By IAN WILSON
The most influential people in the country’s baseball scene have been revealed by the Canadian Baseball Network.
The CBN recently released their annual list of the nation’s top power brokers in the sport and a number of honourees have ties to Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Finishing in top spot on the list was Edward Rogers, the executive chair of the board of Rogers Communications, the owner of the Toronto Blue Jays. Right-handed starting pitcher Nick Pivetta of the San Diego Padres landed in second place, followed by Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in third.
Here’s a closer look at some of those who were recognized in the 19th annual rankings, which were compiled by journalists Kevin Glew and Bob Elliott:
12: JOHN IRCANDIA
The founding and managing director of the Okotoks Dawgs moved up from 13th place the previous year to 12th overall.
In climbing the list, the CBN pointed to renovations of the facilities at Seaman Stadium, including the incoming addition of pitching and hitting labs, as well as the expansion of the weight-training room. Another field-level suite and 200 more grandstand seats are also being added to the home of the Dawgs.
“The Okotoks Dawgs drew 110,029 for its 27 Seaman Stadium home dates in 2025, for an average of 4,075 fans, including 6,498 on Canada Day,” noted the article.
“And all roads will lead to Okotoks this summer as the best 19U teams from across the country compete on the Road to Okotoks for the Justin Morneau Cup. Sandlot coaches ask why Okotoks? Can you name me one better amateur stadium in Canada?”
The Road to Okotoks national championship will take place from July 14-19.
13. GREG HAMILTON
The director of Baseball Canada’s national teams and 2025 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee has an influence that extends right across the country. Through his efforts with the Junior National Team (JNT), Hamilton works with players who spend time in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) and attend academies in all provinces. He is also a member of the Okotoks Dawgs Hall of Fame.
17. PAT GILLICK
The minority owner of the Philadelphia Phillies dropped from the 15th spot in 2024 to 17th on the list in 2025. A member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Gillick pitched in Alberta in the late 1950s, taking the mound for the Vulcan Elks, Granum White Sox and Edmonton Eskimos. He threw a no-hitter at a tournament in Medicine Hat and struck out 17 batters during a game in Calgary.
23. JUSTIN MORNEAU
Morneau made big gains on this year’s honour roll, jumping from No. 47 last year to 23rd place this time around.
“In baseball circles, one of the biggest honours you can receive is to have a ballpark named after you. Well, how about having a national championship tournament named in your honour?” pondered the CBN authors.
“That’s what’s happened to Morneau. Next July, the winner of ‘The Road to Okotoks’ tournament, a national 19U championship that will feature 16 elite teams with the best 19 and under talent from across the country battling it out in Okotoks, Alta., will receive the Morneau Cup. The hope from organizers is that some day it will hold the same stature as the Memorial Cup,”
The 2006 American League MVP and member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame was a key part of the Edmonton Trappers during their 2002 postseason run that ended with a Pacific Coast League (PCL) championship for the provincial capital. Morneau went from playing Double-A ball to the Triple-A level that year and batted .400 in five playoff games.
28. DOUG MATHIESON & JAMIE BODALY
The brain trust of the Langley Blaze have worked with a number of talented baseball players from across Canada over the years. A long list of Albertans have worn the Blaze uniform, including Mike Soroka, Adam Macko, Matt Lloyd, Clayton Keyes, Shane Dawson, and more recently, Calgarian Tom Poole.
36. STUBBY CLAPP
Clapp was named to Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence in 2025 and “Captain Canada” will wear the maple leaf yet again as a coach at the World Baseball Classic this March.
The final stop of Clapp’s pro playing career came with the Edmonton Cracker-Cats in 2005 and 2006, where the middle infielder served as the club’s hitting coach in his last year. The coaching bug took hold for the Windsor, Ontario product, who won back-to-back PCL titles as the manager of the Memphis Redbirds before joining the St. Louis Cardinals as the first base coach in 2019.
45. RYAN DEMPSTER
The co-host of “Intentional Talk” on the MLB Network and special advisor to the Chicago Cubs picked up 132 wins as a pitcher in the big leagues for 16 seasons. The British Columbian had a brief stint with the Calgary Cannons in 1999. Dempster is a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
46. PATRICK GRIFFIN
The amateur scout with the Toronto Blue Jays shot up from 90th place to 46th spot in the recent rankings.
“In 2025, Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) won the Canadian Baseball Network Scout of the Year Award named after the late Jim Ridley. He drafted Tim Piasentin in the fifth round and signed him for $747,500 … more than $240,000 above slot value of $503,800. Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) played for the Okotoks Dawgs and the Junior National Team,” observed the CBN writers.
“To say that the Jays have not been active on the homefront would be an understatement. You would have to go back six years to find a combined signing bonuses to surpass Piasentin’s.”
50. BUD BLACK
The former manager of the Colorado Rockies had a rough year in Denver, but he’s still got clout in the baseball world.
