The game of baseball in Canada has come a long way since Tyler Hollick was a Dawgs Academy outfielder.
In fact, the current president of baseball operations says the current 18U Black squad would “wax” the Dawgs teams he played for 15 years ago.
It’s why he’s excited to see them put in the national spotlight with the upcoming The Road to Okotoks – the inaugural 16-team academy national championship culminating with the Morneau Cup being handed to the winners.
With the friendly amenities at Seaman Stadium and Tourmaline Field, Hollick says the Dawgs want to create something similar to the College World Series in Omaha or, as some people have started putting it, the “Memorial Cup of Baseball.”
“We’re really pushing the envelop to make this a world-class tournament,” Hollick said. “Kids might only get to play in it once and we want it to be something they will never forget.”
It will be a showcase of the best programs and best talent across the country, and Hollick says it will give fans a chance to see the college and professional stars of tomorrow.
BETTER THAN EVER
The Road to Okotoks will also give some national exposure to a Dawgs program that has been turning heads in North America for years.
Sitting No. 2 in Perfect Game’s 18U End of Summer Rankings, the 18U Black club finished 2025 with a 60-5-1 record against non-junior college teams and captured six of seven tournament championships they played in across Canada and the U.S.
As good as last year’s team was, head coach Jeff Duda believes this year’s team has more depth than ever before in all facets of the game.
“Our pitching depth is unmatched across the country,” he said.
“Offensively, we have a health blend of speed, contact and power from top to bottom, while maintaining balance between right-handed and left-handed hitters that makes it difficult for teams to match up against.”
The Dawgs started off 2026 in much the same fashion by capturing their third-straight Best of the West title in Kamloops, beating the Langley Blaze 8-2 in the championship to finish 5-1 on the tournament.
CONFIDENT CANINES
It could have been easy for the Dawgs to put their feet up and relax while the 15 other teams went through their respective regional qualifiers in late May.
Aside from the Best of the West tournament, they continued their annual series of road trips and tournaments – including their first-ever Spring Training game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
However, nothing can compare to hosting the first-of-its-kind national championship for bragging rights in a debate that has raged on for years – who has the best academy program in Canada.
Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native and highly touted pitcher AJ Rogers is excited to face the best competition in the country.
“Our confidence level is high,” he said. “We’ve been one of the best academies in Canada – if not the best – for years now and we haven’t slowed down at all. I think there aren’t a lot of teams that can take us down.”
Fellow hurler and Cloverdale, B.C. product Brydon White has played with and against many of the players both in his home province as well as at national events like the Canadian Futures Showcase.
He’s looking forward to showing everyone around the Canadian baseball world what Okotoks and the Dawgs have to offer.
But first thing’s first: they want to win.
“I think the key to winning is going to be what our team has focused on all season long: support for each other and patience,” White said. “We have a very talented roster, we are all very competitive and we never give up.”
HOMETOWN EXPECTATIONS
The significance of hosting the first-ever national championship and potentially winning it all isn’t lost on the Dawgs players, coaches and staff.
It does, however, come with some high expectations, which surprisingly aren’t being felt as we approach the start of the tournament.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure for us,” Rogers said. “We know how good we are, we know how good we can be, and we just have to show it on the field when the time comes.”
READ MORE: Next Stop: Okotoks
White adds it would mean the world to the team to win the inaugural Morneau Cup for their families, friends, coaches, the academy, and everyone who has supported them along the way.
While winning is a priority for the Dawgs, Hollick is also wanting to make sure the event goes off without a hitch.
He says it’s a unique opportunity to bring the country together in the name of baseball and build something that everyone looks forward to attending or watching every year.
“I think it’s going to be competitive and it’s going to be a great tournament,” said the Dawgs’ baseball operations head honcho. “It’s also going to really be a celebration for everybody to see how far baseball has come in Canada.”
The Road to Okotoks is set for July 14-19. Games will be broadcast through HN Live while tickets are available here.
