Welcome to Day 1 of the Vancouver Invitational, which is a great warmup to postseason play for both the four US teams in attendance, as well as for a similar number of teams from the north of the 49th parallel, a dividing line between countries which are very close in many ways.

Teams involved at this year's international tournament include the two Pacific Section teams which qualified for the USQRA Division 1 Nationals, the California Quake, featuring «The Warrior», and the San Diego Bushwhackers, with their Pacific Sectionals MVP, «Winks».  The 3rd ranked team from the section, the Portland Pounders, is also participating, along with a team from Seattle.  The Pounders are among the favorites to win the Division 2 title at the upcoming US National Championships, which are to be held in Phoenix, Arizona.  Canadian entries at the Vancouver Invitational are from BC, AB, SK, along with an eastern allstar team, featuring members of the Canadian National Team and the National Squad.

There were a few noticeable changes in the lineups, as Martin Mainguy was seconded to the Alberta Steel Wheels since Alberta needed another 0.5, and Canada East had three on the roster.  The Alberta team also got one of their teammates back, Allan Chartrand, who had been training in South Florida for the past little while, and got him back classed down to a 2.0 from a 2.5.  Meanwhile, noticeably absent from the Sasksquash was national team member Daryl Stubel (2.0), who had some serious work comittments on the first day of the tournament, but who will be able to play all the remaining games for the Saskatchewan provincial team.

Newcomers to the National Squad, Manitoba deuces Ian Crowe and Trevor Robinson, both played well on the Canada East lineup, with Robinson using Fabien Lavoie's backup chair, as his new chair is still not quite ready.

More info will follow tomorrow... er, later today, since it already is tomorrow.