Champions Rise and Fall

January 16, 2005

Some National Champions won, and some fell on the final day of the Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event for doubles in Calgary at the Fish Creek Club.

Mike Green (Hannon, ON), current National Champion in singles and doubles, and his partner Brain Valin (Oshawa, ON) won the men's compeition by beating Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON) and Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON), 16-14, 15-8.

A round robin format was used between the four quarter finalists. Green and Valin won by beating all the other teams.

In the match that dertermined second place, hometown boy Brian Istace (Calgary) and Kris Odegard (Saskatoon, SK) defeated Vincent Gagnon (Montreal) and François Viens (Montreal), 15-11, 11-15, 11-3.

In women's competition, however, there was an upset as the National Champions Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) lost to the Calgary pairing of Lori-Jane Powell and Julie Neubauer, 15-6, 15-8. It's the first time in more than a year that Grand'Maître and Saunders have lost.

They faced Powell and Neubauer in last year's National Championship final and the 2004 doubles team selection event, and both times Grand'Maître and Saunders prevailed. But not on Sunday.

Powell is the current National Champion in singles, so most of the serves and play went to Neubauer, who was up to the task.

These results will be combined with those from the 2004 National Championships to select the players for the Pan American Championships in Venezuela in March.

RESULTS SUMMARY

MEN'S 1-4 PLAYOFF

Mike Green (Hannon, ON) & Brian Valin (Oshawa, ON) d. Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON) & Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON), 16-14, 15-8.
Brian Istace (Calgary) & Kris Odegard (Saskatoon, SK) d. Vincent Gagnon (Montreal) & François Viens (Montreal), 15-11, 11-15, 11-3.

MEN'S 5-8 PLAYOFF

Jason Pate (Calgary) & Jason Ully (Lethbridge, AB) d. Tim Landeryou (Saskatoon, SK) & Scott Linaker (Calgary), injury forfeit.
Mike McPhee (Calgary) & Bill Shepley (Calgary) d. Ryan Powell (Calgary) & Paul Albert (Calgary), injury forfeit.

MEN'S FINAL STANDINGS

1. Mike Green (Hannon, ON) & Brian Valin (Oshawa, ON)
2. Brian Istace (Calgary) & Kris Odegard (Saskatoon, SK)
3. Vincent Gagnon (Montreal) & Francois Viens (Montreal)
4. Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON) & Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON)
5. Tim Landeryou (Saskatoon, SK) & Scott Linaker (Calgary)
6. Mike McPhee (Calgary) & Bill Shepley (Calgary)
7. Ryan Powell (Calgary) & Paul Albert (Calgary)
8. Jason Pate (Calgary) & Jason Ully (Lethbridge, AB)
9. Chris Exner (Saskatoon, SK) & Lee Connell (Saskatoon, SK)
10. Damien Reilly (Edmonton) & Richard Threlfall (Kelowna, BC)
11. James Landeryou (Saskatoon, SK) & Nathanial Husulak (Saskatoon, SK)
12. John Halko (Edmonton) & Len Slamko (Edmonton)

WOMEN'S FINAL ROUND

Veronique Guillemette (Sherbrooke, PQ) & Genevieve Brodeur (Sherbrooke, PQ) d. Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Saskatoon, SK) & Alison Schlichemeyer (Saskatoon, SK), 15-12, 15-12.
Lori-Jane Powell (Calgary) & Julie Neubauer (Calgary) d. Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg), 15-6, 15-8.
Amanda Dunn (Prince Albert) & Linda Ellerington (Edmonton) d. Carolyn Peddle (Edmonton) & Shannon Mayer (Calgary), 15-7, 15-11.

