The Inuvik Squash Club's February tournament drew a few new players, including 13-year-old Daniel Larkin.
Samantha McKay/NNSL photo
The tournament was Larkin's first. He said he got into squash after his youth pastor brought him, his sister and his friend to play.
"After that, I just kept on playing squash even though my sister and my friend didn't want to!" Larkin said. "I really like the game, and how you can play it all year round."
Larkin is the youngest player in the tournament by approximately 10 years. He says this is an advantage because he learns a lot from the more experienced players.
"I'm the only young kid, but it's an advantage because they're older, so sometimes they're slower," Larkin said.
Grant Convey, co-organizer of the tournament, said there are usually one or two new players in each new tournament.
"Every tournament we seem to get at least one or two new faces, which is encouraging to grow the sport in Inuvik," Convey said. "Ultimately that's what we're trying to do with these tournaments, is garner interest in the sport."
This tournament featured 17 players in four divisions.
The tournaments also provide a great opportunity to learn to play squash.
"If you register for the tournament, you're given the opportunity to sign up for the workshops as well, and come out and learn the game," Convey said.
The tournaments aren't just for beginners. They can also be a place where more experienced players get competitive.
"What I love about putting on the tournament is seeing players that are both quite equal and used to playing one another throughout the week, come out to the tournament and try to step up their game to that extra level," Larkin said. "For one of my games, a gentleman that I usually play came out today and stepped his game up and beat me, so I was a little bit frustrated!"
He added that the tournaments are held once a month and new players are always welcome.
"We're always looking for new players to register," Convey said. "Don't feel bad if you're a beginner, sign up for the tournament, we'll teach you how to play the game."
The squash tournament is sponsored by Get Active NWT.