(Ottawa, ON) The Canadian Men’s National Softball Team will kick-off its world title defence by competing in the Bob Law Memorial Challenge from June 30 to July 3 at South Memorial Park in Vancouver, BC. The tournament will serve as a final tune-up for many teams heading to the 2017 WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship, which will take place a week later from July 7-16 in Whitehorse, Yukon.
 
Twelve (12) Canadian athletes have already been identified as core players of the World Championship roster. Remaining players will be selected to the team following the Men’s National Team Selection Camp that will be held June 8-11 in Kitchener and Innerkip, Ontario.
 
Team Canada had its most successful season ever in 2015 when they won a pair of Gold medals in major international competitions, capturing their first WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship title since 1992 in Saskatoon and followed up on that success by earning its seventh consecutive Pan American Games title in Toronto. The team did not compete in any events in 2016, and is currently ranked fourth in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Rankings.
 
The Bob Law Memorial Challenge will feature four other national teams, including top-ranked New Zealand, the United States (6th), the Czech Republic (8th) and Great Britain (10th). The field will be rounded out by five top club teams – Abbotsford Pirates, CR Bartel Farms, Fleetwood Marlins, Sooke Loggers and South Hill Giants.

Team Canada Schedule
 

For more information on the Bob Law Memorial Challenge, visit the tournament website or contact Craig Donaldson (cdonalds5@shaw.ca).