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Victoria HarbourCats – ‘Men Without Hats’ declared official band of the HarbourCats

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3 months ago

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The Safety Dance will be played for all home team home runs

January 30, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTORIA, B.C. — A Victoria-based band is now the official rock group of the Victoria HarbourCats.

MEN WITHOUT HATS, originally from Montreal but now Island-based with co-founders and brothers Ivan Doroschuk and Colin Doroschuk living in Victoria, has been declared the OFFICIAL BAND OF THE VICTORIA HARBOURCATS.

Their smash hit legendary song The Safety Dance (“We can DANCE if you want to!”) will be played whenever a HarbourCats player hits a home run, and the iconic Pop Goes The World will be used to add spice after pop ups lead to outs by the visiting team.

“I am humbled that Men Without Hats has been chosen as the OFFICIAL BAND of the Victoria HarbourCats, and that Safety Dance will be the home run song,” said Ivan Doroschuk, lead singer — and a baseball fan back to his days going to Expos games at Parque Jarry.

“I’ve been a huge fan and proud supporter of the HarbourCats for many years so I truly consider this to be a great honour. I’m looking forward to watching another amazing season of ball! Let’s go HarbourCats!”

Doroschuk is a season ticket holder with the HarbourCats, attending games at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP when MWH isn’t on yet another tour, playing their classic songs and debuting new material. In 2021, the band unveiled No Friends of Mine, a rework of the 1982 classic The Safety Dance — it’s become a smash hit on tours that have taken the band through Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and to Europe in recent years.

Men Without Hats routinely showcases with other 80s staples such as The Thompson Twins, Right Said Fred, The Motels, Escape Club, Haircut 100 and others — including the Totally Tubular Festival dates slated for June and July, starting in San Jose on June 27 and planned to complete in Indianapolis on July 24. Other stops include New York, Detroit and Cincinnati — proof of the demand that has grown for their distinct sound.

“It’s been great to get to know Ivan at our games, and to have him even sing the anthems for us — which we will try to plan again,” said Jim Swanson, managing partner of the HarbourCats.

“This is an exciting announcement for us, cross-branding our events with their great music.”

The Safety Dance and Pop Goes The World were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and three “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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

Get your copy of the full 2025 Schedule HERE.

ATTENTION 2024 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS:  If you have not already done so, please renew your seats for 2025 so that they can be locked into the new ticketing system.  Season Tickets will be sent to all members electronically this season on April 1, 2025, perhaps sooner.  Any seats not renewed by that time will be released and placed back into the system. Contact Christian at the office at 778-265-0327 to renew.  

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Lake returns to the ocean, one of six pitchers signed by HarbourCats

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2 days ago

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May 6, 2025

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Returning HarbourCat Shea Lake highlights six pitchers signed by the ‘Cats in preparation for the 2025 season  (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

For immediate release

May 6, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a second season in Victoria for right-hander Shea Lake — he liked it so much in 2024, he had to say yes to a return engagement.

The former Hawaii Pacific University pitcher, now at West Texas A&M where he was a redshirt this spring, returns to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP for the 2025 season to work with pitching coach Scott Anderson.

“I am thrilled Shea, along with 10 returning pitchers will lead our pitching staff this summer,” said Anderson, in his third season under Head Coach Todd Haney. “The pitchers announced today are a great mix of proven college pitchers. They are excited to continue developing with our tremendous staff of pitching coaches and fired up to bring a championship to Victoria,” added Head Coach Todd Haney.

Lake had a 4.40 ERA last summer in five appearances, allowing just 10 hits in 16.1 innings pitched.

