Author name: Marie-Michèle Trudel

TORONTO (August 30, 2023) – Squash Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s squash team nominated to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Team Canada’s squash team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games is:

Athletes

David Baillargeon (Montreal, Que.)

Nicole Bunyan (Victoria, B.C.)

George Crowne (Oakville, Ont.)

Danielle Letourneau (Calgary, Alta.)

Hollie Naughton (Mississauga, Ont.)

Graeme Schnell (Calgary, Alta.)

The six athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their Professional Squash Association (PSA) Rankings, their recent head-to-head results, and/or their performances at previous Pan American Games and Championships.

On the women’s side, history-maker and four-time national champion Hollie Naughton leads the team at number 19 in the world on the PSA rankings. These will be the third Pan American Games for Naughton, who was part of the silver medal team at Toronto 2015 and was Canada’s first double medallist at Lima 2019 where she won bronze in both women’s singles and mixed doubles. In 2022, she made history as the first Canadian woman to win a Commonwealth Games medal in squash. She claimed silver in women’s singles in Birmingham where she also served as Canada’s Closing Ceremony flag bearer.

Naughton is joined by former world number 18 and two-time national champion Danielle Letourneau, who captured silver in women’s doubles in her Pan American Games debut at Lima 2019. Rounding out the women’s team is world number 45 Nicole Bunyan, who is competing at her first Pan Am Games and her second major multi-sport Games after representing Canada at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

On the men’s side, Canada’s top-ranked David Baillargeon heads to the Pan Am Games for the first time, but is no stranger to international competition. The three-time national champion has competed in the Pan American Junior and Senior Squash Championships, the 2022 World Games and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He also has six PSA Tour titles to his name.

“I’m incredibly happy and proud to be representing Canada at the Pan Am Games in Santiago,” said Baillargeon. “It will be my first Pan Am Games but I’ve followed closely the last two editions and I saw how a great performance there could potentially be a career-defining moment. Representing Canada is always an honour and I’m ready to leave it all on the court for my country. I can’t wait to get started!”

Joining Baillargeon is Graeme Schnell, who won gold with the men’s team and silver in men’s doubles at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, as well as George Crowne, who will make his Pan Am Games debut at Santiago 2023.

Manager of Athlete Development Samantha Cornett is well aware of the potential of Canada’s squash team.

“Our team is deep with experience and knows how to medal,” said Cornett. “Canada’s squash athletes will be looking to bring home golds in Santiago for Canada. Our top athletes will be well into the 2023-24 season and ready for the Games. On behalf of Squash Canada, we are thrilled to be supporting this talented group and look forward to seeing what they can accomplish together.” 

The Canadian squash team qualified for the Santiago Games at the 2023 Pan American Championships in Cartagena, Colombia in June. At those championships, Canada took home gold in the women’s singles event, gold in the mixed doubles event, and silver in the women’s team event. The squash team will be on the hunt to add to the medal count for Team Canada in Santiago.

“Squash Canada is excited and looking forward to watching our team in action during the upcoming 2023 Pan American Games being held in Santiago, Chile,” added Sandra Thompson, President of Squash Canada. “We have a history of doing well in these Games and are confident we will have another great showing. It is always a great pleasure and honour for our athletes to represent us internationally, especially at such a large multisport event.”

Squash will take place October 31 to November 5 (Days 11 to 16) at the Estadio Nacional.

“Racquets ready, hearts determined – Team Canada’s squash team is a powerhouse mix of experienced medallists and promising rookies,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. “I’m honoured to lead this exceptional team and I have no doubt that their performance will inspire us all and make Canada proud. And don’t be surprised if they squash the competition!”

Team Canada’s squash team alternates and coaches for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Alternate Athletes

Liam Marrison (Markham, Ont.) – Alternate Athlete (Non-Travelling)

Iman Shaheen (Ottawa, Ont.) – Alternate Athlete (Non-Travelling)

Brett Schille (Calgary, Alta.) – Alternate Athlete (Non-Travelling)

Nikole Todd (Regina, Sask.) – Alternate Athlete (Non-Travelling)

Coaches

Yvon Provencal (Montreal, Que.) – Coach

Graeme Williams  (Windsor, Ont.) – Coach

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.

