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Squash and the orthodontist

Brian Clarke cannot lay claim to a life-long passion for the sport of squash. Few can, really.
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In some circles, Greater Sudbury orthodontist Brian Clarke is better known for his way around the squash court than his way around teeth. Photo by Arron Pickard.
Brian Clarke cannot lay claim to a life-long passion for the sport of squash.

Few can, really.

But since his arrival in Sudbury almost two decades ago, few have shaped the framework of any athletic activity in the Nickel City in quite the way Clarke has worked his magic with squash.

Earlier this month, the local orthodontist was presented with a coveted Syl Apps Volunteer Achievement Award as both a coach and builder, capping a journey that began during his days as a student at the University of Waterloo. Clarke was nominated for the award by Squash Ontario.

“Back then, you had to be up at 7 a.m. to book a court for the next day at the PAC (Physical Activity Centre),” Clarke said. “You had to be up at this ungodly hour just to get the court booked. That’s what I remember about my squash start.”

Born with a competitive streak that was nurtured through his involvement with hockey in his youth, Clarke became a good squash player, with no misgivings of challenging the national elite.

“I never took a lesson, there wasn’t a lot of that around,” he said. “I was just sort of self-taught — and I watched a lot.

“When I look back at my game versus how I teach now, squash has become a way more academic game. We understand the physical part of it better, the conditioning part of it better.”

Clarke, like others, has witnessed the ebb and flow of what he calls an “underground” sport.

“There were pockets of interest here and there,” he said. “Squash goes in waves. When you have a group of people who are promoters, and when facilities are promoting along with the promoters, and you get a few kids, a few teenagers involved, then it grows.”

Beyond his involvement as a player, the native of the Moonstone/Orillia region first became involved in the coaching ranks in a somewhat impromptu manner after his family moved to Northern Ontario.

“There was nobody around to coach at that time when my kids wanted to play,” he said.

And so began the process.

“You hear little tidbits here and there, I went to a couple of coaching symposiums. When I was travelling down south with the kids, you would sit with all of the coaches, and it’s a very non-competitive environment in the stands ... The coaches were more than willing to help me out.”

Working alongside his four boys — Marshall, Joel, Scott and Brad — provided many great memories, if not the access to that breakthrough athlete. That would come courtesy of Mike McCue, currently ranked 134th in the world.

“I thought he was going to be good, (but) I had no idea he could be top ten in Canada,” Clarke recalled of his early days with the Lockerby Composite graduate. “Mike was an average to slightly above average physical talent.

“But he is so mentally tough, blessed with an ability to battle back and win games. I was always so proud of that,” said Clarke.

Despite his years leading the squash community in Sudbury, Clarke was taken aback when first notified of the Syl Apps Award.

“I had no idea that these Ontario awards were as big a deal as it is,” he said. “It was quite an event.”

With the likes of world figure skating champion Patrick Chan and Olympic gold medallist Rosie MacLennan in attendance, Clarke and others were honoured for their years of volunteer dedication to their respective sports.

“I think I’m an OK coach, but I think Sudbury needs someone who is a squash advocate and I think I’ve been more of an advocate of the sport,” he said.

“Trying to bring a pro tournament here, keeping tournaments going — I look back with more pride on all of that sort of stuff.

“Luckily, we have an unbelievable squash group here.”

With all four of his own boys safely into their adult lives, Clarke continues to work with the next wave of up and coming squash talent.

“We have a really nice group of kids right now,” he said. “By the time they are U15, that’s going to be fun to watch.”

Randy Pascal is the founder of SudburySports.com and a contributing sports writer for Northern Life.

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