Squash Competition Set to Start Sunday at 2019 Canada Winter Games

Ottawa, ON, February 20, 2019 – 92 junior squash athletes are making final preparations to compete at the 2019 Canada Winter Games being held in Red Deer, Alberta when the squash competition gets underway this Sunday February 24^th, 2019.  Squash is part of 19 sports in the Games that run from Friday February 15^th to Sunday March 3^rd with up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches.

Ottawa, ON, February 20, 2019 – 92 junior squash athletes are making final preparations to compete at the 2019 Canada Winter Games being held in Red Deer, Alberta when the squash competition gets underway this Sunday February 24^th, 2019.  Squash is part of 19 sports in the Games that run from Friday February 15^th to Sunday March 3^rd with up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches.

The Games kicked off last Friday February 15^th with a festive, cultural and musical Opening Ceremonies and has been going strong ever since with 10 sports being contested during Week One.  Squash will join nine other sports during Week Two and will be part of the Closing Ceremonies on Saturday March 2^nd that will be cap off this once in a lifetime experience.

Squash will once again feature both a team and individual competition.  The individual competition will consist of a boys and girls 16-person draw with the highest ranked player from each Province/Territory receiving an automatic entry and the remaining positions filled at-large with the next highest ranked players (note that each Province/Territory may only have a maximum two players in the draw). 

The team competition will consist of 4-person boys’ and girls’ teams, each comprised of at least two players aged under 17, the others up to U19.  Teams are placed in two pools for a round-robin competition (all play all) within their pool and then conclude with a playoff format (cross-over encounters between the pools) resulting in a final ranking of all teams.

Leading the way is Team Ontario, who are seeded number one in the both team events as well as Liam Marrison and Charlotte Orcutt in their respective individual events.  In addition, Ontario qualified for a second entry in both individual categories with Neel Ismail seeded boys’ number two and Brianna Jefferson seeded girls ‘number three.  Team Ontario will be looking for Gold in all categories but will face stiff competition. 

In the team event, Team British Columbia and Team Alberta are seeded number two and three seeds respectively in both boys and girls as they aim for glory.  In the individual competition Nova Scotia’s Doug Kosciukiewicz (boys 3^rd seed), Sam Scivier (boys 4^th seed) and Lucia Bicknell (girls 2^nd seed) both from British Columbia and Alberta’s Bethany Churchill (girls 4^th seed) will look to upset the top seeds to bring home the gold. 

Want to watch the event….no problem!  As a benefit of the Games, the sport of squash will be showcased daily via the Canada Games live streaming portal.  This amazing opportunity will showcase the amazing skills of our athletes to interested viewers across Canada and allow family and friends to check in on their junior stars progress.  For a complete streaming schedule and to watch live please visit https://canadagames.live/squash.

In addition, squash has been awarded the rare opportunity to be televised as part of TSN’s coverage of the Games.  On Friday March 1^st, TSN will broadcast the Singles Final at 10pm on TSN2 so set your PVR’s for a chance to watch.  Defending Canadian Men’s champion, Andrew Schnell, will be providing the commentary.  For the complete TSN broadcast schedule please visit here.

“The Canada Games is a unique multi-sport Games experience for rising Canadian stars in their sport and province or territory”, explained Squash Canada Executive Director, Dan Wolfenden.  “If you asked anyone who has competed in a previous Games, they will inevitably tell you it was one of the highlights of their squash career.  As a player development experience, the Games and the preparation leading up to them are such an inspiring and important part of the athlete development pathway.  Most of our current national team players have benefitted from a Canada Games experience.”

Information about the squash draw, schedule and results can be found as follows:

• Squash Canada Live Scoring: Click Here
  • To access please use – COMING SOON
• Draws/Schedules:
  • Individuals Tournament
  • Teams Pool Play
  • Teams Playoffs
     

Follow along with the 2019 Canada Games via the Squash Information Page and Squash Results

Social Media:

• Facebook & Instagram: @squashcanada
• Twitter: @squashcanada #CGSquash

Statement from Sandra Thompson, Squash Sport Tech Rep (2019 Canada Winter Games):

"Squash Canada is very proud to be part of the 2019 Red Deer Canada Winter Games. Our athletes have been working hard for years in preparation for the privilege of representing their provinces and territories. It will be especially exciting for these young athletes to compete at the beautiful, state of the art Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at Red Deer College. We are looking forward to a great event and appreciate all the hard work that makes the Canada Winter Games such an outstanding experience for our young athletes."