“Baseball people always talk about winning the last game. Usually it means the end of the season — the World Series. Black won his last game — a 9-3 decision over the Padres ending an eight-game losing streak. Yet, that was enough for Rockies owner Dick Monfort, as the win only lifted the club’s record to 7-33 and he made a managerial change,” stated CBN.
“Black’s record in 2025 was only one game better than the worst 40-game start in big-league history and Colorado was coming off consecutive 100-plus loss seasons. Black, whose father was from Olds, Alta. and mother was from Melville, Sask., was in his ninth season. He retried with a 1,193-1,403 (.460 win percentage). In January 2026, Black was hired by the Padres as senior advisor to baseball operations. Could Black help out Canada in the WBC … maybe toss an inning or two?”
56. MATT STAIRS
The former major-league slugger and Edmonton Trapper came in at No. 56 on the list, down from 45th in 2024.
“In 2025, Stairs enjoyed his first full year as a hitting coordinator in the Okotoks Dawgs’ organization. He worked with over 120 youth players, ages 10 to 18, in the Dawgs’ program. Stairs also ran a hitting clinic for kids at the Dawgs’ Duvernay Fieldhouse in February and a two-day hitting, pitching and defence camp at the end of November. In between, he continued in his unofficial role as WCBL All-Star Game ambassador at Seaman Stadium,” read his entry in the story.
“When he’s not in Okotoks sharing his wisdom, Stairs is back East doing the same. He serves as technical director of the Fredericton Minor Baseball Association, a position that entails regularly going to practices and offering advice to coaches.”
61. JAMIE CAMPBELL
The Sportsnet broadcaster and WCBL superfan moved up two spots from his previous ranking.
“Campbell completed his 15th season on Blue Jays Central (21st in broadcasting), and with the Blue Jays coming within one win of capturing the World Series, it was his most exciting yet. Campbell and the Blue Jays Central crew even took their show on the road to Dodger Stadium for the Fall Classic,” said the CBN.
“For a second consecutive year, Campbell and his son, Jack, toured Western Canadian Baseball League parks. In 2024, they visited Alberta, so this July they checked out Saskatchewan ball parks in Weyburn, Saskatoon and Regina.”
Campbell will be off to Saskatchewan again next month for a pair of WCBL sports dinner events – one with the Weyburn Beavers on Feb. 6th and the other with the Swift Current 57’s on Feb. 7th
62. JASON DICKSON
The CEO of Baseball Canada had a lengthy professional career as a pitcher. A sixth-round pick of the California Angels in 1994, the London, Ontario native spent 10 seasons in pro ball, including two games for the Edmonton Trappers in 2000.
“Dickson continues to work tirelessly to improve the profile of the sport in our country. In 2025, Dickson led Baseball Canada in its second year of its five-year Strategic Plan which is based on three pillars and commitments: growth, development and performance and organizational excellence,” proclaimed the CBN scribes.
“A highlight of 2025 for Baseball Canada was the formation and announcement of ‘The Road to Okotoks’ tournament which will see the top 16 elite teams, featuring the country’s best 19U players face off in Okotoks, Alta., for a national championship in July.”
68. MIKE BONANNO
The Klutch Sports agent represents some top Canadian talent, including righty pitcher Jonah Tong of the Mets and outfielder Owen Caissie of the Miami Marlins. He also looks after Edmonton-area product Erik Sabrowski, who has emerged as an effective lefty bullpen option for the Cleveland Guardians.
70. MICHAEL SOROKA
The Calgarian inked a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks for $7.5 million on Dec. 12th and the 28-year-old will look to serve as a starting pitcher in 2026.
He’s had success as both a starter and reliever during his career, but Soroka is hoping to crack the 180-innings mark this season, which will be his seventh in the major leagues.
The righthander is also planning to take the mound for Canada at the World Baseball Classic.
72. CHRIS PRITCHETT
The head coach at UBC is coming off his 10th season as head coach of the Thunderbirds and now has an overall record of 283-181.
Pritchett – who played 61 MLB games and 96 games for the Edmonton Trappers in 1999 – has provided guidance to several players who have suited up in the Western Canadian Baseball League over the years.
74. CHRIS KEMLO
The cross-checker with the Padres – and 2022 CBN Scout of the Year – was responsible for San Diego selecting Biggar, Saskatchewan pitcher Garrett Hawkins in 2022, as well as Vancouver’s Vicarte Domingo in 2024. Domingo, a right-handed pitcher, took the bump for the Okotoks Dawgs in the WCBL and the Edmonton Riverhawks in the West Coast League.
75. DR. RANDY GREGG
The managing director of the Edmonton Riverhawks rises from 84th place on the list to No. 75 in 2025.
“Long before he was winning Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, Randy Gregg won it all. He pitched for the Edmonton Tigers ball team from 1975-1982, winning a Canadian title in 1978, earning MVP honours,” said CBN in their rankings.
