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Evergreen ready to squash cancer

Four top pros coming to North Shore for charity tournament
squash
Samantha Cornett, Canada's top-ranked squash player, takes a shot during the U.S. Open. She'll headline the Evergreen Squashes Cancer tournament this week along with former world No. 1 Rachel Grinham from Australia.

The annual New Year's pro tournament at North Vancouver's Evergreen Squash Club may not be as grand as it once was but that doesn't mean it's any less significant to the club's members.

In fact, the tournament probably means a whole lot more now that it's been re-branded Evergreen Squashes Cancer. The club has been hit hard by cancer, first with the death of 10-year-old junior member Safiya Mawani in 2012 and then with the loss of powerhouse organizer Paul Marley last year.

It was Marley's tireless efforts as tournament chairman that grew the annual Comfort Inn Open into one of the biggest squash tournaments in Canada, featuring top-ranked professionals from around the world. Marley had a knack for rallying support for the event and drumming up the sponsorship money needed to put it on.

"Everyone knew Paul and everyone liked Paul. He's missed, for sure," said club head pro Phil Arthur. "He had so much enthusiasm and drive and love for the sport. He was so dedicated to making that tournament work. He put in so many hours."

This year's tournament, the first since Marley's death last March, may be smaller but there's still star power, headlined by Australia's Rachel Grinham, a former world No. 1 who is currently No. 13.

"She's pretty much a legend," Arthur said of the 2007 World Open champion. "She's amazing." Grinham will be joined by three other top-50 female pros, including Canada's No. 1 player Samantha Cornett, in a round robin tournament that will run for four days starting Thursday and culminating in a 3 p.m. final on Sunday.

The tournament will also feature an amateur event boasting more than 100 top local players.

The club is hoping to raise $20,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society through ticket sales and donations. One anonymous club member has already pledged to match any online donations if the total reaches $5,000 or more - it's already up past $4,000, said Arthur.

For tournament updates and ticket information visit evergreensquash.com.

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The Evergreen Squash Club is also celebrating the accomplishments of one of its junior players. West Vancouver's Lucia Bicknell, 12, beat top players from around North America and beyond to win the U13 division at the Canadian Junior Open in late 2014. She followed that up with an appearance in the semifinals at the U.S. Junior Open and this week is competing in the premier junior event in the world, the British Junior Open.

"(She's) powerful, determined, fast, competitive," said Arthur, her coach at the club. "She has very good physical skills and is mentally strong for her age."