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Pandemic Forces Cancellation of NightOwls, HarbourCats 2021 Schedules

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The virus continues to win — in life, and in sports.

 

With great sadness, following extensive evaluations and consultations with Canadian West Coast League (WCL) teams in Kamloops and Edmonton, the ownership group that leads both the Nanaimo NightOwls and the Victoria HarbourCats is announcing the cancellation of their 2021 seasons due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

For the HarbourCats, this will be the second, devastating season in a row with no baseball at Wilson’s Group Stadium, while the NightOwls were gearing up and looking forward to their inaugural season in the league under the brand-new lights at historic Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo.

 

The Edmonton Riverhawks and Kamloops NorthPaws were also looking forward to their first year in the league. The Kelowna Falcons previously announced their withdrawal from the 2021 WCL season in March. The 10 U.S.-based WCL teams, thanks to more effective vaccine roll-outs and COVID-19 mitigation efforts in Washington and Oregon, will be playing a modified, U.S.-only schedule, with teams being allowed to have fans in some capacity.

 

Unfortunately for the Canadian teams, given the ongoing nature of the pandemic — the recent rise in case numbers and variants,  the Provincial Health Officer’s guidelines and current and possible future restrictions in both British Columbia and Alberta, along with the ongoing Canadian-US Border closure — ownership felt they had no other choice but to cancel the 2021 season.

 

“There are simply too many things working against us,” said Jim Swanson, currently the GM of both the HarbourCats and the NightOwls. “We certainly appreciate the efforts of the NorthPaws and Riverhawks in truly exploring all options for a 2021 season, they will be great additions to the WCL and the Canadian side of the league, now starting in 2022.”

 

“We are also very appreciative of both our fan base and our sponsorship base, who have continued to support both teams and remain patient,” added Swanson.  “The groundswell of support in Nanaimo has been nothing short of tremendous, with major partners such as Island Savings, Save On Foods, Panago on Fourth, and Mid Island Co-op to name a few, coming on board as inaugural partners. And in Victoria, we appreciate that the long-time partners we have cultivated over the last few years, are sticking by our side and will be ready to roll again in 2022.

 

“This is hard on our staff and coaches, and we now give players time to find places to develop further this summer, likely somewhere in the U.S. Make no mistake — the HarbourCats will be back at Wilson’s Group Stadium, and the NightOwls are going to get off the ground in 2022.”

 

Fans who have purchased tickets, or ticket vouchers for both HarbourCats and NightOwls 2021 games, will receive full value for their purchases. Season Ticket holders who have paid in full, will automatically have their tickets rolled over into the 2022 season.  Fans with 2020 or 2021 specific game tickets (HarbourCats) or 2020 or 2021 flex pack vouchers (both teams), will be able to redeem those for tickets into the 2022 season once that schedule is announced.  

 

With regard to the 2022 schedule, there is hope that the league makes developing that a priority over the next few weeks, despite the fact that the 10 U.S. teams will be playing in 2021.  “One of the best things that the league can do for the Canadian teams right now, in fact for all the teams, ” said Christian J. Stewart, the HarbourCats Assistant GM, Ticketing and Media, “is to develop and release a 2022 schedule as early as possible.  In that way, our teams can immediately start marketing and planning for that schedule, rather than having to wait until the late fall, when the WCL schedule is traditionally released.”

 

Both the HarbourCats and the NightOwls will continue to build to what will certainly be a celebratory return to baseball in 2022 and will find ways to add special events when allowed to do so.  Season tickets, 10-game flex packs, gift cards and merchandise will continue to be available for both teams, and new sponsors are of course welcome to join both teams and be part of that celebration.  Substantial stadium improvements will continue in Nanaimo and both teams will continue to be involved as key members of their communities.

 

“While it will be another tough summer missing our fans, the excitement of the game and the fun things we do at the park,” noted Stewart, “we know that our fans and those in Nanaimo will be back in force in 2022 and that is the motivation that we will all use to get us through this.  Opening day in 2022 is going to be one heck of a party and we can’t wait to see everyone there!”

 

Further details and updates on ticket exchanges and timing, as well as other teams updates can be found on the team’s respective websites at www.harbourcats.com and www.nanaimonightowls.com. Fans are also urged to sign-up for the e-mail lists of both teams and follow both teams on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for all the latest news.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Riverhawks cruise to 9-1 win

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June 4, 2025

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EDMONTON, A.B. – The Edmonton Riverhawks improved to 2-0, handing the visiting Victoria HarbourCats their second straight loss.

It was an early start with an 11:05 AM first pitch local time for the Riverhawks School Spirit Day, which saw thousands of school kids in the crowd. For the second straight game, the Hawks jumped out to an early lead, scoring one in the first and four in the second. North Sannich’s Jacob Thompson (Minot State) started the game and pitched 1-2/3 innings, giving up five runs on four hits while walking five.

BOX SCORE

The hosts handed James Brock the ball, and the Cats hitters could not solve him. The UBC right-hander threw five shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out three.

Edmonton added three more runs in the fourth and one more in the sixth to make it 9-0. Hawks designated hitter Max Stagg, who had two hits in the series opener, continued to hurt the Cats this afternoon, going four for five.

