Every year since 2005, Ottawa’s Top Squash Player is recognized at the Ottawa Sports Awards. The ODSA is proud to have had the following players selected as Ottawa’s Top Squasher (with the description provided to the Ottawa Sports Awards):
2023 – Ibrahim Ghani
At the end of the 2022/23 Squash season Ibrahim was only 17 years of age and had only been playing squash seriously for about 3 years. During the 2022/23 season his talents and dedication shone through with superior results. In that time, he climbed the Ottawa area open player rankings from #.115 to #.39, a significant jump for a player of his age. He shone in local area open tourneys, always placing with top tier results. He has competed and played well in both provincial and national tourneys. He not only continued to grow his personal skills and talents, but on top of that he gave time to the Ottawa area squash scene by offering coaching at all talent levels. His potential has really starting to shine. The ODSA recognizes Ibrahim as our squasher of 2023.
2019 – David Guest
As the highest ranked player in Ottawa during the 2018/2019 season, David is a true competitor and plays at the highest of levels. With his talent and involvement he was a true ambassador for the sport of squash in our area, supporting most local and regional tourneys as well as performing in many exhibition matches when requested. He accompanied his high playing ability with an equally high level of sportsmanship. His play was exemplary, always maintaining superior composure during his highly competitive matches. His title claiming of “Ottawa’s 2019 Squasher of the Year” is truly well deserved.
2018 – Iman Shaheen
Iman continues to show exceptional talent and results in competitive Provincial and Canadian squash circles. During the last year she placed first in her (U15) age category at the Ont Jr Open Championships. Her talent recognized, she was selected to be part of the Canadian Junior Team representing Canada in the Canada/USA Battle of the Borders, Team Championships. At the recent Canadian International Junior Squash Open, she was the bronze medalist, surprising many visiting international squash rising stars. Locally she is In Ottawa’s highest ranked female squash player and routinely plays and wins against high level veteran adult male players. All this, at only 13 years of age.
2017 – Iman Shaheen
Iman, currently 12 years of age, is an exceptional Ottawa squasher with significant natural talent and energy. She has only been playing for 3 years and has advanced to become the top Canadian girl in her age category. Squash Canada recognized her in 2017 as she was selected as an emerging talent to be the Girls Under 13 member of the Canadian Junior Squash Team for the annual (Canada-USA) Battle of the Border team challenge. Chronologically, during the past year (in her U13 age category), she won silver at the Canadian Junior Squash Championships, gold at the Ontario Junior Squash Championships, silver (and was the top Canadian in her age category) at the Canadian Junior Squash Open, and she took home bronze from the recent US Junior Squash Open. She is an active member of the #1 Barrhaven squash team where she calmly and effectively competes against talented adult men and women in the Ottawa Open City League. Her squash abilities have improved in leaps and bounds over the past year and expectations are high for her progress.
2016 – Barrett Aass
This keen young squash player has all the talent and energy to climb up the ladder fast. Barrett is an active member of the OAC squash club and plays on one of their Ottawa-area first-division teams. In 2016, the 16-year-old improved his ranking by over 120 places to now rank in the top-25 out of all ages in Ottawa. He is now ranked provincially in the top-5 and nationally in the top-10 in his age category. He has become a valued member of the Ottawa junior squash team and often places very high in the open divisions of adult tournaments.
2015 – Tarun Balaraj
Tarun at 15 years of age is the #1-ranked junior squash player in the Ottawa area. He is also currently ranked 23rd in the open rankings against competitors of all ages. During his young career, Tarun has been a consistent high-level junior player in regional, provincial and national tournaments, maintaining a top-10 national ranking in his group. He has been a valued member of Ottawa junior squash team for the past 5 years.
2014 – Franco Patry
This 17-year-old Orleans Squash Club member has been a very active player at a high level for many years. Currently, Franco is the #1-ranked junior squash player in the Ottawa area, and among the region’s top-30 out of all ages. He has been a member of the representative Ottawa junior squash team for the past 6 years and continues to place well in adult and junior squash events in regional, provincial and national tournaments.
2013 – Alina D’Asti
This 18-year-old squash player from the Ottawa Athletic Club is the #1-ranked female squash athlete in the Ottawa area. This season, in her last year of junior eligibility, has seen her perform well in all competitions at the regional, provincial and national championships. She finished 2nd in the under-19 girls’ class at the Fall Foliage Tournament in New Hampshire and won several matches in the GoodLife Open. Alina will be attending university starting this month with plans to continue to play squash in the Quebec university system.
2012 – Karim Osman
In 2012, Karim won the top division of play at all three major squash tournaments held in the Ottawa area. He also won the ODSA Cup and maintained his ODSA #1 ranking throughout 2012. While competing in the Squash Canada University Championships held in Calgary, this Carleton student won the consolation plate.
2011 – Kyle Ogilvy
This honour roll graduate of John McCrae High School is now playing squash at Saint Lawrence University, playing in the #1 position. In 2011, he had a busy schedule playing in the Ottawa City League, leading his Division 1 Team from the Goodlife Squash Club. He is currently ranked 4th in Ontario and 20th in Canada in U19 age rankings. The highlight of his season was winning all 7 of his matches at the Ontario Team Championships, which enabled his Ottawa-based team to earn an upset victory for the Squash Ontario Junior Team Title
Ottawa Junior Team
The ODSA Junior Team was also recognized at the 2011 award ceremonies for winning the Ontario Junior Team Championships. Team members: Gabby Renaud, Jamie Nelson, Maya Crisostomo, Alina D’Asti, Franco Patry, Charlie Loo, Josh Renaud and Kyle Ogilve. Coaches: Alex Cornett and Johnny Wilson.
Descriptions are unavailable for the for the following past winners:
2010 – Adrian Dudzicki
2009 – Samantha Cornett
2008 – Samantha Cornett
2007 – Samantha Cornett
2006 – Samantha Cornett
2005 – Samantha Cornett