Eight of B.C.'s top juniors were chosen by Squash BC to represent the sport and the province of British Columbia at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta. from Feb. 15 to March 3.

"Selection for the Canada Games squash team was extremely competitive," said Kevin Inouye, coach for the B.C. squash team. "It is heartbreaking to watch so many strong athletes compete for a place on the team and fall just short of their goals and dreams. The depth of squash players in B.C. is continually improving, some of our youngest players challenged for a place on the 2019 Games team. "

Five of B.C.'s eight-member squash team are junior athletes from the City of Richmond.

Gabriel Yun, 15, from Sport Central (West Coast Squash Academy), will be hoping to repeat his first place performance from the 2018 Canadian Junior National Squash Championships.

James Toth, 16, a J.N. Burnett Secondary student, earned second place at the B.C. Provincials U17 category last year.

Sarah Cao, 15, trains at the River Club and is a Magee Secondary School student. Cao competed at the 2018 Junior Pan American Games and earned second place at the U15 Canadian Junior Nationals last year.

She is joined by her sister, Cindy Cao, 17, who trains at the River Club. Cindy will be entering the multi-sport Games competition with a fourth place finish from the highly competitive Canadian Junior Nationals and a sixth place from the Canadian Junior Open last year.

Quan Ng, 17, also from Sport Central, garnered a second place finish at last year's B.C. Provincials U17 category. Ng is also a J.N. Burnett Secondary School student.

From the North Shore are siblings Lucia and Matt Bicknell were chosen for Team BC.
Lucia Bicknell, 16, is a two-time Canadian champion, trains at the Evergreen Squash Club and is a Rockridge Secondary School student. She will be looking to repeat her 2018 first place winning performance from the Canadian Nationals in U15 and U13 categories.
Matt Bicknell, 17, also from the Evergreen Squash Club, is a student at Rockridge Secondary School student and earned first place at Alberta Jesters U17 event in 2017.

Rounding out the 2019 Games is Vancouver's Sam Scivier, 18, from the Jericho Tennis Club. In 2017, Scivier secured two championship crowns from his performance at the 2017 U19 B.C. Junior Open and the 2017 B.C. Junior Closed U17. The 11-year squash veteran currently attends the University of Birmingham.

The Canada Games are held every two years in Canada, alternating between the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games and is considered the single largest multi sport games in Canada. Athletes are strictly amateur only and represent their province or territory.

For more information contact: 

Judy Joseph Black
Team BC Communications Manager
BC Games Society
E: judyjb@bcgames.org  
W: 250-356-8765