\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"SQUASH](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4432823_web1_260729-Ivo-Thiessen-0002.jpeg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
SQUASH CANADA PHOTO<\/p>\n
Winnipegger Ivo Thiessen (right) plays against Akifumi Murakami during the Canadian Junior Championships back in the spring. With squash to debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, Thiessen has his sights set on a 2032 Olympic push.<\/p>\n
Thiessen not only had the support from his father, but from other family members who had a personal love of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no pressure on me to impress him as a squash player but as a human. I think I put pressure on myself to just give it my all because that\u2019s what I see him do almost every day,\u201d Thiessen said. \u201cI wanted to be a better squash player and I didn\u2019t want to lose \u2014 I didn\u2019t want to let him down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the start I was just hitting the ball against the wall and it was pretty frustrating because it\u2019s not an easy sport to start. (But) I kept getting better, kept playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club became a second home to Thiessen, a place where he grew not only as a player. He has since become assistant pro, a position where he was able to teach the younger players once a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think when everybody starts out you see some of the kids and their passion for the sport begin to grow. They start going outside of Sunday\u2019s and you can actually see them starting to get better,\u201d Thiessen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to see the seeds you plant start to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for a potential shot at a pro career, it wasn\u2019t until he was 13 that the prospect of the Canada Games came into view.<\/p>\n
At the time, squash was more of a leisurely activity but once Thiessen saw the opportunity to compete at a national level, he dialled in and committed to his craft. By 14, he was ranked Top 20 in the country and was eligible for the 2023 Winter Canada Games in Charlottetown. After finishing fifth in the male team competition, Thiessen\u2019s eyes were opened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the levels of squash and saw how good I could really get,\u201d he said. \u201cI realized there are levels to this.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the Canada Games, he started to feel the pressure of university as early as Grade 10. He knew that he could be a great player but none of that would matter if his grades were not up to par \u2014 a requirement needed if he had any dream of making a college team. But not only that, he needed to take his training to a new level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started playing lots of squash, started taking more lessons, started going to the gym for it \u2014 try to get in shape for squash rather than using squash to get in shape,\u201d Thiessen said.<\/p>\n
Although he was talking to multiple coaches across Canada, his sights were set on Western University and joining the Mustangs squash team. After graduating from Westgate Mennonite Collegiate, Thiessen\u2019s goals were suddenly halted in their tracks as he was not accepted at Western.<\/p>\n
For most, this would deter and discourage them from pursing what they love most, but he decided to take his first year at University of Manitoba at the Asper School of Business. From there he learned two things: first was that he hated economics and would not be making that his major, two was that he would be a Mustang the next year.<\/p>\n
Thiessen put his foot on the gas, deciding that he needed to keep training, competing, and studying.<\/p>\n
But the one thing Thiessen often struggled with was keeping a level head during games, often angry with himself after a mistake or losing a game. He would often look outside the glass at his father and make a face when the match was not going his way.<\/p>\n
Enter his current coach Thomas King \u2014 poached from Regina \u2014 to come mentor the next generation of athletes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was emotionally and mentally a trainwreck, I was not composed at all on court,\u201d Thiessen said. \u201cThat was the biggest thing (King) probably did for me, was (focusing) on the mentality and composure aspect because it is so huge in squash.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a solo sport, you can\u2019t really afford to lose yourself emotionally. You can\u2019t let the game slip like that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
King helped Thiessen shift his mindset while on the court, having there be a balance between emotion and passion. This change help immensely in Thiessen\u2019s competitive atmosphere, transforming him into a more level-headed player.<\/p>\n
This past April, Thiessen competed in the 2026 Canadian Junior Championships in Vancouver, placing fifth in the boys under-19 singles category.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the first time (King) had come to a tournament with me and that was great. I played really well. Did the best I\u2019ve ever done in nationals,\u201d Thiessen said.<\/p>\n
Although he didn\u2019t podium like he wanted, he used the tournament as an opportunity to grow while also acknowledging this was a huge accomplishment nonetheless.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a huge confidence booster too because there was times where I was questioning, \u2018Am I good enough to compete at this level?\u2019\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
He answered his own question instantaneously by adding, \u201cI\u2019ve put in the time and effort and I can compete.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Thiessen aged out of juniors, his best rating was seventh in Canada \u2014 more than a good enough ranking to be crowned a Mustang for the upcoming school year. He\u2019ll continue to pursue business, with a sharper focus on accounting, and a strong set of goals for his future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love to make captain at Western and then hopefully be the number one player there by the time that I\u2019m out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n