Baseball Canada Cup to take place in Fort McMurray as scheduled

Statement from 2016 Baseball Canada Cup Organizing Committee

(Fort McMurray, AB, June 6, 2016) – The organizing committee of the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup is pleased to announce the event will take place in Fort McMurray as scheduled from August 3-8.

A devastating wildfire and subsequent community-wide evacuation required the organizing committee to work with Baseball Canada to determine if the event could proceed as scheduled in the Wood Buffalo region. The 2016 Baseball Canada Cup Organizing Committee is a partnership between the Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo (RRC) and the Fort McMurray Minor Baseball Association (FMMBA).

“We are so grateful to Baseball Canada for their support during this time,” said Jodie Cooper, Co-Chair of the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup Organizing Committee and Director of Sport and Recreation for the RRC. “Thanks to the phenomenal firefighting efforts in our community, both the diamonds at the Baseball Stadium at Shell Place, located at MacDonald Island Park, and Ross Hennigar Ball Park, are intact and will be ready for play by August.

Combined with this is our committee’s commitment to this event, including the opportunity to host athletes, their families, coaches and officials from across the country for this prestigious tournament.”

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the fine people of the Wood Buffalo region as the community looks to rebound from the devastation that the wildfires have caused,” said Baseball Canada President Ray Carter. “Our hope is that the Baseball Canada Cup can play a small role in the recovery process for the citizens of Wood Buffalo. We will do everything we can to support the BCCOC and have full confidence that they will do a tremendous job hosting the event.”

Since 1989, the Baseball Canada Cup has attracted some of the best baseball talent from across the country. Canadian ball players have enjoyed experiences that will last a lifetime and Canadian cities have displayed their world class hosting talents year after year. The 2016 Baseball Canada Cup will see ten teams of under-17 baseball players visit Fort McMurray to participate in the event.

The national tournament serves to assist in the selection of Junior National Team players for future training camps and the National Team for the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, as well as providing an opportunity for scouts to evaluate future potential college and professional baseball draft picks.

“We are so excited to welcome everyone to Fort McMurray for this event,” said Cooper. “Despite the challenges we have faced this spring, we know this will be a fantastic event both for the participants and our community. We look forward to showcasing our region for our visitors, and taking this opportunity to celebrate a great event with our community this summer.”