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, Ontario National Squash Academy U17 (16 years)
Alison Richmond Toronto, Ontario Granite Club U19 (17 years)
Madlen O’Connor Toronto, Ontario Granite Club U19 (17 years)
Tara Shannon Calgary, Alberta Glencoe Club U19 (17 years)
Annika Alexander Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Winter Club U19 (17 years)
Grace Thomas Victoria, British Columbia Cedar Hill Squash Club U17 (16 years)
Nicole Kendall Newmarket, Ontario Mayfair Parkway U17 (15 years)
Amy Commisso King, Ontario Executive Squash & Fitness U17 (15 years)
Hannah Blatt Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Winter Club U17 (15 years)
Miriam Mansoor Richmond Hill, Ontario Executive Squash & Fitness U15 (14 years)
Andrea Toth Richmond, British Columbia Sports Central U15 (14 years)
Emma Jinks Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island The Spa Fitness & Racquet U15 (14 years)
Bethany Churchill Calgary, Alberta World Health Edgemont U15 (13 years)
Charlotte Orcutt Toronto, Ontario Granite Club U15 (13 years)
Marlow Benson Bolton, Ontario Executive Squash & Fitness U15 (13 years)
Lucia Bicknell West Vancouver, British Columbia 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, Ontario Mayfair Parkway U19 (17 years)
Michael Thompson Vancouver, British Columbia Jericho Tennis Club U19 (18 years)
Alexi Gosset Toronto, Ontario Toronto Lawn Tennis Club U19 (17 years)
Matthew Toth Richmond, British Columbia Sport Central U17 (16 years)
Akasham Rajagopaul Niagara Falls, Ontario The Club @ White Oaks U17 (15 years)
Michael Mehl Calgary, Alberta World Health Edgemont U17 (15 years)
Husam Hamour Niagara Falls, Ontario The Club @ White Oaks U17 (16 years)
Brett Schille Calgary, Alberta Calgary Winter Club U17 (16 years)
Matthew Henderson Victoria, British Columbia Cedar Hill Squash Club U19 (17 years)
Jackson Kay Toronto, Ontario National Squash Academy U15 (14 years)
Justin Ghaeli Richmond Hill, Ontario Executive Squash & Fitness U15 (14 years)
Julien Gosset Toronto, Ontario Toronto Lawn Tennis Club U19 (17 years)
Ryan Picken Vancouver, British Columbia Jericho Tennis Club U17 (15 years)
James Flynn Toronto, Ontario Granite Club U15 (13 years)
Neel Ismail Toronto, Ontario Mayfair Parkway U15 (13 years)
Nikhil Ismail Toronto, Ontario Mayfair Parkway U13 (11 years)
Abdelrahaman Dweek Calgary, Alberta World Health Edgemont U13 (12 years)
Dylan Deveril Cambridge, Ontario Kitchener-Waterloo Racquet U13 (12 years)
John Dempsey Vancouver, British Columbia Jericho Tennis Club U15 (13 years)
Post Courtesy, Squash Canada. View original article here.