Valley will be well represented in Canada Games squash team
The Valley will be well represented when Nova Scotia competes in squash during the second week of the Canada Winter Games later this month in Prince George, B.C.
The Nova Scotia team will consist of four males and four females, with a male and a female alternate who would only make the trip in the event of illness or injury.
Three of the Nova Scotia athletes are from the Kings County Squash Club in Kentville – Nick Sangster from Hantsport and siblings Taylor and Douglas Kosciukiewicz of Canaan.
In addition, Janet MacLeod of New Minas is the Team Nova Scotia head coach.
All three local athletes attend Horton. Sangster, 17, is in Grade 12. Taylor, aged 16, is in Grade 11, while her brother Douglas, 14, is in Grade 10.
Douglas, in his third year playing squash, completed at nationals last year and has also taken part in some international competitions. Taylor also completed at nationals in 2014.
“Nick is our team captain,” MacLeod said. “Douglas is playing number one for the men, and Taylor is number three -a strong number three - on the women’s team.”
Douglas said he is “taking the sport seriously. It’s a lot of fun.” He used to play hockey at the bantam AAA level, but now is concentrating solely on squash.
Asked what he likes about the sport, he said, “there’s really nothing I can put my finger on. I like tricking people, and breaking their concentration.”
Douglas will also be eligible to compete for Nova Scotia again in 2019.
“I’m still trying to find my game. It’s still evolving,” he said.
Taylor is looking forward to competing for her province.
“I’m excited,” she said – “in fact, we’re all pretty excited.”
Taylor also has trouble pinpointing her favorite part of squash.
“I find it addictive. No matter whether you win or lose, there’s always something more to shoot for. I like improving my game, and I’m really looking forward to the experience.”
Sangster, who has been playing the sport for two years now, described his game as “speed-oriented – running and hitting. I like how it’s a one-on-one sport,” he said. “Even though you’re part of a team, it’s just you.”
A fourth Valley athlete, Brianna Hamilton of Grafton, was also part of the Canada Games core team and tryout process. She is the Nova Scotia female alternate.
MacLeod confirmed the men’s team is seeded 10th going into the Games, while the women’s team are eighth.
“The men have a relative goal of finishing top-eight. For the women, I can see them improving their seeding going in. Seventh would be great, really awesome,” MacLeod said.
“(It was) very satisfying to have three of the Canada Games team from here. They’ve all worked very hard, and they’re all great kids, very coachable.”