WOMEN'S FINAL STANDINGS

1. Lori-Jane Powell (Calgary) & Julie Neubauer (Calgary)
2. Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg)
3. Veronique Guillemette (Sherbrooke, PQ) & Genevieve Brodeur (Sherbrooke, PQ)
4. Amanda Dunn (Prince Albert) & Linda Ellerington (Edmonton)
5. Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Saskatoon, SK) & Alison Schlichemeyer (Saskatoon, SK)
6. Carolyn Peddle (Edmonton) & Shannon Mayer (Calgary)

Crunch Time in Calgary

January 15, 2005

It's crunch time at the Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event for doubles in Calgary. The top four men's teams have been determined, and they will now play a round robin to determine who's number 1.

Mike Green (Hannon, ON), current National Champion in singles and doubles, seems to be able to win with anyone. He's teamed up with 48 year old veteran Brian Valin (Oshawa, ON) and they won both their matches Saturday.

They first beat top seeds Brian Istace (Calgary) and Kris Odegard (Saskatoon, SK), 15-13, 15-9, and then took out second seeds Vincent Gagnon (Montreal) and François Viens (Montreal), 15-8, 15-13.

Tom O'Brien, Green's regular doubles partner, is not playing for personal reasons, so Green called on Valin, who was a top player in the past but hasn't played at this level in several years. Yet Valin's performed admirably. Green and O'Brien won the National Championship in doubles last year and represented Canada at last year's World Championships in South Korea, winning bronze medals.

Earlier in the day Gagnon and Viens beat Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON) and Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON), 15-6, 16-14. Osborne and Desrochers were up in the second game, and got to 14 first, but they couldn't close it out.

Osborne and Viens previously played together, winning the 2003 National Championships, and bronze medals at the 2003 Pan Am Games. This is the first time they have played with different partners since that season.

Istace and Odegard defeated Osborne and Desrochers, 16-14, 15-6.

In women's competition, National Champions Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) continued to roll by first defeating Amanda Dunn (Prince Albert, SK) and Linda Ellerington (Saskatoon, SK), 15-4, 15-2 and then beating Veronique Guillemette (Sherbrooke, PQ) and Genevieve Brodeur (Sherbrooke, PQ), 15-11, 15-7.

Second seeds Lori-Jane Powell (Calgary) and Julie Neubauer (Calgary) also won their match against Guillemette and Brodeur, 15-9, 15-5 and later defeated Carolyn Peddle (Edmonton) and Shannon Mayer (Calgary), 15-1, 15-5.

Grand'Maître and Saunders face off against Powell and Neubauer Sunday. If Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders win, they will win the tournament out right. But if Powell and Neubauer win, then a tie-breaking format will have to be used to determine the winner, as both of these teams will have lost one match.

Also, Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Saskatoon, SK) and Alison Schlichemeyer (Saskatoon, SK) defeated Carolyn Peddle (Edmonton) and Shannon Mayer (Calgary), 15-5, 15-13.

The women's competition is a round robin among six teams.

The Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event for doubles began Friday January 14, and runs through Sunday January 16 at the Fish Creek Club in Calgary, Alberta. All of the top Canadian players will be vying for spots on the National Team that will go to the Pan American Championships in Venezuela in March.

RESULTS SUMMARY

MEN'S 1-4 PLAYOFF

Mike Green (Hannon, ON) & Brian Valin (Oshawa, ON) d. Brian Istace (Calgary) & Kris Odegard (Saskatoon, SK), 15-13, 15-9.
Vincent Gagnon (Montreal) and François Viens (Montreal) d. Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON) and Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON), 15-7, 16-14.
Green & Valin d. Gagnon & Viens, 15-8, 15-13.
Istace & Odegard d. Osborne & Desrochers, 16-14, 15-6.

MEN'S 5-8 PLAYOFF

Tim Landeryou (Saskatoon, SK) and Scott Linaker (Calgary) d. Ryan Powell (Calgary) and Paul Albert (Calgary), 15-10, 15-9.
Mike McPhee (Calgary) & Bill Shepley (Calgary) d. Jason Pate (Calgary) & Jason Ully (Lethbridge, AB), 9-15, 15-9, 11-6.
Landeryou & Linaker d. McPhee & Shepley, 15-11, 12-15, 11-9.
Powell & Albert d. Pate & Ully, 15-8, 15-10.

