Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – BASEBALL STARS TO VICTORIA

Published

3 months ago

July 17, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

WCL All-Star Festival returning to Victoria for two seasons, HarbourCats last hosted game in 2013

For immediate release

July 17, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. – The best of the very best in the West Coast League will return to Victoria – not once, but twice.

In a media event on the field today, the Victoria HarbourCats are excited to announce, along with the West Coast League and the Greater Victoria Sports Tourism Commission, an arm of Destination Greater Victoria, that the WEST COAST LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME will be played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park the next two seasons – 2026 and 2027.

The expected dates will be July 15, 2026, and July 14, 2027 – in both cases, the day after the Major League Baseball all-star game. The West Coast League is a proud partner of Major League Baseball.

Destination Greater Victoria, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the Wilson’s Group of Companies, Better Print, and New Era Cap Company are the first partners to officially join forces for this event – with opportunities for corporate and community partners at all levels.

“Our outstanding ballpark, which plays to professional standards, and the engagement of this market in terms of support of WCL baseball made this happen – two years in a row, the best of the league will be in the best city in the world,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the Victoria HarbourCats (and Nanaimo NightOwls).

“The excellent broadcast quality provided by Chris Jaycox Productions, and the tremendous work done by City staff on all facets of Wilson’s Group Stadium, put this over the top and made our bid to host in consecutive years successful with WCL board members.

“We could not be more excited to do the work to make these the best all-star games in league history.”

The event has already received support in the form of a sport hosting grant from the Province of British Columbia.

“Hosting the West Coast League All-Star Games in 2026 and 2027 will further elevate Victoria’s global profile as a premier sport tourism destination,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “These All-Star Games will bring significant economic benefits to our local tourism sector, boosting business revenues and creating ripple effects that will be felt throughout the region.”

Bellingham played host the last two seasons, including yesterday’s game. When Victoria hosted in 2013, the game set a league attendance record with more than 4,000 in attendance – 2026 and 2027 project to see more than 5,000 in-person spectators at each event. Edmonton, the WCL attendance leaders, and Victoria are league facilities capable of holding more than 3,500 spectators.

“Hosting back-to-back West Coast League All-Star Games in 2026 and 2027 is exciting for fans and once again demonstrates how Victoria is being recognized as a go-to destination for sports tourism and major sporting events,” said City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. “These games will be unforgettable, and our dedicated partners and passionate community are showing the world what Victoria can do.”

Swanson will be part of a steering committee that includes former BC Games chair Kelly Mann, former Oak Bay fire chief Dave Cockle, HarbourCats Creative Director Chris Beveridge, HarbourCats General Manager Christian Stewart, Marketing Director John Pollard, and VP Operations and Business Adrian Somers.

These events will be considerable contributors to the local economy, promoting the great and growing sports legacy of Victoria.

Further details will be rolled out, but tentative plans are slated to include:

**A next-level home run derby the day before the game

**Youth camps that will cover the entire city and be focal points of festivities

**MLB scouts will attend a combine that will happen before the game

**A signature luncheon on the day of the game, with an exciting keynote speaker to be announced

**A pre-game concert is in the works

**Plus a hot stove social event also in the planning stages.

“Ticket packages for the entire event will go fast, and we anticipate offering those to our partners, season ticket holders and host families first during a two-week window in September, with the general public able to snap up what is left after that – it will be affordable, and it will bring great value,” said Swanson.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – 2026 HarbourCats schedule features many highlights

Published

4 days ago

October 24, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park will be abuzz with fans packing the seats for at least 31 home games in 2026, as well as the West Coast League All-Star Game.

October 23, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — Who is the next Nathan Lukes, to don the V-Cat logo and start a path to the World Series?

That will come into focus starting in May of 2026 when the Victoria HarbourCats — the first collegiate summer league team of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lukes, a playoff star this fall — begin an eventful West Coast League campaign with a road series in Portland.

