Canadian squash teams from every province and territory are getting ready to join thousands of athletes in Red Deer, Alberta, for the Canada Winter Games. The squash portion of the multi-sport event kicks off this Sunday with individual and team matches taking place over the course of a week. The Canada Winter Games happens every 4 years and is the opportunity of a lifetime for these athletes to represent their province amongst 18 other sports. Team Ontario is entering the event as number one seeds in the Men’s & Women’s team events, as well as both individual draws, with Liam Marrison and Charlotte Orcutt as favourites to win.
Orcutt and Marrison will be joined by coaches Allan Cook and Tara Mullins and teammates Brianna Jefferson, Salma Mounir, and Molly Chadwick on the girls side and Neel and Nikhil Ismail, and Dylan Deverill for the boys. These athletes were the top ranked players in the U19 and U17 age groups after competing in a series of selection events.
Action kicks off on February 24th where our Men’s team will face off against Team Manitoba and the women doing battle against Quebec. https://canadagames.live/squash
Lots of media attention will be following the team throughout this event including live streaming of the tournament. TSN's live coverage of the individual finals on Friday, March 1st at 8:00 pm EST.
GOOD LUCK to TEAM O and BRING HOME THE GOLD!
TEAM ONTARIO
CHARLOTTE ORCUTT (ONTARIO #1)
Home Club: Mayfair Lakeshore and the Toronto Athletic Club
About: Charlotte has won three national titles (2016, 2017, 2018), was the 2018 finalist in the Canadian Junior Open and finished 11/12 in the 2018 US Junior Open. She has won numerous provincial and regional titles (Alberta Jesters-2018, Windsor Gold Core u19- 2016), and has competed in the World Juniors in New Zealand in 2016.
BRIANNA JEFFERSON (ONTARIO #2)
Home Club: Terry Fox Community Centre
About: Brianna started playing squash at 11 years old at the Mississauga Valley Community Centre, after her father introduced her to the sport. Some of her notable finishes from 2018 include placing 4th at Nationals, 3rd at Provincials and 3rd at the Canadian Junior Open. She has also represented Canada twice at Battle of the Border.
MOLLY CHADWICK (ONTARIO #4)
Home Club: Granite Club
About: Molly has been a national champion twice now (2016 & 2018), is a 2017 Canadian Junior Open finalist, a 3rd place finisher at the 2018 Canadian Junior Open and a 2018 Under 19 Provincial Champion at age 15.
SALMA MOUNIR (ONTARIO #9)
Home Club: Ontario Racquet Club
About: Salma’s accomplishments are a two-time national champion in 2017 (Open and Closed), previous provincial champion and Ontario Winter Games gold medalist.
LIAM MARRISON (ONTARIO #4)
Home Club: Mayfair Parkway/Western University
About: Liam is a previous Canadian Championship Finalist and runner up at the German Open. He is now playing on the varsity men’s squash team at Western University.
NEEL ISMAIL (ONTARIO #6)
Home Club: Granite Club
About: Neel is a previous national champion.
NIKHIL ISMAIL (ONTARIO #10)
Home Club: Granite Club
About: Nikhil is a two-time national champion, four-time provincial champion, made it to the round of 16 at the US Junior Open, and a quarter-finalist at the Dutch Junior Open. Nikhil has been playing squash since he was 9 years old, and now trains with coach Greg Hutner.
DYLAN DEVERILL (ONTARIO #11)
Home Club: Kitchener-Waterloo Racquet Club
About: Dylan’s notable finishes include five-time provincial champion wins, one national championship win, a national finalist and second place at the Dutch Junior Open, 3rd place at the Pioneer Cup, and 5th place at the US Junior Open.
COACH AL COOK
Home Club: Ontario Racquet Club
About: Al is a Provincial level coach and the head squash professional at the Ontario Racquet Club. This is Al's 4th time coaching at the Canada Winter Games. He coached Team Northwest Territories in 2007 and 2011, and helped secure a Gold and Silver medal for Team Ontario in 2015.
COACH TARA MULLINS
Home Club: GoodLife McCaul
About: Tara is a Provincial level coach and the Director of Squash at GoodLife Fitness Clubs. Tara played for Ontario on the 1995 CWG team in Grande Prairie and has represented Ontario and Canada in the past, as well as participated on the PSA tour.