Submitted by editor on Tue, 2016-09-27 16:24

As the 2016-17 squash season swings into action, Squash Canada has named twenty-one (21) athletes to its 2016-17 National Team Program (NTP).

Named on a one-year basis, the NTP is comprised of two squads, the High Performance (HP) Squad and the Transition Squad. NTP squad athletes work to achieve top performances in Canada and internationally. Through the NTP, national team athletes are selected to represent Canada at international competitions such as the World Team Championships, Pan American Games and the Commonwealth Games.

2016-17 Squash Canada National Team Program Squads

*(P): Transition - Professional

*(A): Transition - Amateur

“Building on the success of our athletes at the 2015 Pan Am Games, Squash Canada’s National Team Program has been revamped this past year. We’ve looked at how we can create a program that further supports and develops Canadian squash players to achieve international success” said Squash Canada’s Performance Director, Jamie Hickox. “The 21 athletes named to the NTP squads this year display the talent, skill and passion to excel on the international stage.”

The objective of the HP Squad is to prepare Canadian athletes to achieve the pinnacle of Canadian and international squash success. HP Squad athletes are fully committed to achieving the necessary performance standards and training schedule to represent Canada in major international competitions. Once named to the HP Squad, athletes are required to achieve measures of success throughout the year to maintain their HP Squad status.

The NTP Transition squad aims to prepare the next generation of Canadian athletes to achieve High Performance Squad criteria and inclusion. Transition Squad athletes are those fully committed to achieving the necessary performance standards and training schedule to make the High Performance squad and to represent Canada in major international competitions.

New to the NTP is the classification of the Transition Squad athletes as Professional or Amateur. Athletes who are Transition – Professional are those athletes who are actively pursuing a professional career by competing in Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournaments. Transition – Amateur are those athletes who are concentrating on their studies with no present intention to compete in PSA tournaments. A Transition Squad athlete must compete in four (4) PSA events each calendar year to be considered Transition – Professional.

For more information on Squash Canada’s National Team Program Squad Eligibility and Selection Criteria policies, visit: http://squash.ca/en/selection-criteria

ABOUT SQUASH CANADA

Founded in 1915, Squash Canada is a non-profit, national sport governing body responsible for the development of athletes, coaches and officials and sets the standards for Canadian squash. Squash Canada is a proud member of the Pan-American and World Squash Federations and participates in the Pan-American Championships, Commonwealth & Pan-Am Games as well as World Championships at the junior and senior level. Each year Squash Canada hosts nine national championships across the country and works with its provincial and territorial partners to promote the growth and development of squash across the country. For more information, please visit www.squash.ca

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For more information:

Britany Gordon

Programs Manager, Squash Canada

(613) 228-7724 x202

britany.gordon@squash.ca