JETS U19 BOYS QUALIFY FOR FINAL FOUR

For the first time since Water Polo Canada moved to the Final Four age group national championship format in the National Championships League (NCL), the Toronto Golden Jets will be represented.

The Jets U19 boys scored an upset win over Montreal CAMO in the 1-2 gold medal play-in game  at the Eastern Conference playoffs last night.

The Jets had been beaten handily both times by CAMO during the regular season and it looked to be more of the same as the Montrealers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead.  However, the Jets clawed back and, with only 12 seconds to go in the first quarter, center forward Marko Avdalovic scored to pull the Jets within one at 3-4.

The teams traded goals throughout the second quarter but the Jets put on a spurt to take a surprising 9-8 halftime lead.  The Jets quickly increased the lead to 10-8 to start the third but CAMO rallied to tie it midway through the quarter.  The Jets then restored their one goal margin to lead 12-11 after three quarters of play.

CAMO opened the final quarter with two quick markers to take the lead.  The Jets tied it with two minutes to go but CAMO scored 30 seconds later to restore their lead.  The Jets went on the power play with 18 seconds left.  With five seconds to play, Blake Carnevale scored to tie things up and send the game to a shootout.

Jets goalie Igor Jovanovic stopped the first CAMO penalty shot.  Then the five Jets shooters - Stefan Vukovic, Alex Bozzo, Stefan Mitic, Carnevale and Euan Scoffield - were perfect and the Jets won 19-17 to secure both a place in the gold medal game of the Eastern Conference playoffs on Sunday and one of the four spots at the National Finals to be held in Montreal at the end of May.

Congratulations to coach Predrag Pejanovic and the entire team!!!