Stimson and Lynch each notched hattricks while Andrist tallied twice. Julia Mic, Sydney Low and Bolstad added singles.

Bobyk again was strong making 13 saves and adding two steals.

JETS MEN GOLD CLOSE OUT NCL WEEKEND WITH WIN

The Toronto Golden Jets senior men's Gold team closed out the second weekend of NCL play on Sunday with its third win in a row.

On Friday, in the first game of the tournament, the Jets were upset by Montreal CHAOS in a shootout. It was only fitting that the team would get a chance at redemption as the draw for Sunday put CHAOS in their sights.

The teams traded goals three times in the first quarter to enter the second period tied at 3-3. The Jets were one goal better winning 2-1 to take a 5-4 lead into the second half.

The third quarter proved to be the pivotal one for the Jets as the offence found its groove with four scores while the defence stiffened even more and shut out the visitors. This propelled Toronto to a 9-4 spread heading into the fourth quarter.

The final period was again close with the Jets edging out CHAOS 3-2 en route to a 12-6 win.

Diego Gonzalez paced the Jets attack with four goals, supported by Adam Mekni's hattrick. Richard Laurie popped in a pair while Harrison Young, Alex Leblanc and Sam Madadian each scored once.

Next action for the Jets will be a scrimmage game on February 18 at McMaster University in Hamilton against Hamilton.

JETS MEN's GOLD TEAM BACK ON WINNING TRACK WITH PAIR OF VICTORIES

The Toronto Golden Jets men's Gold team produced two wins on Saturday in NCL play at the Markham Pan Am pool.

Jets Gold opened the day with a game against Jets Navy, the second Toronto Golden Jets entry in the league.

It was a spirited match epitomized by the physical play between brothers Diego (Gold) and Daniel (Navy). Both led their respective teams in scoring with the elder Diego notching five goals to Daniel's hattrick.

In the end, the more experienced Gold team prevailed 14-6.

Besides Gonzalez, Cam Hexter scored twice while Adam Mekni, Mike Chapman, Harrison Young, Alex Leblanc, Richard Laurie, Sam Madadian and Filip Resanovic all had singles. Every field player for the Jets Gold scored.

In the nightcap, Jets Gold faced off against Hamilton 2 and, somewhat surpisingly, only managed a 14-11 victory. The younger visitors played with high energy and desire which showed well against the tired Jets Gold team that was missing five starters for all four games on the weekend.

Toronto has one game left - a consolation round exhibition game - against Montreal CHAOS which shocked Jets Gold on Friday with a 12-10 shootout win.

JETS WOMEN's GOLD TEAM WINS A PAIR OF CLOSE GAMES

The Toronto Golden Jets women's Gold team eked out two one-goal victories on Day 2 of NCL tournament action at the Markham Pan Am pool.

In the first game, the Jets faced their close rivals Montreal Touski, a team that has consistently produced close games with the Jets. This game was no exception.

Touski scored the only goal of the opening quarter as both teams appeared sluggish on offence. The Jets then erupted for five goals in the second period while holding the visitors to another single goal to take a 5-2 lead into the second half.

Touski outduelled the Jets 2-1 in the third to move to within two goals heading into the final frame.

Montreal put up a three spot to one goal by the Jets to tie things up at 7-7. However, in an incredible finish to the game, Jets goalie Grace Bobyk swam the ball out to half way and fired a buzzer-beater into the top right corner to give the Jets an 8-7 victory.

Josie Andrist paced the Jets attack with a pair of goals. Six players each scored once: Ava Stimson, Leanne Bolstad, Devon Lynch, Julia Mic, Tyanna Supreme and Bobyk.

Bobyk also had a strong game in net including five steals.

Despite the win, the Jets finished third in group play behind Touski and Saskatchewan. The result meant that the Jets' quarterfinal opponent would be the Ottawa Titans Black squad which finished 2nd in Group A.

The teams produced strings of goals but neither could pull away. The first quarter ended in a 3-3 draw. Toronto won the second quarter 2-1 to lead 5-4 at the half. Ottawa responded with a 2-1 quarter win of its own in the third to tie things up 6-6 entering the fourth period.

After losing the swim off and killing off a power play, Bobyk took the ball in the goal crease and, seeing national team goalie Jessica Gaudreault sliding forward out of the net, fired a pool-length strike to give the Jets a 7-6 lead less than a minute in. Toronto then took a two goal lead only to have the visitors pull back within one with two minutes to go. The Jets defence then held off three Titans attacks to steal another 8-7 win.

Andrist and Bolstad both netted a pair of goals while Sydney Low, Mic, Supreme and Bobyk added singles.

For Bobyk, it was back-to-back game winning goals. There aren't many goalies (if any) that can claim that feat.

The win vaulted the Jets Gold team into the semi-finals and another date against Touski. The game will go at 9:10am on Sunday.

JETS NAVY MEN LOSE TWO IN NCL ACTION

The Toronto Golden Jets men's Navy team came up short in two contests on Day 2 of NCL tournament action at the Markham Pan Am pool.

The day began with an intra-club matchup against the Golden Jets Gold team.

The Navy Jets fell behind 4-1 in the first quarter, then trailed 7-3 at the half. The Gold team increased its lead to five goals entering the fourth quarter before posting a 3-0 final frame en route to a 14-6 win.

The game featured a duel of brothers with Navy's Daniel Gonzalez netting a hattrick only to see his older brother Diego put up five scores for the Gold team. Colin Thomas pitched in with a pair for the Navy team while Darren Ablett, father of Ethan who was also playing for Jets Navy, added the final tally.

A few hours later, the Jets Navy team was back in the pool to face Hamilton 2 which was playing its first game of the day.

The teams tied three of the four quarters. However, during the second period, Hamilton 2 won by three to lead to a 14-11 win.

Andrew Reed led the Jets Navy attack with three goals. Victor Laslop and Thomas popped in a pair each while Sean Gripp, Adrian Cheung, Ethan Ablett and Gonzalez netted single tallies.

The losses left the Jets Navy team in 9th place for the second consecutive NCL tournament.

Next action for the Jets Navy team will be March 27-29 at the Scarborough Pan Am pool to wind up its NCL season.