Baseball Canada set to host National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser
OTTAWA-Baseball Canada will host some of its most distinguished alumni, corporate partners and friends at the Northern Lights Ballroom inside the Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel this Saturday, January 14th for the annual National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser that’s celebrating its 15th year.
The evening serves as a very important fundraising source for Baseball Canada's Junior (18U) and Senior National Teams and will be emceed by Mike Wilner - host of The Blue Jays Talk on Sportsnet 590 THE FAN.
The National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser will honour the accomplishments of alumni throughout the evening including Paul Quantrill who will become the ninth inductee onto Baseball Canada's Wall of Excellence, presented by RBC Wealth Management.
Baseball Canada will present awards to alumni Dustin Molleken (Stubby Clapp Award), Ryan Dempster (Special Recognition Award), Andrew Yerzy (Junior National Team MVP) and Adam Hall (Canadian Futures Award), while Michael Saunders (Special Achievement Award) and Tyler O’Neill (Alumni Award) will also be recognized. Former MVP’s Larry Walker and Justin Morneau will also be celebrated with the 33 Canadian MVP’s Award.
A host of Canadian Major League Baseball players will be on-hand for the banquet including four-time All-Star Russell Martin of the Toronto Blue Jays and former National League Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star Jason Bay. Other current and former pros attending include Andrew Albers, John Axford, Denis Boucher, Jim Henderson, Pete Orr, Dalton Pompey, Chris Reitsma, Scott Richmond, Jamie Romak and Chris Robinson.
World Baseball Classic Manager Ernie Whitt will be in attendance along with World Baseball Classic Coach and current Blue Jays First Base Coach Tim Leiper.
Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar heads a list of former Blue Jays including Devon White and Pat Hentgen, while Baseball Canada will welcome Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins.
In addition to the awards presentation, cocktail hour and formal dinner, the evening will feature an extensive auction of sports memorabilia and sporting event packages.
There will be a pre-banquet press conference beginning at 3:30pm ET in the Aurora Room of the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at Rogers Centre (Aurora Room is adjacent to the Northern Lights Ballroom).
For media interested in covering the press conference, please contact Adam Morissette via e-mail at media@baseball.ca.
For more information concerning the banquet, please contact Greg Hamilton, Coach and Director of National Teams, via e-mail at ghamilton@baseball.ca.
*Please note, for those attending the banquet, there is no ticket required. Please visit the registration table upon arrival at the Northern Lights Ballroom prior to the Cocktail hour (6pm) to check-in.