Squash Yukon enjoyed smashing success at the Northwest Territories Squash Territorial Championships this past weekend. 

The tournament took place over five days, May 21-26, with the Yukon contingent competing May 24-26. 

Five athletes from the Yukon took part in the competition. They included head coach Gyanendra Singh, association president Stuart Macmillan, Charles Gagne, Remi Kulachkosky and Rennon Johnson. 

The Yukon Star spoke with Singh this morning. 

“It was amazing for our youth and the whole team,” related Singh.  “Everybody learned something there. And you can see the performance graph has improved for Squash Yukon. Out of five, four of us won the championship.” 

The other participant, Johnson, won the Consolation prize in the Mixed A category. 

Participants came from all over Canada, including from Quebec and Vancouver. More than 100 athletes participated in the tournament. 

“The club was really great,” said Singh. “The tournament was amazing. There was lots of competition and everybody had so much fun and challenge at the same time. We are happy we overcame those challenges and won the medals.” 

Singh described his and Macmillan’s victory in the doubles competition. Singh had played lots of doubles, but for Macmillan, this was a first. 

“He was kind of nervous, but he held himself well, and he’s a quick learner. It was amazing, playing with him. He’s a real team player.” 

Singh said because of the limited facilities in Whitehorse, they weren’t able to practice doubles. Despite that, according to Singh, Macmillan made some really good shots. 

“It was amazing. He was on top of everything.”

Singh said their first match was tough. “We were still trying to figure out what to do, how to play – front to back, side-to-side,  working on the different tactics and the strategy.” 

They came up with their strategy after the first match. “All the teams, they played side-to-side and we played with a different strategy, front and back. We won the first match by 3-0. Second match, we won by 2-1 and third match, our final match, we won by 3-1.”  

Kulachkosky, eight, was playing in the U11 Junior category. This was his first victory. 

“He was happy, excited,” said Singh. 

Singh said Kulachkosky has a “really good future” ahead of him. 

He also said the Yukon athletes made new friends. “I think they had the best time and they were saying ‘we’re going to come to this tournament every year.'”

Singh said Gagne was in a harder pool, the Mixed C category. Gagne’s first match was “super-easy, ” then he won his second match 3-1. His third match was the final. “This was not his day,” said Singh.

Gagne felt that he could have won the match. “But overall, he had so much fun,” Singh recalled. 

Singh said the club itself is pretty impressive. “They had a really nice squash court. Nice lounge area and the restaurant inside. The organization of the club was really amazing.” 

There are plans in place for an exchange program to take place in August between the Yukon and N.W.T. clubs. Yukon youth will go to Yellowknife to play, and the top two youth from N.W.T. will journey to Whitehorse. 

“This is good for them,” said Singh. “It’s like they’re making friends out of town and learning life through squash.” 

Singh said there are 20 to 25 people from Yellowknife interested in coming to play in the Yukon Open. 

“We’re super-excited. And maybe we can start a northern championship between Yellowknife and Whitehorse.” 

This was the first time the Yukon has taken part in the tournament since 2018. 

“Everybody’s pumped up for the next year, definitely,” said Singh. He expects a much larger contingent to take part next year, possibly 20 to 25 athletes. 

Singh added that the club will be running summer squash programs this year. They include summer league, box ladder, Thirsty Thursday and a youth program. 

Anyone wanting to try out squash can email Singh at coach@squashyukon.yk.ca or visit the Squash Yukon website at squashyukon.yk.ca or go to their Squash Yukon Facebook page. 

Here are the Yukon results from the N.W.T. Squash Territorial championship: 

Youth Junior – Winner : Remington Kulachkosky 

Mixed A – Consolation : Rannon Johnson

Mixed C – Winner : Charles Gagne

Doubles – Winner : Gyanendra Singh/Stuart Macmillan