Ottawa, ON, March 4, 2019 – After seven days and nearly 350 matches, both the squash competition and the 2019 Canada Winter Games hosted by Red Deer, Alberta have come to an end. Squash was held in week two that saw 92 junior athletes become stars as they competed for Provincial/Territorial pride in team and individual competitions and put squash on the map as one of the most attractive and popular sports to watch during the Games.
Ottawa, ON, March 4, 2019 – After seven days and nearly 350 matches, both the squash competition and the 2019 Canada Winter Games hosted by Red Deer, Alberta have come to an end. Squash was held in week two that saw 92 junior athletes become stars as they competed for Provincial/Territorial pride in team and individual competitions and put squash on the map as one of the most attractive and popular sports to watch during the Games.
The highlight of the week was when TSN/RDS featured squash by showcasing the four individual medal matches to a nationwide audience. Squash Canada was thrilled to have Alberta’s own Andrew Schnell and Team Quebec Coach Maxym Leclair doing the colour commentary. And in typical squash fashion, the matches did not disappoint with exceptional play by the athletes.
The matches began with an exceptional Boys Bronze Medal match between British Columbia’s Sam Scivier and Nova Scotia’s Douglas Kosciukiewicz. The almost hour-long match was won by Kosciukiewicz by a score of 11-7, 11-4 and 12-10. In the Girls Bronze Medal match, Ontario’s Brianna Jefferson overcame a strong challenge from Alberta’s Bethany Churchill in a tight match by scores of 11-7, 12-10 and 11-8.
Those in attendance had been vastly entertained by the Bronze Medal matches but no one knew that the best was yet to come in the Girls Gold Medal match between top seeds, Ontario’s Charlotte Orcutt and British Columbia’s Lucia Bicknell. The first game went to Orcutt 11-7 as she jumped out to an early lead, but Bicknell quickly bounced back winning the second game 11-4 to tie the match and then pulled out a tight 11-9 win in the third game to go ahead 2-1. With the pressure all on Orcutt to come back and tie the match, Bicknell took full control in what proved to be the fourth and deciding game as she stunned everyone in attendance winning 11-0 to capture the Gold Medal. In the Boys Gold Medal match, Ontario teammates competed against each other where Liam Marrison simply outlasted Neel Ismail to win by scores of 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 and 11-9.
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Girls Individual Final Results: |
Boys Individual Final Results: |
In other action, the Team competition featured top seeded teams – Ontario (#1), British Columbia (#2) and Alberta (#3) coming into the event as heavy favourities to medal and they did not disappoint. In what proved to be a mirror of each other, both the boys and girls Gold Medal match would feature Ontario versus British Columbia; meanwhile, the Bronze Medal match would feature Alberta versus Quebec.
Girls Team Medal round: Team Ontario and Team British Columbia put on quite the show as they split their matches 2-2 and it came down to a tiebreaker for the Gold Medal. As outlined in the rules, we start with games won so the edge went to Ontario 8-7 in games to become your 2019 Gold Medalists and British Columbia winning Silver. And not to be outdone, host province Alberta claimed the Bronze Medal in dominating fashion 4-0 over Quebec.
Boys Team Medal round: Team Ontario and Team British Columbia met in the Gold Medal final with Ontario winning in dominating fashion 4-0 to bring home the Gold and British Columbia would take home Silver. In the Bronze medal match, Alberta swept Quebec 4-0 to capture the medal much to the delight of the local crowd that gathered to watch the match.
In the history of squash at the Canada Winter Games, only twice (1991 and 2007 – both by Ontario) has a Province/Territory swept the Team event bringing home Double Gold and this years’ Ontario teams have joined that elite group.
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Girls Team Final Standings |
Boys Team Final Standings |
“This Canada Winter Games brought our juniors, coaches, managers, and officials from across the country together to celebrate what an exceptional community we have. Good sportsmanship and consideration for one’s fellow squasher throughout the week was never in short supply and Squash Canada is especially proud of the high degree of professionalism that our players displayed during the week” said Squash Canada Board Member Sandra Thompson who was the Squash Technical Representative at the Games. “Our athletes faced one of the most challenging competition formats in the Games with never failing tenacity. It was an honour to have been part of the 2019 Games. Not only do we have a bright future of squash in Canada, we have a bright future with our young people who set a very high bar on what it is to be a proud Canadian. Thank you to all and we’re looking forward to the 2023 Canada Winter Games in beautiful Prince Edward Island!”
To view daily recaps, pictures, and full results of the 2019 Canada Winter Games: Click Here
