Ottawa, Ont. - Softball Canada is pleased to announce the list of athletes who have been selected to represent Team Canada at the Men’s Slo-Pitch Border Battle. The 10th edition of the annual event will take place in Kitchener, Ont. from July 27-29.
Team Canada will play a series of exhibition games before they take on Team USA in a one-game showdown at the Men’s Slo-Pitch Border Battle on July 29th. The Canadian team is coming off an exciting 31-28 win at last year’s Border Battle in Oklahoma City to break Team USA’s six game winning streak.
“As head coach of Team Canada, I’m very excited to face Team USA on our home turf with the chance to defend and prove that last year’s win was earned and by no means good fortune” stated head coach Grant Garrett. “Our 2018 team is very athletic with all-around outstanding defence and speed, but more importantly, full of true gamers that will take this immense challenge head on and fight to the end.”
This will mark the second time the event is played on Canadian soil as Kitchener previously hosted in 2014 with the United States coming out with the 18-9 victory.
The list of athletes selected to participate was chosen by the coaching staff and a panel of Slo-Pitch experts from across the country. Performance at provincial, national and international events was used as one of the major contributors to the selections.
The coaching staff will consist of Grant Garrett (Georgetown, ON) who will serve as the head coach with Mike Hrynenko (Winnipeg, MB) serving as the assistant coach, both of whom are returning from last year’s winning team.
The following athletes have been chosen to represent Canada at the 2018 Men’s Slo-Pitch Border Battle:
ATHLETES
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | HOMETOWN |
| Colin | Andrews | Hanover, Ont. |
| Jeff | Andrews | St. Albert, Alta. |
| Dave | Goulet | Sherbrooke, Que. |
| Kyle | Knechtel | Ayr, Ont. |
| Dany | Laprise | Sherbrooke, Que. |
| Steele | Lewis | Windsor, Ont. |
| Jonathan | Malo | Quebec City, Que. |
| Dustin | McLoughlin | Maple Ridge, B.C. |
| Ron | Nadalin | Woodstock, Ont. |
| Curtis | Neabel | Woodstock, Ont. |
| Chris | Parr | Chilliwack, B.C. |
| Justin | Pennell | Toronto, Ont. |
| Hunter | Platten | Edmonton, Alta. |
| Jeff | Zanolli | Taber, Alta. |
| Josh | Zanolli | Drayton Valley, Alta. |
COACHING STAFF
| POSITION | NAME | HOMETOWN |
| Head Coach | Grant Garrett | Georgetown, Ont. |
| Assistant Coach | Mike Hrynenko | Winnipeg, Man. |
| Team Leader | Ryan DeBelser | Prince George, B.C. |
| Manager - National Teams | Mike Branchaud | Ottawa, Ont. |
The full game schedule will be announced at a later date, culminating with a doubleheader featuring the Women's and Men's Border Battles between Team Canada and Team USA the evening of Sunday, July 29.
Ticket prices have been set at $25.00 (CDN) for the full weekend pass and $10.00 (CDN) for a day pass. Tickets will go on sale through the Softball Canada website and at the Kahunaverse Sports locations in Mississauga and London on May 1st.
