Canadian Nationals Preview
April 30, 2004 by Ryan Barnett, SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2004 

The city of Vancouver has new found reason to cheer. Despite their beloved Canucks bowing out in the first round of the NHL hockey playoffs the city now focuses on hosting the 2004 Canadian Squash Championships. The event runs from April 28th to May 1st and is taking place at West Vancouver's Hollyburn Country club.

Linda MacPhail the Executive Director for Squash Canada feels that the championships continue to get better and grow in stature with every passing year. She says. "For the third straight year we've had the benefit of showcasing our sport and world-class athletes on the WISPA all-glass court.

The Hollyburn club is absolutely fantastic, the view of the Rocky Mountains is breathtaking and the tournament committee has done a fabulous job of making this years championships a world class event."

Speaking of world-class, Jonathon Power, currently ranked #8 by the PSA will be looking for his sixth consecutive men's crown and as in past years will probably face his stiffest competition from either Graham Ryding or Shahier Razik. The dark horse, local favorite and if you're looking for someone who has the potential to upset, put your loonie(CDN dollar) on Victor Berg. I've always liked this guy and quite frankly, admire the way he plays the game.

On the women's side anything is possible. Melanie Jans and defending champion Marnie Baizley have assumed their traditional roles as the players to beat occupying the number 1 and 2 slots respectively. There will be added incentive for all the Sr. women players to perform well as MacPhail says there's more than just the championship on the line for these gals. MacPhail adds, "Four women will be selected to represent Canada at the upcoming Women's World Team Championships being held in the Netherland's later this year"

Having said this it will be very interesting to follow the progress of Ottawa's Runa Reta. Penn State's former captain and #1. is seeded in the number 5 slot. Reta appears ready to break-out and announce herself on the professional circuit having recently enjoyed international success. With a win here she will quickly establish herself as a new force in Canadian women's squash which should ensure her a spot on the world squad.

PRETENDER OR CONTENDER
It's semi-final Friday at the 2004 Canadian Squash Championships being held this week at Vancouver's Hollyburn club. Yes, the time is now and the opportunity is there for both Viktor Berg and Runa Reta to show that they are ready to step-out and establish themselves as the new challengers for Canadian squash supremacy.

Viktor Berg the crowd favorite and Richmond native has ridden the wave and will have a semi-final showdown with the "Maestro" himself. Not many will give him much of a chance against the great Jonathon Power but I will leave the comfort zone and say that an upset is possible. No, I haven't bumped my head recently I just know what Berg is capable of. You see last July my squad and I were doing our mandatory summer squash training at Calgary's World Health Club. It's just before the Pan Am games and who do I see on court honing his racket skills and fitness at altitude but Berg. I had the opportunity to see just how hard this guy works and how serious he is about the game. You see Berg had a strong desire to win Gold for his country (which he did) and was smart enough to realize what he needed to do to make it happen. While he was doing all this he was also dealing with a personnel tragedy that befell his significant other. This shows me just how mentally strong the man is. Enough of that, there's more. When JP broke his hand and finally was able to take to the squared box and hit again who do you think was on court with him? Berg. He's familiar with Jonathon's game and as we've all experienced it's a lot easier to raise your game and play your best squash when you're heading in as the underdog.

On the women's side we have a semi-final battle of the old versus the new. A changing of the guard perhaps? Ottawa's Runa Reta will get her chance against arguably one of Canada's best ever female squash players Melanie Jans. I say arguably as Heather Wallace's name must be mentioned whenever one talks about the best Canadian women squash players of all time. Anyways, Reta's time is now and Jans will have to rely on all of her experience and summon a masterful performance if she is to vanquish this young upstart.

Semi-final Line-up
Marnie Baizley(2) vs. Alana Miller(3) Friday 5PM Melanie Jans(1) vs. Runa
Reta(5) Friday 6PM Graham Ryding(2) vs. Shahier Razik(3) Friday 7PM Jonathon
Power(1) vs. Viktor Berg(4) Friday 8PM

Full tournament results available at:
http://www.squash.ca/canadianchampionships/2004/index.htm

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