Desaulniers & Heckscher to be inducted into the US Squash Hall of Fame

Michael Desaulniers ’80 and Ben Heckscher ’57 have been chosen for the highest honor in US squash as they will be inducted to the US Squash Hall of Fame this year. The Class of 2017 also includes Ben’s younger brother, Maurice Heckscher.

The induction ceremony will be held at a gala luncheon courtside at the U.S. Open in Philadelphia before the finals on Saturday October 14, 2017. Register for the Hall of Fame Luncheon here.

Desaulniers, originally from Canada, won two U.S. junior titles before matriculating at Harvard in the class of 1980. His college career was stunning: he lost just one game of one match in a torrid unbeaten run that covered three years (he was injured in the fourth) and leading Harvard to a team title his senior year. Over the course of his first two years on tour, he blitzed the competition, winning more than 15 events and most famously was the player who finally dethroned Sharif Khan, both at the North American Open and as the No.1 ranked player on the hardball tour. Desaulniers also was a top-flight left-waller in doubles, partnering with Maurice Heckscher to capture two straight World Doubles titles.

Ben Heckscher, a Philadelphian, was a top-flight champion in the 1950s and 60s, a part of a golden generation of historically great players. He won two straight National Interscholastics while at Choate and two straight intercollegiate titles while at Harvard (he led Harvard to a national team title in his junior year). He also was the first collegiate player to enter the U.S. Open. He captured the National Singles in 1959 and 1963. He also clinched the Canadian national title in 1960. Heckscher founded the William White tournament at Merion Cricket Club and was president of the Jesters Club.

The United States Squash Hall of Fame was founded in 2000. Based at the Payne Whitney Gymnasium at Yale, it is the only national squash hall of fame in the world with annual inductions and a brick-and-mortar location. With the additions of the Heckschers and Desaulniers in the Class of 2017, there will be 61 members of the Hall of Fame.

Source: US Squash