It won’t just be the games with the HarbourCats to look forward to, it will also be about the 2026 WCL All-Star Game being played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park as part of a planned Festival of Baseball, July 14-15. The HarbourCats are hosting the event in both 2026 and 2027.

“No question, this is the most anticipated season yet for us — the All-Star Game, after a very strong schedule leading up to that, and playoffs to follow,” said Christian Stewart, the GM of the HarbourCats. “The variety of visiting teams, the rivalries with teams like Nanaimo, Wenatchee and Bellingham, facing the other tough Canadian teams — it’s a great mix for our fans and our corporate partners.”

The HarbourCats open on the road on Friday, May 29, against the Pickles, then are back on the island for the home opener on Tuesday, June 2, against the Edmonton Riverhawks.

Tentative plans for fireworks dates are Saturday, June 6 (vs. Kelowna Falcons, now managed by former Blue Jay Gregg Zaun), Tuesday, June 30 (vs. the Nanaimo NightOwls), and a special event on Monday, August 3 featuring local talent and a fireworks show to follow.

Further plans to announce popular features such as the Woofability Bark in the Park, the Mayfair Optometric School Spirit game (and maybe a second game!), something we are calling “Early Father’s Day,” and Harvey’s Birthday will be announced soon. Game times remain the popular 6:35pm, except for Sundays (1pm) and the School Spirit games (11am).

“Getting two teams from Oregon at our park this year will be fun — we have the first visit from the Springfield Drifters (June 12-13-14) and a rare appearance by the Bend Elks (July 7-8-9),” said Stewart, who is taking season ticket bookings and doling out 12-packs of tickets already.

“We plan to have the All-Star Game package on sale in short order, too — we love that we have so much time to plan out the WCL schedule and make it work for promotions and logistics. We are known for our creative ideas — this schedule will make things a lot of fun next summer.”

HOME GAMES 2026
June 2-3-4 (T-W-Th), vs. Edmonton Riverhawks
June 5-6-7 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Kelowna Falcons
June 12-13-14 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Springfield Drifters
June 16-17-18 (T-W-Th), vs. Redmond Dudes (non-league)
June 24 (Wed), vs. Nanaimo NightOwls
June 26-27-28 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Bellingham Bells
June 30 (Tues), July 2 (Thurs), vs. Nanaimo NightOwls
July 7-8-9 (T-W-Th), vs. Bend Elks
ALL-STAR GAME FESTIVITIES — Tuesday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 15
July 17-18-19 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Wenatchee AppleSox
July 24-25-26 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Kamloops NorthPaws
July 28-29-30 (T-W-Th), vs. Port Angeles Lefties
August 3 (Mon), vs. SIBL All-Stars (non-league)

ROAD GAMES 2026
The HarbourCats visit the following teams — Portland Pickles (May 29-30-31), Edmonton Riverhawks (June 9-10-11), Port Angeles Lefties (June 19-20-21), Nanaimo NightOwls (June 23, 25, July 1, and July 21-22-23), Kelowna Falcons (July 3-4-5), Kamloops NorthPaws (July 10-11-12), Bellingham Bells (July 31, August 1-2), Wenatchee AppleSox (Aug 3-4-5).

NOTE: SINGLE-GAME TICKETS, ALL-STAR GAME TICKETS and FLEX-PACK VOUCHER RENEWALS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. We are finalizing a few logistics and dates and building the 2026 ticketing system and anticipate all those to go on sale in the next few weeks.

Season tickets and 12-game flex packs are NOW on sale on line at harbourcats.com/tickets or by stopping into the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Four returnees signed by HarbourCats, including all-star Shepherd

Published

2 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

2025 All-Star and home-run leader Logan Shepherd (28) will return to the HarbourCats for the 2026 season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

October 15, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — It’s the norm for players to want to run it back for another summer, and four such returning players have started the foundation for the 2026 Victoria HarbourCats — headlined by a slugging DH/first baseman.

