Canadian Squash Team Nominated for Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games

6 athletes chosen to represent Canada

TORONTO (June. 5, 2015) On Friday, The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Squash Canada announced the athletes nominated to represent Team Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26.

6 athletes chosen to represent Canada

TORONTO (June. 5, 2015) On Friday, The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Squash Canada announced the athletes nominated to represent Team Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26.

Leading the men’s team is Shawn Delierre. Delierre, currently ranked 53^rd on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour, is coming off a recent victory at the PSA Regatas Open and is the current Canadian National Champion. At the 2007 and 2011 Pan Am Games he won silver in the men’s team event and bronze in the men’s singles event.

The Pan Am Games will be a family affair, as Schnell brothers Andrew and Graeme round out the Canadian men’s roster. These Calgary boys have been playing squash together for years and look to use that family chemistry to their advantage if they are paired in the men’s doubles event.

On the women’s side, Samantha Cornett leads the team into the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. Ranked 33^rd on the Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Tour, Cornett is coming into these games with past Pan Am Games experience. At Guadalajara 2011, Cornett was a gold medallist in women’s team and a silver medalist in the women’s singles event. Cornett is looking to build off her previous Games experience and will try to lead Canada to the podium.

Just as the men’s team possesses chemistry, so does the women’s team. Featuring a trio who competed in the 2014 Women’s World Team Championships, Samantha Cornett, Hollie Naughton and Nikole Todd look to build off their time together at the Women’s Worlds.

Canada has been very successful since squash’s inaugural appearance at the Pan Am Games in 1995, winning more gold medals than all other countries combined. The Canadian team does have some experienced players who have all reached the podium in past competitions, such as Samantha Cornett and Shawn Delierre. Canada is looking to win medals in squash for the sixth straight Pan Am Games.

Running from July 11 to 17, there will be six squash events: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and men’s and women’s team competition. The squash competition will take place at Exhibition Centre, Canada’s largest multi-purpose convention centre. Located in the heart of Toronto, Exhibition Centre will also be the home of racquetball, indoor volleyball, handball and roller sports – figure skating.

Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with more than 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will offer a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.

QUOTES

“Our squash players are a force to be reckoned with and I know they will make this known when they take to the court in Toronto this summer. Congratulations to the athletes who made the team and to Squash Canada for fielding such a strong squad.”

Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

“Canadians have absolutely dominated squash at the Pan Am Games. I know full well that these athletes will play their hearts out to make our country proud. Congratulations to all nominees and to Squash Canada for running an amazing program.”

Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“It has been quite the buildup for this summer’s Pan American Games. The usual importance we place on the Games is magnified by the home soil hosting of the event. The behind the scenes activities have been ongoing and extensive. Our team is now set and we have a strong squad of athletes who will give all they have to hit our medal target for squash. 6 podium finishes is a lofty goal but with a bit of (draw) luck mixed with Team Canada determination, we are ready for the challenge.”

Jamie Hickox, Performance Director, Squash Canada

“I’m so pumped to play in from of a home crowd with the same girls that I competed with earlier this season. Both of these events are firsts for me at a senior level, and having both at home is an amazing experience. Let’s go Canada!”

 Nikole Todd, Pan Am Championship silver medallist

“I am very excited to be competing on behalf of Team Canada at the Pan Am Games in Toronto this summer! I had the privilege of competing at the 2011 Pan Ams, and winning a silver medal alongside my teammates was an absolutely unforgettable experience. While I was only 19 at the time, it was a long shot for me to even make the team, and it definitely ranks up there as one of the highlights of my career so far. This time around will be even better, as I get to share the experience with my brother, Graeme, who has also made the team! I am proud that we will be wearing the flag together, especially in front of our home crowd. We are putting our heart and souls into preparing for the Games, and are hopeful that we can better the 2011 finish by capturing a gold medal.”

Andrew Schnell, 2011 Pan Am Games silver medallist

“Congratulations to all the athletes named to Canada’s squash team for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. All of your hard work and preparation has paid off, and we wish you well as you focus on competing at home during the Year of Sport in Canada!”

The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

The squash athletes who will represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Games are:

Athletes:

Coaching Staff:

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Pan American Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations towards the end of June 2015.

For more information, please contact:

Squash Canada:
Whitney Fuller, Sport Development and Events Manager
Tel: 613-731-7385 ext. 202
Email: development@squash.ca

Canadian Olympic Committee:

Devin Heroux, Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-5020/ Cell: 416-788-6527
Email: dheroux@olympic.ca

Cherry Ye, Coordinator, Communications
Tel: 416-324-4123 / Cell: 416-427-4341
Email: cye@olympic.ca

Carl Vallée, Executive Director, Communications
Tel: 514-861-3702 / Cell: 514-755-1987
Email: cvallee@olympic.ca