MEN'S 9-12 PLAYOFF

Damien Reilly (Edmonton) & Richard Threlfell (Kelowna, BC) d. John Halko (Edmonton) and Len Slamko (Edmonton), 15-12, 15-7
Lee Connell (Saskatoon, SK) & Chris Exner (Saskatoon, SK) d. James Landeryou (Saskatoon, SK) & Nathaniel Husulak (Saskatoon, SK), 15-7, 16-14.
Connell & Exner d. Reilly & Threlfall, 15-9, 15-12.
J. Landeryou and Husulak d. Halko & Slamko, 15-10, 15-10.
Reilly & Threlfall d. J. Landeryou & Husulak, 6-15, 15-4, 11-4.
Connell & Exner d. Halko & Slamko, 15-7, 15-6.

WOMEN'S THIRD ROUND

Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Saskatoon, SK) & Alison Schlichemeyer (Saskatoon, SK) d. Carolyn Peddle (Edmonton) & Shannon Mayer (Calgary), 15-5, 15-13.
Lori-Jane Powell (Calgary) & Julie Neubauer (Calgary) d. Veronique Guillemette (Sherbrooke, PQ) & Genevieve Brodeur (Sherbrooke, PQ), 15-9, 15-5.
Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) d. Amanda Dunn (Prince Albert) & Linda Ellerington (Edmonton), 15-4, 15-2.

WOMEN'S FOURTH ROUND

Powell & Neubauer d. Peddle & Mayer, 15-1, 15-5.
Grand'Maître & Saunders d. Guillemette & Brodeur, 15-11, 15-7.
Dunn & Ellerington d. Jacobson Prentice & Schlichemeyer, 15-9, 15-4.

New Doubles Teams, Same Good Results

January 14, 2005

The Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event for doubles has begun in Calgary, and the new teams have done fine. Three of the top 5 men's teams were new pairings.

One of the new teams, Mike Green (Hannon, ON), current National Champion in singles and doubles, and veteran Brian Valin (Oshawa, ON) were seeded 5th and won both of their matches on Friday. They first beat John Halko (Edmonton) and Len Slamko (Edmonton), 15-7, 15-6, and then they defeated fourth seeds and hometown Calgary favorites, Mike McPhee and Bill Shepley, 15-13, 15-3.

Another new team National Champions in doubles, Montrealers Vincent Gagnon and François Viens are seeded second, and beat Tim Landeryou (Saskatoon, SK) and Scott Linaker (Calgary), 15-6, 15-9.

And the third new team that was seeded third, Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON) and Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON) current National Champion in 18 and under singles, beat Ryan Powell (Calgary) and Paul Albert (Calgary), 15-13, 15-7.

Surprisingly, only the top seeds Brian Istace (Calgary) and Kris Odegard (Saskatoon, SK) had difficulty advancing to the round of four, as Jason Pate (Calgary) and Jason Ully (Lethbridge, AB) took them to a tie-breaker before losing 15-6, 12-15, 11-1.

Those four teams will now playoff in a round robin to determine the tournament winner.

There was an upset on the women's side, as fifth seeded Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Saskatoon, SK) and Alison Schlichemeyer (Saskatoon, SK) defeated second seeds Lori-Jane Powell (Calgary) and Julie Neubauer (Calgary), 15-13, 5-15, 11-4.

But Powell and Neubauer recovered in their second match of the day, as they beat Amanda Dunn (Prince Albert, SK) and Linda Ellerington (Saskatoon, SK), 15-6, 15-7.

The National Doubles Champions Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) had no trouble in their matches by first defeating Carolyn Peddle (Edmonton) and Shannon Mayer (Calgary), 15-8, 15-5, and then beating Prentice and Schlichemeyer, 15-12, 15-7.

