NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
The Medicine Hat Mavericks stand at attention for the Canadian anthem ahead of their 14-6 win Sunday over the Weyburn Beavers at Athletic Park.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Mavericks are looking forward to being a part of their fans’ Canada Day plans.
The Mavericks will don their red and white jerseys alongside the rest of the nation Friday as they’ll celebrate Canada Day with an evening game. The Swift Current 57’s will be at Athletic Park for a 7:05 p.m. contest with a lineup of events.
The Mavericks’ 6-6:45 p.m. happy hour will be provided by guitarist/vocalist Karli Frances, and the team will have a donation drive with proceeds going toward the Ronald McDonald house. Mint Smartwash is sponsoring the game and there is a one-month free ULTIMINT car wash membership to those in attendance.
Mavericks pitcher Nate Stark was on the team in 2019 when they beat the Yorkton Cardinals 9-2 at Athletic Park. The Medicine Hat product said he’s looking forward to being part of what brings people together on the day.
“I’m really excited for Canada Day, obviously it’s always good to play baseball in those days, just bring everyone together, the whole community,” Stark said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Being able to bring the community together at Athletic Park on any day, let alone Canada Day, is something Stark says he enjoys.
“It’s cool just to kind of know that the community supports us and backs us up,” Stark said. “It’s nice to be able put on a good show.”
His brother Zach was also on the 2019 team that won on the big day. The local product said he is excited for Friday because he’s proud to be Canadian and said it adds extra motivation come game time.
Mavericks head coach Tyler Jeske said he’s excited for Friday because it will be his first Canada Day in the country.
“I’ve been in ballparks in the U.S. where we’ve had Canadian players and had an American version of Canada Day for them, but it’s my first Canada Day here in Canada and I’m looking forward to celebrating that,” the Columbus, Ohio product said. “I can tell people are excited about it, it’s a big deal and you have to respect it the same way as the U.S. does with July 4.”
The Mavericks, like most teams in the Western Canadian Baseball League, are made up of mostly American ball players. While they’ll be in action on July 1, the Mavericks have an off-day on July 4.
Jeske said he joked with Mavericks owner and general manager Greg Morrison about why they had a game on Canada Day but not July 4.
“We couldn’t get a game on the Fourth of July, it’s our one shot to play the U.S. National Anthem,” Jeske joked.
He said he hasn’t thought too much about what they will do as a team to celebrate the national holiday Monday as he’s been focused on the games between then.
The Mavericks were in action Wednesday at Athletic Park against the Okotoks Dawgs. That game was not complete by time of press, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story. The Mavs are in Brooks Thursday to take on the Bombers before they host their Canada Day game Friday.
