February 19, 2023

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

Each year Hall of Fame writer Bob Elliott releases his Top 100 Most Influential Canadians in Baseball list highlighting people's contributions to the game across the country and around the world.

Among the names topping the list this year were Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.) at No. 1, Atlanta Braves president and general manager Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) at No. 2 and Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) at No. 3.

If you kept making your way down the list, you'd notice four members of the Terriers took their place among the most influential in the game.

Terriers coach Rick Johnston was No. 63. Owners Mike and Nicole Tevlin and general manager Kevin Horton came in at No. 93.

"It was really nice seeing four Terriers honoured on the list," Mike said.

"We're just so happy to see more and more kids getting involved in our beautiful game. Whether they be college and pro prospects on a Terriers roster or girls and boys of all abilities discovering some things about themselves and baseball at The Baseball Zone with our staff of incredible coaches."

Receiving the recognition made Nicole reflect on all that the game means to her and the Tevlin family.

"Baseball is a sport that has given so much to our family, and it's a pleasure to give back by creating opportunities through The Baseball Zone and the Terriers for young players at all levels to enjoy the sport," Nicole said.

Horton echoed the sentiments of both Tevlins.

"The Terriers and their coaches are proud to be associated with so many Canadian baseball professionals with such diverse backgrounds, who have dedicated considerable time sharing their passion and inspiring the next generation of baseball players and fans," Horton added.

What did Bob Elliott have to say?

63. Rick Johnston, coach, Terriers (74).

The Terriers continued to produce talent under Johnston (Peterborough. Ont/The Mecca). Like LHP Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.) who signed a free-agent contract with the Royals despite coming off Tommy John surgery. Nine Terriers and former Terriers earned invites to the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Stadium in Ottawa: OF Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto, Ont.), LHP-OF Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa, Ont.), Lucas Alberti (Toronto, Ont.), INF Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.), Ryan Arora (Mississauga, Ont.), Luca Alagheband (Toronto, Ont.), RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.), OF Noah Konings (Brampton, Ont.) and C Jason Green (Georgetown, Ont.).

Green went out in style presenting Johnston with a new fungo with the instructor’s name inscribed on the barrel. Hopefully Johnston, a former Team Canada player and coach, does not jam himself swinging at inside pitches. Meanwhile C Hugh Pinkney (Etobicoke, Ont.) is at Rutgers, OF Elijha Hammill (Oakville, Ont.) is at Utah, RHP Max Lanoue (Oakville, Ont.) at Stony Brook, Chee-Aloy at Illinois, LHP Wil Yamka (Oakville, Ont.) is at Cloud County and OF O’Hearn committed to the Michigan Wolverines.

93. Nicole and Mike Tevlin, Kevin Horton, Terriers/The Baseball Zone (-).

The Tevlins have put together plenty of wins in their years owning the Terriers — on both sides of borders, including championships and tournaments. Not only do both play tennis, but both are big-time backers of Tennis Canada. The wait is finally over for Canada which beat Australia to win the Davis Cup, after a 109-year wait. Canada beat Australia thanks to Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. This means they’ll qualify for the 2023 final. The impressive thing about the Tevlins is both their boys -- Luke an Joe -- have played in the program, gone off to school and the parents are still heavily involved.

When out and about at Blue Jays games LHP Kevin Horton someimes wears sun glasses so he is not recognized.

The man behind the desk of the Mississauga facility is Horton, who is still a sneaky lefty for the York Diamonds of the OBA senior loop. An all-star team from the league competed at the 33U nationals. He is one of the reasons 2022 was the Baseball Zone’s best year since it opened 20 years ago.