The women's competition is a round robin among six teams.

The Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event for doubles begins Friday January 14, and runs through Sunday January 16 at the Fish Creek Club in Calgary, Alberta. All of the top Canadian players will be vying for spots on the National Team that will go to the Pan American Championships in Venezuela in March.

RESULTS SUMMARY

MEN'S PRELIMINARY ROUND

Mike Green (Hannon, ON) & Brian Valin (Oshawa, ON) d. John Halko (Edmonton) and Len Slamko (Edmonton), 15-7, 15-6.
Tim Landeryou (Saskatoon, SK) and Scott Linaker (Calgary) d. Damien Reilly (Edmonton) & Richard Threlfell (Kelowna, BC), 15-10, 15-6.
Ryan Powell (Calgary) and Paul Albert (Calgary) d. Lee Connell (Saskatoon, SK) & Chris Exner (Saskatoon, SK), 15-10, 15-1.
Jason Pate (Calgary) & Jason Ully (Lethbridge, AB) d. James Landeryou (Saskatoon, SK) & Nathaniel Husulak (Saskatoon, SK), 15-8, 15-6.

Green & Valin d. Mike McPhee (Calgary) & Bill Shepley (Calgary), 15-13, 15-3.
Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON) and Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON) d. Powell & Albert, 15-13, 15-7.
Brian Istace (Calgary) & Kris Odegard (Saskatoon, SK) d. Pate & Ully, 15-6, 12-15, 11-1.
Vincent Gagnon (Montreal) and Francois Viens (Montreal) d. Landeryou and Linaker, 15-6, 15-9.

WOMEN'S FIRST ROUND

Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Saskatoon, SK) and Alison Schlichemeyer (Saskatoon, SK) d. Lori-Jane Powell (Calgary) and Julie Neubauer (Calgary), 15-13, 5-15, 11-4.

Veronique Guillemette (Rock Forest, PQ) & Genevieve Brodeur (Montreal) Amanda Dunn (Prince Albert) & Linda Ellerington (Edmonton), 15-6, 11-15, 11-7.

Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) d. Carolyn Peddle (Edmonton) and Shannon Mayer (Calgary), 15-8, 15-5.

WOMEN'S SECOND ROUND

Powell & Neubauer d. Dunn and Ellerington, 15-6, 15-7.
Grand'Maître & Saunders d. Prentice and Schlichemeyer, 15-12, 15-7.
Guillemette & Brodeur d. Peddle & Mayer, 15-7, 15-2.

Doubles showdown in Calgary

January 13, 2005

The Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event for doubles begins January 14 in Calgary. All of the top Canadian players will be vying for spots on the National Team that will go to the Pan American Championships in Venezuela in March.

There has been a shuffle of partners among the men. Only the top seeds Brian Istace (Calgary) and Kris Odegard (Saskatoon, SK) and hometown veterans Bill Shepley (Calgary) and Mike McPhee (Calgary) remain intact from last season.

Mike Green (Hannon, ON), current National Champion in singles and doubles, is playing with veteran Brian Valin (Oshawa, ON), as Tom O'Brien (Penetanguishene, ON), co-National Champion with Green last year, is not playing in this tournament.

The 2003 National Champions in doubles, Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, ON) and Francois Viens (Montreal) are playing with new partners. Osborne has teamed up with Eric Desrochers (Ancaster, ON) current National Champion in 18 and under, while Viens has paired with Vincent Gagnon (Montreal).

The women's teams are the same as last year for the most part, with National Doubles Champions Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, PQ) and Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg) looking to beat the field once again.

Their stiffest compeition should come from the hometown Calgary pairing of Lori-Jane Powell and Julie Neubauer, who were runners up to Grand'Maître and Saunders in the National Championships and also in last season's doubles selection event.

The Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event for doubles begins Friday January 14, and runs through Sunday January 16 at the Fish Creek Club in Calgary, Alberta.