Ottawa, Ont. – Softball Canada is excited to announce the athletes representing Team Canada at the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Border Battle scheduled to take place from June 18 to June 20 in Winesburg, Ohio.
Marking the 16th edition of the event, the Border Battle promises an exciting lineup of exhibition games, featuring a matchup against the USA Futures team and setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown against Team USA.
The selection process involved the coaching staff along with a panel of Slo-Pitch experts from across the country, where performances at provincial, national, and international events played a crucial role in decision-making.
Stéphane Chapdelaine (Chambly, Que.) will return as head coach of the Men’s Slo-Pitch Border Battle Team, leading the men’s for a second straight year. Mike Neufeld (Abbotsford, B.C.) will be returning as assistant coach for his fourth consecutive year. On the Women’s side, Amanada Howard (Strathmore, Ont.), is also returning in her role as head coach for Team Canada, while former Border Battle athlete Pat Severin (Kingston, Ont.) will serve as the assistant coach. Tony Carnelos (Georgetown, Ont.) will be the Team Manager for both teams.
The Border Battle continues to be one of the most anticipated events in the sport, showcasing the talent and skill of some of the world's best slo-pitch players.
2026 Men’s Border Battle Roster
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | HOMETOWN |
| Colin | Andrews | Hanover, Ont. |
| Guillaume | Ayotte | Repentigny, Que. |
| Olivier | Blier | Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. |
| Maxime | Bouchard | Trois-Rivières, Que. |
| Vincent | Fournier | Saint-Pie, Que. |
| Jeff | Kemp | Paris, Ont. |
| Kyle | Knechtel | Ayr, Ont. |
| Steele | Lewis | Essex, Ont. |
| Dalen | Mimeault | Edmonton, Alta. |
| Justin | Pennell | Spruce Grove, Alta. |
| Massimo | Peranio | Abbotsford, B.C. |
| Josue | Peley | Québec City, Que. |
| Hunter | Platten | Sherwood Park, Alta. |
| Ren | Visser | Squamish, B.C. |
| Drew | Vokey | Barrie, Ont. |
Men’s Coaching Staff
| NAME | POSITION | HOMETOWN |
| Stéphane Chapdelaine | Head Coach | Chambly, Que. |
| Mike Neufeld | Assistant Coach | Abbotsford, B.C. |
| Tony Carnelos | Manager | Georgetown, Ont. |
| Ashley Klunder | Athletic Trainer | Brantford, Ont. |
2026 Women’s Border Battle Roster
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | HOMETOWN |
| Cassidy | Affeldt | Mission, B.C. |
| Hayley | Gibson | Regina, Sask. |
| Jesse | Goddard | Langley, B.C. |
| Tina | Gulbrandsen | Glenayre-Port Moody, B.C. |
| Sydney | Heschuk | Abbotsford, B.C. |
| Shannon | Hilton | Orillia, Ont. |
| Julie | Kay | Blackfalds, Alta. |
| Bryanna | Kressler | Kitchener, Ont. |
| Jade | McGarr | Coaldale, Alta. |
| Terri | McCreadie | Fort St. John, B.C. |
| Kate | Meredith | Maple Ridge, B.C. |
| Sam | Middleton | Strathmore, Alta. |
| Jacqueline | O'Quinn | Toronto, Ont. |
| Berry | Rosychuk | Goodfish Lake, Alta. |
| Marnie | Scow | Port Hardy, B.C. |
Women’s Coaching Staff
| NAME | POSITION | HOMETOWN |
| Amanda Howard | Head Coach | Strathmore, Alta. |
| Pat Severin | Assistant Coach | Kingston, Ont. |
| Tony Carnelos | Manager | Georgetown, Ont. |
| Ashley Klunder | Athletic Trainer | Brantford, Ont. |
To stay updated on all the action and news surrounding the 2026 Border Battle, follow Softball Canada on all social media platforms, and visit our website at softball.ca