“The Riverhawks drew 131,966 fans in 27 home dates, averaging 4,888 to Re/Max Field in Edmonton.This broke a WCL single-season attendance record.”
77. CHRIS REITSMA
The Minnesota-born and Calgary-raised pitcher spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners from 2001 through 2007. These days, Reitsma is the pitching coordinator and senior director of operations with Webber Academy in the community of Springbank, just west of Calgary. The academy’s pupils have included Albertans Simon Baker, Sawyer Jensen, Cohen Miller and Zack McDonald.
79. VINCENT IRCANDIA
The original member of the Okotoks Dawgs was recognized for his work as the CEO of StellarAlgo, a leading sports customer data platform that has partnered with more than 200 sports properties and 14 leagues.
84. LES McTAVISH
Vauxhall Academy of Baseball’s head coach has graduated several players to the pro ranks over the years, including Garrett Hawkins, Adam Macko, Damiano Palmegiani, Wesley Moore and Tyler Boudreau. A number of other Vauxhall students have gone on to have successful collegiate baseball careers and represent Canada with the Junior National Team.
88. STU SCHEURWATER
Many years ago, he called balls and strikes in Alberta and Saskatchewan in the Western Major Baseball League (the predecessor of the WCBL) prior to advancing to the major leagues.
“Scheurwater (Regina, Sask.) worked 119 games in 2025, including 30 behind the plate. He had the Guardians-Tigers Wild Card Series. He worked the left field line as Tarik Skubal pitched a 2-1 gem over the Guardians, then had third base as Cleveland bounced back with a 6-1 win — thanks to five runs in the eighth — to force a deciding game in the best-of-three series. And he had second base in Game 3 as the Tigers rallied for four runs in the seventh for a 6-3 win,” said the CBN in reviewing his most recent MLB season.
90. GREG BRONS
The former head coach of the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets in the WMBL slotted in at 90th on the list – up from 94th in 2024 – for his coaching results with Baseball Sask. Saskatchewan earned a bronze medal at the Canada Games in Newfoundland, a tournament that helped send catcher Aiden Kilshaw to the Dominican with the Junior National Team for their fall trip. Saskatchewan teams also performed well at the Arizona Fall Classic and the Best of the West tournament in Kamloops.
95. JOE McFARLAND & IAN WILSON
The co-founders of Alberta Dugout Stories and Saskatchewan Dugout Stories saw their stock rise from 123rd spot in 2024 to 95th place in 2025.
“McFarland earned the Baseball Canada media award in 2025. Just as deserving was Wilson. Everyone on this list loves the game. Few would have more combined passion and desire as the McFarland-Wilson duo,” wrote Elliott, a Hall-of-Fame journalist.
“They have Alberta covered from B.C. to the Alberta border: men, women, college, minors, major leaguers. They have Saskatchewan blanketed from the Alberta border to the Manitoba line. The Alberta Dugout Stories site was founded in June 2017 and in 2024, they expanded east to the Saskatchewan Dugout Stories.”
99. SHARI REINIGER
She has an impressive international resume through the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and the Canadian Baseball Network took notice.
“When the late Jim Baba was the Technical Commission Chair for the WBSC, Shari was appointed by the WBSC President as a member of the commission in 2022. Baba ran it and Shari (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) worked with him as a member of the commission to oversee WBSC Baseball rules, regulations and protocols. All commissions were disbanded in the fall before the 2026 WBSC Congress. The new commissions have not been named yet. The next commissions will run through the Olympic cycle until 2029,” noted the CBN.
“In 2025, Shari was a Technical Commission Member, the WBSC Baseball Technical Commissioner Licensing Programme Lead, the Technical Director for the Champions League Americas pro event in Mexico City and the Women Lead Sports Master Program nominee for WBSC.”
100. BLAKE COROSKY & RAZA MALIK
The player agents with True Gravity have represented several clients who are familiar to baseball watchers in Alberta and Saskatchewan, including Garrett Hawkins, Ty Doucette, Ty Boudreau and Max Poirier.
102. SAVANNAH BLAKLEY, ANGELA BURGER & LOU POTE
At the Okotoks Dawgs banquet in 2019, guest speaker Bob Elliott collapsed on stage and a trio of lifesavers sprung into action, including photographer Angela Burger, manager Lou Pote and athletic trainer Savannah Blakley. Their efforts kept Elliott alive until the doctors at the Foothills Hospital could nurse him back to health. Needless to say, Elliott has kept Burger, Pote and Blakley in his thoughts ever since.
111. JEFF DUDA & TYLER HOLLICK
Duda, the pitching coordinator of the Okotoks Dawgs, and Hollick – the president of the Dawgs – received credit for their work in helping elevate their players to the next level. A long list of academy grads and summer collegiate players have found success at the college level, in professional baseball, and on MLB rosters. Others have impressed international audiences over the years.
Honourable mentions related to the CBN list are expected to be announced in the near future.
