Softball Canada names preliminary roster for Men's Softball World Cup group
Canada announced a list of thirty-six (36) athletes who have been named to the 2024 Men’s National Team Athlete Pool. The list - which includes 14 Men's Softball World Cup medallists, more than any country in the world - was put together by the returning coaching staff consisting of head coach John Stuart and assistant coaches Doug Allin, Jeff Ellsworth and Les Howey.
“The coaching staff is very happy to announce the group of athletes currently in consideration for a spot on our World Cup Group Stage team,” said head coach John Stuart. “We have a strong group of athletes with World Cup experience who are highly motivated to compete on home soil, and many other players are knocking on the door looking to earn their spot. We’re very excited about the high level of play these athletes showed this year and the current depth of our Men’s National Team program.”
The Athlete Pool includes 14 players who won the silver medal at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup 2022, an additional five with previous Men’s World Cup experience, and six members from the WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup fifth-place team earlier this year.
Canada will host a six-team WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup group in Prince Albert, Sask. from July 10-14, 2024. The United States will host another group in Oklahoma City, Okla. from September 17-21, and a third group stage will be announced at a later date.
The top two teams from each group and two wild card teams (including host Canada if they do not finish in the top two) will advance to the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025 that will be held July 8-13 in Prince Albert, Sask.
The athletes who have been named to the 2024 Men’s National Team Athlete Pool are:
- Bryan Abrey
- Brayden Arcand
- Keagan Arcand
- Denny Benson
- Ryan Boland
- Shane Boland
- Quinten Bruce
- Patrick Burns
- Sean Cleary
- Bradley Ezekiel
- Kyle Ezekiel
- Brandon Horn
- Jordan Hudson
- Blake Hunter
- Derek Hyde
- Cory Jones
- Travis Jones
- Caleb Keeshig
- Dallas Kipfer
- Justin Laskowski
- Jeff Lyons
- Riley Manion
- Devon McCullough
- Mason McKay
- Scott Nehaj
- Tyler Pauli
- Zach Pierce
- Jordan Pomeroy
- Tyler Randerson
- Mathieu Roy
- Justin Schofield
- Ty Sebastian
- Blake Underwood
- Colin Walsh
- Kris Walushka
- Reese Yantzi
- BOLD - Members of 2022 WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Canadian team
- ITALICS - Members of the 2023 U-23 Men's Softball World Cup Canadian team
Athletes named to the Men’s National Team Athlete Pool are eligible to be invited to Men’s National Team training, development, and selection camps. Athletes may be added or removed from the National Team Athlete Pool at any time at the coaching staff’s discretion.