Lucas Punkari
After a humble beginning in 1987, the annual Boxing Day men’s squash tournament at the Memorial Sports Centre has become an event that fills up well in advance of the first match.
“When we first started out, there were probably just six, eight, or 10 guys that just played together regularly who took part,” noted event organizer and competitor Bob Tkachuk.
“But now, it’s grown to 24 guys and a lot of that growth comes from the ex-junior players or guys that have come home for the holidays,” he said.
“Probably half of the draw is made up of those guys.”
This year’s tournament, which will run Wednesday from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., features the most entries in its history with 24 players taking part, with the list itself being filled in record time.
“We usually aren’t filled up early like this,” Tkachuk admitted.
“Last year, we had 22 guys, which was the most that we have ever had up to that point, but we really can’t take any more that 24 players.
“Otherwise, it turn into a marathon instead of a squash tournament,” he joked.
Defending champ Anniss Seid, who currently is attending school in Winnipeg, will be back to try and win a second-straight crown.
But he’ll be in tough as Ben Andrusco, Jason Kabel, Steve Krag, and Steve Boileau are among those gunning to dethrone him.
“Since a lot of the younger guys won’t be able to take part in the Wesley Derksen LL.B. Squash Open in January, this is the big event of the year for them,” Tkachuk explained.
“And with the field that is going to be here on Boxing Day, [it] will make this just as tough an event as the one you’ll see here next month,” he added.
