Squash Canada is thrilled to announce the athletes who will represent Canada in the 2023 World Squash Federation (WSF) Men’s World Team Championship in Tauranga, New Zealand, taking place December 11-17, 2023.
Team Canada will be represented by:
- David Baillargeon (QC)
- Salah Eltorgman (ON)
- Liam Marrison (ON)
- Brett Schille (AB)
World Ranked #51 David Baillargeon (QC) will be fresh from representing Canada at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in November when he leads the Men’s Team in New Zealand in December.
“I’m super excited to represent Canada once again for the biggest team event in the squash world,” shared Baillargeon. “The Men’s World Team Championship is always a very special event with all the very top players being there and, for the first time, I’ll be the oldest player on a national team!”
Baillargeon will be joined at the biennial WSF event by Squash Canada Senior Squad members Salah Eltorgman and Liam Marrison (ON), and Brett Schille (AB). While Baillargeon may be a veteran at these events, his teammates are no stranger to representing Canada on the international stage: Eltorgman represented Canada at the 2022 Pan American Squash Championships, and both the 2018 and 2017 World Junior Squash Championships; Marrison recently won Gold representing Canada at the 2023 Pan American Squash Championships in mixed doubles and a Bronze at the 2022 Pan American Squash Championships in mixed doubles; and Schille represented Canada at the 2023 Pan American Squash Championships.
The team will be coached by Victoria Lust, who is quite possibly the first female coach of a men’s team at a WSF Men’s Team Championship, according to records. Lust comes equipped with an exemplar coaching record and has served as coach for various Canadian contingencies, most recently at the 2023 WSF World Junior Championship in Australia, 2023 Pan American Squash Championship in Argentina, and 2022 WSF Women’s Team Championship in Egypt.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to coach Canada’s Men’s Team in the upcoming World Team Championships in Tauranga, New Zealand,” said Lust. “It’s an exciting prospect to be accompanying a young and ambitious team, eager to prove themselves on the global stage. I have no doubt that our athletes share in my excitement and are ready to give their all!”
The competition will take place at New Zealand’s Mercury Baypark Arena and the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre from December 11-17th, 2023. This year’s event marks a welcome return for the championship, which has not been played since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
