Thunder Bay, Ont., – The Thunder Bay Border Cats are thrilled to announce that the 2024 roster will have the most Canadian born players in franchise history. A total of 14 Canadians are officially signed to contracts ahead of the Border Cats Northwoods League season opener this Monday in Rochester against the Honkers.
Some of the Canadian talent includes outfielder/pitcher Ty Hamilton, who just completed his freshman season at the University of Utah. The 6’3”, 210-pound lefthander hails from Ottawa, Ont., and is the son of longtime Canadian Junior Baseball Team head coach Greg Hamilton. Coach Hamilton is no stranger to Thunder Bay having led the national team at the 2010 and 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup that was played at Port Arthur Stadium.
Also coming from the University of Utah is pitcher Carter Wall. The 6’2”, 190-pound southpaw hails from Oakville, Ont., and just finished his freshman season with the Utes.
Greg LaChance is a 5’11”, 190-pound infielder from Whitby, Ont., and is a sophomore at Jefferson College in Missouri, where he is teammates with Border Cats pitcher and fellow Canadian Griffin Catto. LaChance is also the brother-in-law of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner.
Additional Canadians on the active roster include first baseman Cole Leclair from Toronto, Ont., and St. John’s University. Catcher Josh McGuin is also from Toronto and attends South Dakota State University, while outfielder Kenneth Sugi is a native of North Vancouver, BC., and plays at Missouri Tech University. On the mound, righthanded pitcher Julian Parson, from the University of South Carolina-Upstate, is a native of Mississauga, Ont., and lefthanded Nick Veselinovic of Lasalle, Ont., plays his collegiate ball at Niagara University.
Thunder Bay native Jack Pineau, a righthander from Creighton University, is scheduled to start his second consecutive home opener on Friday, May 31, when the Border Cats entertain the Minnesota Mud Puppies at 7:35pm. Opening night will also feature post-game fireworks. Tickets are now on sale at the stadium box office weekdays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
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The Thunder Bay Border Cats are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 350 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information visit www.bordercatsbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rockers as your favorite team.
