Yes, it’s that time of year again when we would like to welcome everyone across New Brunswick to the 2005-2006 Squash Season, and to wish you all a great squash year, full of good fun and healthy competition.

In writing this message, I admit I peeked back at Wayne Gallant’s message from last year to see how it’s done. I quickly decided the best place to start would be to thank Wayne for all the work he did last year as our association’s President before he had the opportunity to relocate back to St. John’s, Newfoundland. Thank you, Wayne, we’ll be building on your leadership and initiatives from last season, wish you all the best, and look forward to seeing you on the courts the next time you’re back this way.

One of the main objectives from last season was to broaden representation on Squash NB’s Executive. Well, we’ve done that. Volunteer board members have been coming out of the squash courts and into the meeting rooms; we are now very well represented from all of the larger squash centres in the province. This is a just a start, however, and we’d welcome anyone who would like to contribute their time. We have many tasks ahead, and we hope we can count on your help to continue the momentum created in season ’04-’05.

A lot of good news came out of Squash New Brunswick last year that we hope to build on this year. First and foremost was the increased participation at every one of our sanctioned tournaments. This can only mean that there’s a squash “buzz” going through the clubs and around the province that is bringing new people to the sport, former players back, and a growth spurt that we haven’t seen in some years. Most pleasing among all these fun and competitive events was the more than significant increase in women and juniors’ divisions. Congratulations to all participants. Thank you for supporting the efforts of your squash clubs, and traveling to any out-of-town ‘road’ tournaments you were able to attend.

Let’s not stop here. Let’s keep growing. So, I’m going to ask every one of you to attend, if you can, one more event this year than you did last season. My challenge; your contribution.

What else did we accomplish? Quickly? We contributed to the funding of the Men and Women’s teams to the Canadian Squash Team Championships in NS and PEI, respectively; sent Allan Reid from Moncton to Campbellton to provide Squash Instructor Level I training to nine new volunteer instructors; have two accomplished players pursuing their Level II and III coaching certification, and have identified a new Head Coach for the upcoming Canada Games team.  We hosted Squash Canada’s Kevin Doucet while he spent a week in the province giving classes to university students, juniors, women, and squash instructors; put George Boone to work by asking him to give the first level of referee training to twelve squash keeners; we’ve thrown support behind a jumpstart to junior programs in both Moncton and Campbellton; and, along with a NB referee, we helped send our Men’s NB Closed champion, Bernie Reid, to the Canadian National Squash Championships.

On top of all these positive developments, kudos go to the gang in Moncton who, this May 14^th, opened up New Brunswick’s newest three glass-backed courts in an excellent squash-only facility at the former Dud James Arena at the corner of Limerick Street and Lockhart Avenue (entrance off Lockhart Avenue). It’s a gem; be sure to check it out the next time you’re in town.  A big thanks goes to the City of Moncton for throwing their support behind this project.

Is squash alive and well in New Brunswick? You bet your Ashaway strings!!

This squash season promises to be one of the best we’ve had in recent years. As president, I look forward to seeing you on the courts. Get out there, enter those ladders, leagues, and tournaments, meet some new friends, and beat ‘em!!

Liam McGuigan

Squash NB President