The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Emily Hall, Programs and Communications Coordinator

Squash Canada

C: 289-556-6660

E: emily.hall@squash.ca  

Tara MacBournie, Team Canada Santiago 2023 Sport Communications Lead

Canadian Olympic Committee

C: 647-522-8328

E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca

Léo Roberge-Crovatto reçoit une bourse de 1 500$ de la Fondation Nordiques.

Voir le Communiqué de presse du 19 juin 2023.

Impressive performances at the legendary Montreal Forum

Montreal, May 11, 2023 – An emblematic venue for sport in the city, the Montreal Forum is currently hosting the best athletes in the country as part of the Canadian Squash Championships. The matches take place on a magnificent glass court (PowerCourt), from May 10 to 14. As the metropolis hosts the important meeting for the first time in 25 years, Montrealer David Baillargeon and Torontonian Hollie Naughton are notably in the game and ready to defend their national title acquired last year. Ranked 18th in the world, Naughton made Commonwealth Games history by becoming the first Canadian squash player to win a silver medal last summer in Birmingham. As for Baillargeon, 52nd on the international chessboard, he will try to win his third national crown in a row. Also in action, Shawn Delierre is entering his 23rd year as a pro. Canadian champion in 2013 and 2014 as well as six-time medalist at the Pan American Games, the Montrealer is undeniably an emblematic figure of squash in the country.

The semi-final matches will be presented on Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. while the finals will take place on Sunday, at 1 p.m. for women and at 1:45 p.m. on the men’s side. Media are invited to come and cover the event on site. In addition, all of these matches will be webcast by RDS and CBS Sports.

The Canadian Championships are made possible thanks to Squash Canada, Club Atwater and Squash Québec, as well as the support of key partners such as the City of Montreal, the clubs of Midtown Sanctuaire and McGill University. In fact, the entire Greater Montreal squash community rallies around the event to offer athletes and fans an unforgettable experience and allow the discipline to shine. The schedule, tables and results are available on the website of Squash Canada. -30- For interview requests: Anne-Frédérique Bayard Development and Communication agent Fédération des sports à quatre murs 514-971-0542 anne-fred.bayard@sports-4murs.qc.ca

Squash – Championnat du monde

Montréal, 5 mai 2023 (Sportcom) – David Baillargeon a perdu son match de premier tour du Championnat du monde de squash, jeudi, à Chicago. Opposé à la 12e raquette mondiale, l’Égyptien Fares Dessouky, le Québécois s’est incliné 11-8, 11-7 et 11-6. Baillargeon, 52e au monde, savait que la commande était grosse face à cet adversaire, dixième tête de série du tournoi et contre qui il jouait pour une première fois. « Je n’étais pas le favori. J’ai déjà eu une victoire contre un joueur du top-15 mondial, mais lui, il était une coche au-dessus », a reconnu l’athlète originaire de Lévis au lendemain de l’affrontement qui a duré 36 minutes. « Ça reste une bonne expérience et ce n’était pas mon meilleur match ni mon pire. » « J’aurais pensé peut-être lui prendre une manche. Il y a eu des moments cruciaux dans les première et deuxième manches, mais je n’ai pas réussi à monter mon niveau de jeu quand il l’a fait. C’est là que j’aurais pu lui faire mal et semer le doute chez lui. »Il s’agissait d’une deuxième participation aux mondiaux seniors pour le Québécois. À l’édition 2022 présentée au Caire, le joueur de 27 ans avait perdu contre un autre Égyptien, Mazen Hesham, également au premier tour. « C’est facile au squash que le pointage reste égal jusqu’à 7-7 ou 8-8, mais c’est en fin de partie que la meilleure personne va gagner les trois derniers points. Tout le monde est fatigué et c’est plus dur de se concentrer, ce qui te fait retomber dans tes vieilles habitudes. C’est comme ça le squash. […] Le but, c’est d’être capable de rivaliser avec lui quand il augmente son niveau de jeu. » David Baillargeon sera de retour à Montréal prochainement afin de prendre part aux Championnats canadiens qui s’amorceront dans les jours à venir.

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Rédaction : Mathieu Laberge Information : 514-990-0966 ou 1-866-990-0966 www.sportcom.ca

We need your help to make the 2023 Canadian Squash Championships a success! The championships will be mainly held at the Atwater Club, the Montreal Forum, McGill University, and the Midtown Sanctuary from May 6th to 14th. 

If you’re interested, please fill out the following form: https://urlz.fr/lxEb 

Attention to tournament players: don’t hesitate to give your name and we will accommodate your match schedule and availability. Junior players are also welcome !