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McCue helps bolster Team Canada's 14th-place world ranking

Sudbury native makes his second appearance at Men's World Squash Team Championships
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Sudbury native Mike McCue recently competed at the Men's World Squash Team Championships in Washington, D.C. (File)

Making the second appearance of his career at the World Squash Federation (WSF ) Men's World Squash Team Championships, Sudbury native Mike McCue helped Team Canada maintain their 14th-place ranking in the world, with the squad competing as part of a 23-team team field that assembled in Washington (D.C.), just before Christmas.

Ranked No. 92 in the world, McCue would team with veteran Shawn Delierre (No. 82), defending Canadian champion Nick Sachvie (No. 107), and event newcomer David Baillargeon (No. 106). 

A graduate of Lockerby Composite, McCue has enjoyed a strong start to his 2019-2020 pro squash season, capturing the 2019 Kiva Club Open, and finishing second at both the 2019 Securian Open and the 2019 Wakefield PSA Open.

McCue was also part of the Team Canada entry in 2017, joining both Delierre and Sachvie, as well as Andrew Schnell in travelling to France two years ago. 

This time around, the Canadians opened play against England, seeded second, with McCue falling to squash legend James Willstrop, but not before taking a set in an 8-11, 5-11, 11-2, 7-11 setback, part of the 3-0 British sweep.

Canada would produce a three-set sweep of their own on Day 2, upending Nigeria (No. 23), though McCue was on the sidelines in this match. Facing Wales (No. 11) on Day 3, McCue was the only one of his countrymen to walk away victorious, topping Peter Creed 11-5, 11-5, 12-10, in a contest that Canada would ultimately drop, two to one.

The Canucks would hit the win column again on Day 5, besting South Africa (No. 19) 2-1, despite a 11-4, 3-11, 11-3, 11-3 decision going the way of Jean-Pierre Brits, taking the opening match against McCue.

Thankfully, both Sachvie (11-4, 3-11, 11-3,11-3 vs. Christo Potgieter) and Baillargeon (11-4, 11-4, 11-4 vs. Gary Wheadon) bounced back nicely, allowing Team Canada one final shot at bumping up one slot, facing the United States in the 13th/14th place showdown.

Unfortunately, Canada would exit the same way they entered, at No. 14, as Christopher Gordon beat David Baillargeon (7-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-1) and Todd Harrity downed Shawn Delierre (11-5, 15-13, 11-8).

“Ultimately, the team achieved expectations, with a couple of small opportunities missed against Wales and the US," said Canada World Men's Team Head Coach Martin Heath, on the Squash Canada website. "The team fought well, we had great team spirit as usual, and we leave the championship hungry for more."
 


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