Announced to the roster today by Haney:

  • RHP John Ondus, Niagara, 6-2/215, R/R, Gowanda, NY
  • RHP Ethan McNish-Heider, Niagara, 6-4/215, R/R, El Cajon, CA
  • RHP Logan Salomon, Nevada-Reno, 6-5/230, R/R, Chandler, AZ
  • RHP Tyler Patrick, Fresno State, 6-1/215, R/R, Fresno, CA
  • RHP Shea Lake, West Texas A&M, 6-3/190, R/R, Temecula, CA
  • LHP/OF Tristin Thomas, West Texas A&M, 5-8/140, L/L, Carlsbad, NM

Lake is at West Texas A&M with Tristin Thomas, a redshirt freshman who is hitting .429 this season with one home run, while also throwing 12 innings off the mound.

In Ondrus and McNish-Heider, the HarbourCats get a pair of big right-handers who project as power pitchers at the college level — both are roughly a strikeout per inning, and are expected to provide proven experience in the bullpen.

Salomon is a large specimen at 6-5/230, and has had an impressive season — 31 innings pitched, and one five-inning relief outing in which he fanned nine batters, and another relief stint with seven strikeouts. He is 2-0 with a 3.77 ERA and one save.

Patrick, a high school star catcher and pitcher, is finishing his freshman season and is focusing on mound work. He’s thrown 25.1 innings with just eight walks, and has a 3.55 ERA.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. 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.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.  Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided.  More details HERE

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Summer Collegiate

Pitching staff beefed up with locals, big bats in Hayes and Dion added to infield

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3 days ago

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May 5, 2025

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Announced today by Coach Andreychuk:

OF Jaisen Abner, Seattle U, 5-8/180, R/R, Seattle, WA

IF Louis Dion, Reinhardt U, 5-11/185, L/R, Henderson, NV

RHP Jack Schroeder, Colby CC, 6-1/200, R/R, Cody, WY

IF Jacob Hayes, Azusa Pacific, 6-5/230, R/R, Anacortes, WA

RHP Jaedeyn Edwards, East LA College, 6-3/210, R/R, Gardena, CA

RHP Ricardo ‘Kiki’ Villegas, East LA College, 6-5/210, R/R, Covina, CA

RHP Jakin Rohne, Victoria Golden Tide, 5-10/195, R/R, Courtenay, BC

RHP Carter Chard-Hill, Vancouver Island University, 6-2/215, R/R, Powell River, BC

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Victoria HarbourCats – Woof, Woof… Woofability presents Bark In The Park Day

Published

1 week ago

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May 1, 2025

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HarbourCats welcome dogs on Sunday, July 13 at Wilson’s Group Stadium 

For immediate release

May 1, 2025

VICTORIA — The ‘Cats are going to the dogs again this summer, thanks to Woofability.

On Sunday, July 13, the gates will open at noon for a 1pm Victoria HarbourCats game and all the pooches are welcome.

The game is presented by Woofability, a tremendous local business that specializes in service dog training, also offering enrichment, boarding and training services, and even online training for pets and their humans.

“This is exciting for us, to work with Woofability and showcase what they do,” said avid animal lover and HarbourCats Director of Online Services Chris Beveridge. “This is my favourite day of the season, getting to plan all the events with Woofability for Bark in the Park.”

Treats, water dishes, a place for dogs to run a bit — all will be provided on Woofability’s “Bark in the Park“ day.

And, Woofability Service Dog Training will put on a pre-game demonstration, on the field, for fans to see. More special surprises will be planned.

“We are very excited to partner with the HarbourCats for this unique day in the HarbourCats calendar, and to be able to tell people about Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and also about our society, Pawsibilities Service Dogs Society, which advocates, educates and supports members of the public who need a service dog but don’t have the resources to have one,” said CEO Tim Land, who co-owns the businesses along with his wife April Sauve, the Head Trainer, highly skilled in training service dogs, dog tricks and K9 body conditioning. “This is an ideal event for our great staff to be able to show the community how much we love what we do.”

Tickets for the game are available now through our one and only ticketing partner SHOWPASS and will be available right up to gametime on that Sunday.

For more information on Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and Pawsibilities Service Dog Society, follow the links Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and Pawsabilities Service Dog Society.

—

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. 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.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.  Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided.  More details HERE

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