Logan Shepherd, a powerful right-handed hitter from Olympia, WA, will be back with the HarbourCats next summer. A product of Tacoma Community College and now at Mercer, he tied the franchise record for home runs in a season with eight last year, batting .345 and driving in 41 runs while being named to the West Coast League all-star game.

“Logan put up some serious numbers for us and wants to get even more out of the Victoria experience,” said WCL veteran head coach Todd Haney, who will be in his sixth season leading the HarbourCats when May rolls around. “He was a leader, and these players announced today will help us continue with the culture we have established with this program.”

Also signed:

C Dillon Lopez, St. Mary’s, 5-10/200, San Antonio, TX
RHP Austin Lindsey, Hill JC, 6-1/180, Lufkin, TX
RHP Marcus Janovsky, UBC, 6-0/195, Surrey, BC
1B/DH Logan Shepherd, Mercer, 6-2/215, Olympia, WA

Lopez also put up all-star worthy numbers, if he’d been able to join the team earlier in the season — .350 with 18 RBIs in 21 games, hitting three home runs and providing premium defence behind the plate.

Catcher Dillon Lopez (18), here celebrating after a walk-off hit in 2025, will return behind the dish for the 2026 season (Photo: Justin Morash).

Lindsey pitched in 13 games with 27 strikeouts in 24 innings of work, mostly out of the bullpen — a high-leverage, dependable arm for Haney and the coaching staff. Janovsky, playing near his hometown of Surrey at UBC, was 2-1 while giving up 19 hits in 21.1 innings of work, with 19 strikeouts.

Right-hand pitcher Marcus Janovsky (centre), here celebrating after a clutch relief appearance in 2025, will return to the mound for the HarbourCats in 2026 (Photo: Justin Morash)

“We’re proud of the development of these players and can’t wait to welcome them back, with another year of experience under their belt,” said Haney.

Season ticket memberships and 12-game flex packs (new for 2026!) are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. BE SURE TO LOCK IN YOUR SEASON TICKETS TODAY to get first right of refusal on your seats for the 2026 WCL All-Star game that will be played here in Victoria. These will be going on sale SOON!

Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – West Coast League meetings to be held in Victoria

Published

3 weeks ago

October 6, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

October 6, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The capital city of British Columbia will become the centre of the West Coast League (WCL) for two days in October.

The 2025 WCL Fall Meetings, featuring a gathering of team owners/directors, will be held in Victoria, October 20-21. This marks the first time the meetings, often staged near a major U.S. airport (Seattle or Portland) for travel and logistics reasons, have been held in Canada since the formation of the collegiate elite baseball league that evolved from a gathering in Kelowna in 2003, with the Kelowna Falcons as one of the founding members — and the lone Canadian entry until the HarbourCats were founded.

Five of the league’s 17 teams now are located in Canada — in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops and Edmonton. Kamloops, Nanaimo and Edmonton all started play in 2022.

The HarbourCats, who joined the WCL for the 2013 season and have watched as eight former players have advanced to the MLB level, will also welcome the league to Victoria in July of 2026 and 2027 when the organization plays host to the WCL All-Star Game festival for consecutive seasons, showcasing Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. The all-star game was held in Bellingham the last two summers.

“The inner harbour in fall will be a fantastic setting for these meetings, just as it will be for events around the WCL All-Star Game next July,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that operates both the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls.

Topics expected to be discussed are the finalization of the league’s 2026 schedule, WCL marketing initiatives, and ways to improve best practices around player, coach and umpire development — the keystone goal of the WCL.

“I’m incredibly excited to visit Victoria for our fall meetings,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer. “The city’s rich baseball history and beautiful scenery will provide the perfect backdrop for our teams to discuss the future of the League in one of my favorite WCL markets.”

Season ticket memberships and 12-game flex packs are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Lock in your season tickets today to get first right of refusal on your seats for the 2026 WCL All-Star game that will be played here in Victoria.

Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.

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