WCL STANDINGS

Nolan Bushko (ETBU), Cade Rusch (IUS), Marcus Janovsky (UBC), and Tristin Thomas all pitched out of the bullpen for Victoria.

The Cats’ sole run of the day came from a Cutis McKay (Niagara) groundout in the eighth inning. Jack Johnson (Baylor) increased his hitting streak to five games with a single in the opening frame.

The HarbourCats look to avoid the sweep tomorrow at 6:05 PM PST. Julian Orozco (Cal Baptist) is your projected starter.

BUY TICKETS HERE

We are TWO DAYS AWAY from the HarbourCats home opener Friday, June 6th at 6:35 PM against the Port Angeles Lefties. Saturday, June 7th, is our first of four FIREWORKS nights of the season! Don’t miss out! Grab tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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NorthPaws had their chances but lose to Bells in low scoring affair

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The Kamloops NorthPaws lost their first game of the season on Tuesday night at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham. The Bells scored three in the first inning, and then neither team plated a run for the rest of the game. Pitching was on full display, as there were just five combined hits in the game.

In the bottom of the first, NorthPaws starting pitcher Mason Chien had an 0-2 count and ended up walking the leadoff batter. A crafty bunt forced a throwing error and put runners on the corners. A couple of pitches later, Bellinghams’ third batter hit a ground ball up the third base side that third baseman Joey Marino struggled with on the transfer from glove to throwing hand, allowing the runner to be safe and the first run to score.

During the next at-bat, Chien threw ball four that turned into a wild pitch, making it 2-0. The Bells would add a base hit to load the bases, and a past ball would bring in the third and eventual final run of the ballgame. Chien would get out of the bases-loaded jam and cap the damage at just three runs.

Unfortunately for the NorthPaws, they couldn’t keep their bats hot. Bells Lefty starter Callum Young threw three no-hit innings before exiting the game. Kamloops had a pair of runners on after Marino and Keegan Drinkle both walked, they would be stranded on base. The NorthPaws would leave nine runners on base and were unable to get that extra situational hit to get on the board.

In the fifth, Kamloops had their best chance to score. A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out when Shortstop Anthony Setticassi sent a fly ball to left center field that looked to be deep enough for Kieran Gaffney to tag from third. Gaffney tagged up, but the throw from left field was perfect; the Bells turned two and escaped the inning unscathed.

In the sixth, the NorthPaws had runners at second and third with one out when catcher Matt MacDonald hit a sharp grounder to first that was snagged by the first baseman. Cade Palkowski was bolting for home, but yet another great throw got him at the plate, preserving the shutout.

“They made some nice plays out there tonight; if those plays go our way, it’s a completely different game, but it went their way tonight,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson.

Despite the offensive woes, the pitching staff combined for eight scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and walking two batters. Keith Manby went three innings, striking out a pair of Bells, while Macallister Gatzke and Luke Petrie both finished the game with clean innings. After giving up nine runs to Port Angeles on Sunday afternoon, this is a massive feat for a staff that can only gain confidence from this collective performance.

“This definitely helps, but I’ll always have confidence in this staff; I think we have a lot of good arms and a lot of depth; if we go out there and pitch to our strengths no matter who we face, I think we’ll have a good shot,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.
Although the offence didn’t come through in certain moments, the bullpen’s efforts can be something for the team to build upon as the series continues.

“They (the bullpen) gave us a chance to still be in that game, so we definitely owe them one,” said Jepson.
The NorthPaws will be back at it on Wednesday night for game two in Bellingham. Same time, same place, 6:35, first pitch, and you can watch on West Coast League TV or listen along on the NorthPaws Mixlr.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Riverhawks hit double digits, beat Cats in series opener

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June 3, 2025

For immediate release

EDMONTON, A.B. – The Edmonton Riverhawks handed the Victoria HarbourCats their first loss of the season, winning 13-3 Tuesday night.

Hawks shortstop Robert Phelps set the tone early, leading off the bottom of the first with a home run off Cats starter Carson Burks (Hill College). The lefty from Buna, Texas, made his second appearance of the season after an impressive debut in Kelowna. He didn’t fare as well tonight, giving up three earned runs on six hits in three innings of work, striking out a pair.

BOX SCORE

The hosts continued to tack on runs early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Edmonton put the game beyond doubt with a four-run fourth inning giving, them a resounding 8-0 advantage.

Curtis McKay (Niagara) got the HarbourCats on the board in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly. The second basemen had two hits, including a double for his second multi-hit game of the young season.

Jack Johnson (Bayler) continued his hot start to the season with an RBI single in the eighth. He now has a four-game hit streak and leads the team with six hits.

WCL STANDINGS

Logan Shepherd (Tacoma CC), Isaiah Afework (Tacoma CC), and Xander McAfee (Texas Arlington) all made their HarbourCats debuts. Afework went one for three while McAfee had three hits and reached base four times.

Austin Lindsey (Hill College) and John Ondus (Niagara) threw two and three innings, respectively, to finish the game.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Tomorrow is Edmonton’s School Spirit Game, which means first pitch is scheduled for 10:05 AM PST. You can watch the game HERE.

We are just days away from the HarbourCats home opener Friday, June 6th at 6:35 PM against the Port Angeles Lefties. Saturday, June 7th, is our first of four FIREWORKS nights of the season! Don’t miss out! Grab tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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