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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats leading the way in mental wellness for players, coaches, staff

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15th, 2023

VICTORIA, B.C. — Recognizing the importance of mental wellness in the workplace, at home, and in play, the Victoria HarbourCats have partnered with Coastality, a Victoria-based team of highly-trained mental wellness professionals, to assist everyone and anyone in their organization in all aspects of their own mental wellness, relationships, careers, education, and daily lives.

As part of their internal commitment to the health and wellbeing of the organization, their investment sees these services being provided confidentially and free-of-charge to the team.

“These types of initiatives are what make our club special, and we’re excited to double down on nurturing our greatest assets – our people – both on and off the field,” said Christian Stewart, General Manager of the HarbourCats. “In this day and age, particularly in sports, we need to take an active role in helping to maintain both the physical and mental wellness of our team”.

On the heels of the launch of MLB’s social responsibility platform ‘MLB Together’, a component of which is a mental health and wellness program aiming to create public awareness and reduce stigma around the conversation of mental health, the timing couldn’t be better.

“We applaud the HarbourCats for leaning in to this so enthusiastically and genuinely seeing the value, both short and long term, in offering these types of services as an extension of their own organization,” said Leanne Toews, Owner of Coastality and Registered Clinical Counsellor. “Having offered these types of programs in other industries, it is great to see it being taken on in the sports realm as well”.

In addition to the free counselling services for players, coaches and staff, the HarbourCats are also doing a special, “Coastality Check-In” ahead of each game, that will see three HarbourCats players making their way through the crowd and “Checking-In” with fans, and signing and giving away special “Coastality” branded. baseball-themed stress balls.  “It’s a way for our fans, in our short season, to get to know some of our players,” added Stewart,  “and for our players to make sure our fans are enjoying the game and that we are making our 10th Anniversary season a special one for all.”

Coastality is an integrated, multi-disciplinary team of mental wellness professionals offering virtual and in-person sessions for children, youth, adults, couples and families. Their accessible offices are located in Downtown Victoria and clinicians can offer service virtually across British Columbia.

For more information, visit the Coastality website at www.coastality.ca or the website or social media platforms of the HarbourCats.

The HarbourCats continue their 10th Anniversary season tomorrow, Friday, at 6:35pm as the Yakima Valley Pippins come to town for the start of  a three-game set.  Tickets for that series and the remainder of the HarbourCats home games in 2023 are now on sale and can be purchased on-line through our one-and-only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at harbourcats.com/tickets.  They can also be purchased at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or at the Select Your Tickets box office at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.  Fans can also call 778-265-0327 to order over the phone.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also still available.  For details on all ticketing options, including our special $10.00 Tuesdays, Forces Fridays and Save-on-Food Vouchers, please visit harbourcats.com/ticketinfo.

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Summer Collegiate

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

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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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All-Stars Hayes and Zenk returning to Owls in 2026

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NANAIMO, B.C. — They put on a show for fans at historic Serauxmen Stadium, and they got better as the summer went on.

Talan Zenk (Everett CC) and Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific), two West Coast League all-stars in 2025, are returning to the Nanaimo NightOwls next summer — the priority first signings by Head Coach Cody Andreychuk and GM Tina Cornett.

“These two players really enjoyed performing in front of WCL fans, and especially our great fans in Nanaimo,” said Andreychuk, the local product who will enter his second season as the NightOwls’ head coach. “They developed, and they got a chance to be leaders. We are proud of how they represented us at the all-star game and we are very happy they are eager to be in Nanaimo again. These are great young men who represent their schools and families so well.”

Zenk, who was the ultimate utility player by serving in both the infield and outfield, was a spark plug at the top of the order — he hit .289 with 10 stolen bases, four home runs, seven doubles and two triples. The 19-year-old from Brier, WA, had a .853 OPS.

Hayes is without a question the best power hitter the NightOwls have ever had in blue and gold, following up a 19-bomb spring at college by hitting 10 home runs (team record) in 49 WCL games, batting .250 with 44 hits, 30 walks and 39 runs driven in, all while playing nearly every game at first base. The 20-year-old from Anacortes, WA is entering his sophomore season at Azusa Pacific. He was the NightOwls player of the year in 2025.

SEASON TICKETS — The best seats can be secured now! Email tina@nanaimonightowls.com to lock in your 2026 NightOwls season tickets, with versatile fan-friendly flex options to see the best baseball on Vancouver Island. The NightOwls enter their fifth season in the WCL and have had a player selected in the MLB draft each of the last three seasons.

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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Fall Indoor Youth Training Sessions Now Available!

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Sessions begin September 30th (softball) and October 4th (baseball). Register NOW!

The Victoria HarbourCats and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) are now taking individual bookings for our Fall 2025 indoor training sessions for both baseball and softball.

The “Offseason Academy“, presented by The EFTC, is designed to keep athletes sharp, confident, and improving long after the final game of summer. Built for youth players who want to stay ahead of the competition, our Academy focuses not only on technical skill development but also on the physical conditioning that keeps athletes strong and game-ready.

With a lineup of specialized camps in areas such as hitting, analytics, and fastball skills, athletes can train with experienced coaches, benefit from professional-level technology like HitTrax, and build the habits that matter most during the offseason.

All sessions take place in the same professional training facility used by the HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide, giving players access to a proven environment for growth and performance.

2025 Fall Sessions Include:

Baseball, Advance Hitting Analytics, $159, Saturdays, 1:15-3:15, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-17
The Advanced HitTrax Analytics Hitting Camp is built for serious baseball athletes aged 12–17 who want to take a deeper dive into the analytics behind their swing. Led by Dexter Stoiber from the Victoria Golden Tide collegiate roster, this camp goes beyond basic mechanics to show players how to interpret advanced hitting data, identify areas for improvement, and make the small tweaks that translate into real results on the field. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, Foundations and Futures, $299, Saturdays, 9:00am- 1:00pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 8-11
Foundations & Futures” is a high-energy baseball camp for players aged 8–11. This camp delivers professional-grade instruction in a dynamic, fun environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and carry your skills into next season. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, High Performance Prep, $225, Saturdays, 3:30-6:30pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-15.
High Performance Prep” is designed for players aged 12–15 who are ready to refine their skills and maintain peak form after summer. This camp delivers advanced instruction in a focused, competitive environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and prepare for the season ahead. REGISTER HERE

Fastball / Softball, Offseason Advantage, $199, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5-7pm, September 30 thru October 29. Ages 12-17
The Softball / Fastball Skills Camp is built for athletes aged 12–17 who want to strengthen every part of their game during the offseason. With trusted instruction from Maddie Kumala, one of the most respected coaches and players in the fastball community, this camp provides parents with the peace of mind that their athlete is learning in a structured, professional, and supportive environment. REGISTER HERE

There are limited spaces in each camp so don’t delay. Register NOW!

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