Squash Canada Announces Creation of a Talent Identification (TID) Program

    OTTAWA (ON) – Squash Canada today announced the creation of a new talent identification program for the start of the 2014 – 2015 squash season.  

    “The new Talent Identification Program (TID) creates an opportunity to be more involved in the development of our players at younger ages and with the support of Squash Canada and their home club’s and squash professionals we feel we can work together to propel our athletes to new levels of international excellence", said Squash Canada Performance Director, Jamie Hickox.

    OTTAWA (ON) – Squash Canada today announced the creation of a new talent identification program for the start of the 2014 – 2015 squash season.  

    “The new Talent Identification Program (TID) creates an opportunity to be more involved in the development of our players at younger ages and with the support of Squash Canada and their home club’s and squash professionals we feel we can work together to propel our athletes to new levels of international excellence", said Squash Canada Performance Director, Jamie Hickox.

    The TID Program has produced squad athletes from 5 provinces / territories in Canada with athletes residing coast to coast.  In addition, to these junior aged named athletes, Squash Canada also recently named three junior aged athletes to senior high performance squads for meeting Squash Canada Performance Standards, they include:  18 year old David Baillargeon of Quebec City, QC (Men’s Transition Squad); 16 year old Chloe Chemtob of Montreal, QC (Women’s Transition Squad) and 18 year old Alyssa Mehta of Toronto who was recently named to Squash Canada’s (Senior Women’s High Performance Squad).

    Squash Canada Executive Director Danny Da Costa said, “we are encouraged by the development of our players across Canada.  The fact that we have athletes named from 6 different provinces is a testament to the great work being done by our coaches at the club and provincial level”. 

    The launch of the TID program comes on the heels of a cross-country tour by Squash Canada’s Performance Director Jamie Hickox who visited clubs and worked with all the best junior players in each provincial/territorial jurisdiction across Canada through the Centre of Excellence Program. 

    The selected athletes will receive the following benefits:
    1.        They will enjoy the prestige of being named as a national squash                    player of interest
    2.       They will receive advice and direction on career matters such as                       coaching, training and competition
    3.        They will have access to the Squash Canada Center of excellence                    program:
                   ·       They will have appropriate access to the COE – Toronto
                   ·       They will have access to the SC COE program through the                                   COE country wide HP tour
                   ·       It is in the plan to create COE TID Camps

    Young athletes were selected across Canada from the U13, U15, U17, U19 with members of the Squash Canada high performance community making recommendations.

    The 2014 – 2015 Female Talent Identification Squad members are:

    Name of Athlete City, Province Home Club Age Category
    Sophie Mehta Toronto, ON National Squash Academy U17 (16 years)
    Alison Richmond Toronto, ON Granite Club U19 (17 years)
    Madlen O'Connor Toronto, ON Granite Club U19 (17 years)
    Tara Shannon Calgary, AB Glencoe Club  U19 (17 years)

    Anika Alexander

    Winnipeg, MB Winnipeg Winter Club U19 (17 years)
    Grace Thomas Victoria, BC Cedar Hill Squash Club U17 (16 years)
    Nicole Kendall Newmarket, ON Mayfair Parkway U17 (15 years)
    Amy Commisso King, ON Executive Squash & Fitness U17 (15 years)
    Hannah Blatt Winnipeg, MB Winnipeg Winter Club U17 (15 years)
    Miriam Mansoor Richmond Hill, ON Executive Squash & Fitness U15 (14 years)
    Andrea Toth Richmond, BC Sport Central U15 (14 years)
    Emma Jinks Charlottetown, PE The Spa Fitness & Racquet U15 (14 years)
    Bethany Churchill Calgary, AB World Health Edgemont U15 (13 years)
    Charlotte Orcutt Toronto, ON Granite Club U15 (13 years)
    Marlow Benson Bolton, ON Executive Squash & Fitness U15 (13 years)
    Lucia Bicknell West Vancouver, BC Evergreen Squash Club U13 (12 years)

     

    The 2014-2015 Male Talent Identification Squad Members are:

    Name of Athlete City, Province Home Club Age Category
    Carter Robitaille Toronto, ON Mayfair Parkway U19 (17 years)
    Michael Thompson Vancouver, BC Jericho Tennis Club U19 (18 years)
    Alexi Gosset Toronto, ON Toronto Lawn Tennis Club U19 (17 years)
    Matthew Toth Richmond, BC Sport Central U17 (16 years)
    Akasham Rajagopaul Niagara Falls, ON The Club at White Oaks U17 (15 years)
    Michael Mehl Calgary, AB World Health Edgemont U17 (15 years)
    Husam Hamour Niagara Falls, ON The Club at White Oaks U17 (16 years)
    Brett Schille Calgary, AB Calgary Winter Club U17 (16 years)
    Matthew Henderson Victoria, BC Cedar Hill Squash Club U19 (17 years)
    Jackson Kay Toronto, ON National Squash Academy U15 (14 years)
    Justin Ghaeli Richmond Hill, ON Executive Squash & Fitness U15 (14 years)
    Julien Gosset Toronto, ON Toronto Lawn Tennis Club U15 (14 years)
    Ryan Picken Vancouver, BC Jericho Tennis Club U17 (15 years)
    James Flynn Toronto, ON Granite Club U15 (13 years)
    Neel Ismail Toronto, ON Mayfair Parkway U15 (13 years)
    Nikhil Ismail Toronto, ON Mayfair Parkway U13 (11 years)
    Abdelrahman Dweek Calgary, AB World Health Edgemont U13 (12 years)
    Dylan Deveril Cambridge, ON Kitchener-Waterloo Racquet U13 (12 years)
    John Dempsey Vancouver, BC Jericho Tennis Club U15 (13 years)

    For More Information Contact:
    Danny Da Costa
    Executive Director, Squash Canada
    Email: ddacosta@squash.ca