Anyone have information or experience regarding Canadian college baseball programs in general, and their recruiting process?
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It's non existent.
They play a fall schedule of only 20 games tops.
No athletic scholarship money.
Each Province has their own "conference" if you will for example if you went to Western University in London Ontario they played in the OUA under the CIS.
The only school that is under the NCAA or NAIA is University of British Columbia. This is the ONLY school worth playing for as far as Collegiate Baseball is concerned. They play in the NAIA, and are always seemingly ranked in the Top 25 in the NAIA nation.
The level of Baseball in Universities in Canada is extremely weak. It's guys who went to school in the states and can't hack it in the States or guys who never bothered to try to advance in Baseball in Canada or guys who went away played 4 years and still want to play and go to school so they come home and play up here.
If you listen to the Coaches they will try and sell it on you saying its becoming a better brand of Baseball but its not.
There's only been one player drafted out of the CIS and that was back in the 90s. The last player to sign a Pro contract was a guy from Brock University back in 04 and he signed as a non-drafted FA.
I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me with more questions.
They play a fall schedule of only 20 games tops.
No athletic scholarship money.
Each Province has their own "conference" if you will for example if you went to Western University in London Ontario they played in the OUA under the CIS.
The only school that is under the NCAA or NAIA is University of British Columbia. This is the ONLY school worth playing for as far as Collegiate Baseball is concerned. They play in the NAIA, and are always seemingly ranked in the Top 25 in the NAIA nation.
The level of Baseball in Universities in Canada is extremely weak. It's guys who went to school in the states and can't hack it in the States or guys who never bothered to try to advance in Baseball in Canada or guys who went away played 4 years and still want to play and go to school so they come home and play up here.
If you listen to the Coaches they will try and sell it on you saying its becoming a better brand of Baseball but its not.
There's only been one player drafted out of the CIS and that was back in the 90s. The last player to sign a Pro contract was a guy from Brock University back in 04 and he signed as a non-drafted FA.
I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me with more questions.
Canadian baseball is played with a puck and skates!!
quote:Originally posted by Doc_K:
It's non existent.
They play a fall schedule of only 20 games tops.
Each Province has their own "conference" if you will for example if you went to Western University in London Ontario they played in the OUA under the CIS.
Uhh, no.
1. Baseball is not a CIS sport.
2. Many schools play a full spring schedule.
Are you thinking about the CIBA Matt?
Douglas College, a 2-year college next to Simon Fraser University near Vancouver, plays in the NWAACC with WA and OR jucos. They play 40-50 games, mostly against the Seattle area juco teams. The roster is 100% Canadian. University of British Columbia plays an NAIA schedule. again mostly in the northwest. One American is listed on their roster. Both schools are competetive.
BC is starting to get a critical mass of baseball select ball programs that come down and compete in US tournaments. Some teams are good, some not so good. I have no idea about anything back east.
BC is starting to get a critical mass of baseball select ball programs that come down and compete in US tournaments. Some teams are good, some not so good. I have no idea about anything back east.
I think you both may be right - and wrong 
just depends on how you look at it.
UBC Thunderbirds were in the news last year about going D2 - but I can't confirm if it's official or when. They're a good NAIA school traditionally, top 20/30 usually. World Series alumni Jeff Francis would be the most famous. (Too bad Joey Votto or Brett Lawrie weren't alums of Cdn schools - but at least they played in the snow at some point).
Besides the 2 BC schools mentioned - other BC schools may be more prone to develop a spring schedule given the weather. Out in the east a few are looking to play some spring exhibition games, either among themselves or with elite 18U teams or Juco US.
General level maybe currently be mid Juco D2 on the whole. WLU smoked Genesee in the fall in tournament play last year. Probably 1/2 the roster is kids back from 2 yr and 4 year schools. A few also just decide to forgo the extra $ it costs to play in the states and concentrate on school; a Canadian degree being more useful and less expensive if you plan to work in Canada. No UCONN BB issues there; although I suspect you could say that those issues are more specific to baseketball and football than baseball.
The extremely weak remark was a bit harsh; There are lots of kids in the US who choose JC and D3 as options, and given the change in dynamics in the last few years Canadian University ball will be/ is at that level. We don't need to antagonize all our southern friends with kids gong to those schools - another war of 1812 wouldnot be a good thing, we may not win this time
It will never approach anything else - but the big differentiator and bottom line is if you want to base success on graduation rates/academic accomplishment and developping student athletes vs the number pro draft pospects.
just depends on how you look at it.UBC Thunderbirds were in the news last year about going D2 - but I can't confirm if it's official or when. They're a good NAIA school traditionally, top 20/30 usually. World Series alumni Jeff Francis would be the most famous. (Too bad Joey Votto or Brett Lawrie weren't alums of Cdn schools - but at least they played in the snow at some point).
Besides the 2 BC schools mentioned - other BC schools may be more prone to develop a spring schedule given the weather. Out in the east a few are looking to play some spring exhibition games, either among themselves or with elite 18U teams or Juco US.
General level maybe currently be mid Juco D2 on the whole. WLU smoked Genesee in the fall in tournament play last year. Probably 1/2 the roster is kids back from 2 yr and 4 year schools. A few also just decide to forgo the extra $ it costs to play in the states and concentrate on school; a Canadian degree being more useful and less expensive if you plan to work in Canada. No UCONN BB issues there; although I suspect you could say that those issues are more specific to baseketball and football than baseball.
The extremely weak remark was a bit harsh; There are lots of kids in the US who choose JC and D3 as options, and given the change in dynamics in the last few years Canadian University ball will be/ is at that level. We don't need to antagonize all our southern friends with kids gong to those schools - another war of 1812 wouldnot be a good thing, we may not win this time
It will never approach anything else - but the big differentiator and bottom line is if you want to base success on graduation rates/academic accomplishment and developping student athletes vs the number pro draft pospects.
In no means what so ever am I antagonizing our southern friends I don't know where you're getting that thought from liner.
All I'm saying is the level of Collegiate Baseball as a whole in Canada is weak. There are a few exceptions to the statement obviously.
If your end goal is to get drafted, get an opportunity to be seen and possibly turn pro or get significant scholly money to attend school then playing Baseball in Canada at the Collegiate Level is not the right choice, unless you're playing for a Canadian school that plays in the NCAA, NAIA or JUCO affiliation.
All I'm saying is the level of Collegiate Baseball as a whole in Canada is weak. There are a few exceptions to the statement obviously.
If your end goal is to get drafted, get an opportunity to be seen and possibly turn pro or get significant scholly money to attend school then playing Baseball in Canada at the Collegiate Level is not the right choice, unless you're playing for a Canadian school that plays in the NCAA, NAIA or JUCO affiliation.
quote:A few also just decide to forgo the extra $ it costs to play in the states and concentrate on school; a Canadian degree being more useful and less expensive if you plan to work in Canada.
My son graduated from a D1 in South Carolina. Cost next to nothing for us. He has worked for a large International marketing company in Canada for a year & a half.
Best decision ever .
There really is no comparison between US & Canadian college ball not to mention the amazing experience !
Docs remarks are accurate for Ontario.
Bobblehead? Is that you?