The roadmap is already there.
“Hockey Day in Canada” has been a staple of the National Hockey League’s schedule since it first aired on CBC in 2000.
True to its name, it’s a full day dedicated to hockey with a triple-header of hockey action involving all Canadian teams. The broadcast also features live segments from smaller communities across the country and discussions about the emerging issues the sport faces, whether they be in the professional or amateur ranks.
When Rogers secured the NHL rights in 2015, Hockey Day in Canada continued and has evolved to include broadcasts and highlights of junior hockey leagues and, more recently, the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Several communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan have been at the focal point of the annual hockey love-in, including Red Deer, Shaunavon, Lloydminster, Swift Current and Canmore.
It’s even been done in different languages including French and Punjabi.
With the outstanding run by the Toronto Blue Jays to the 2025 World Series to Baseball Canada’s performance at the World Baseball Classic, the fever pitch for baseball is on.
So why not capitalize on all that success and create “Baseball Day in Canada”?
ONE DAY IN OKOTOKS
The first time I ever uttered those words out loud was actually back in 2021.
In the midst of its COVID-abbreviated season with five teams and a shortened schedule, the Western Canadian Baseball League had the first iteration of “Baseball Day in Canada” as the Okotoks Dawgs Black squad (they had two teams that season) took on the Edmonton Prospects.
The August 14th celebration of the game included a bunch of on-field activations as well as a full-day broadcast featuring interviews from across the baseball spectrum and analysis.
Interestingly, that was really my first foray into being the “desk host” for a WCBL event and, in hindsight, I think it went really well.
But it was during that day where I remember having conversations afterwards about how it could potentially grow into something much bigger if only we could get buy-in from the Toronto Blue Jays, Baseball Canada, the provincial associations and others across the baseball world in this country.
A LONG TIME COMIN’
And here we are … five years later with nothing but memories of that summer day in 2021.
Have any conversations been had about it? Maybe. I won’t pretend to have been in boardrooms at the major sports networks in Canada who kicked tires on the idea.
Every so often, the idea does come up in conversation, usually with my old friend Jonathan Hodgson, as we lament how we could be doing a better job of promoting baseball in Canada.
Then it hit me again twice over the past couple of days: once in a tweet from Jon and once listening into the news conference about the WCBL’s Rural Roots Baseball Classic.
I was transported back to last summer’s inaugural game in Oyen and how much fun it was to bring the game back to the grassroots in a rural community that doesn’t normally get to see summer collegiate baseball.
Kind of like how, when it comes to baseball coverage, the national conversation seems to solely focus on the Blue Jays.
JUST A FEW IDEAS
Which takes us to Monday night, when I finally decided to respond to Jon’s tweet about how baseball is on the upswing in Canada and how cool it would be to see Sportsnet do more stuff with the Vancouver Canadians, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Quebec Capitales and even some of the summer college teams.
My thought: why couldn’t we do a one-day special where we see wall-to-wall baseball coverage?
Showcase the game across the country. Maybe you could tie in the annual Jays Care “Field of Dreams” announcement into it or provide special coverage of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
Maybe it’s an opportunity to expand conversations about big events like Baseball Canada or Little League Canada nationals, the Canadian Futures Showcase and the new Road to Okotoks. We can talk about the state of the women’s game in our country and our connections to the new Women’s Pro Baseball League.
You could have interviews with Canadian MLB or MiLB players about their respective journeys in the game. Bring on coaches or the heads of programs who are training the next generation of stars. You can talk about the outstanding facilities we have going up across the country.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of great stories that should be told on a national stage. And you can celebrate IN those communities like Okotoks, Muenster and Winkler.
And who knows? Maybe that opens the door to more coverage of the Canadian minor league or pro leagues, a bigger broadcast plan for the Canadian Futures Showcase or other national events or even providing a stage for college baseball games featuring a few Canadians to be broadcast in the Great White North.
We should be proud of how far we’ve come but also embrace where we’re going as a baseball country, and nothing would send that message home like giving it a nationally televised spotlight.
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