Okotoks Dawgs fans always root, root, root for the home team, but don’t be surprised if Okotokians open their hearts — and their wallets — for the visiting team next week.
The expansion-team Fort McMurray Giants will be the opponent for the Dawgs’ home-opener June 3 at Seaman Stadium.
The Dawgs are rolling out the red carpet for the Giants, who will be playing out of Telus Field in Edmonton for the early part of the season due to the fire that ravaged Fort McMurray in May.
“We are really excited to have them here for opening day, particularly under the circumstances,” said Dawgs executive director John Ircandia.
Taking a page from of the St. Louis Blues — forward Scottie Upshall hails from Fort Mac — the Dawgs will donate their 50-50 draw proceeds from the home-opener to Fort McMurray relief.
Ircandia added they are hoping to have Okotoks fire chief Ken Thevenot and some of the fire department members at the game where they can set up ‘The Fireman’s Boot’ in which people can put in donations to go along with the funds raised in the 50-50.
It’s hoped that a firefighter, possibly one who was assisting in Fort McMurray, will throw out the first pitch.
“We do want to celebrate their revitalization of their community,” Ircandia said. “Help them get through the tough times and help with the positives ahead.”
One of the spectators at the home-opener will be Giants general manager/owner Dutch Iannetti.
“That means a lot to us to be at their home-opener,” said Iannetti, who was one of more than 80,000 Fort McMurray residents evacuated from their homes. “Okotoks is one of the top teams in the WMBL, fan-wise and class-wise. It’s a great organization.
“Absolutely, I’m coming to Okotoks. I want to support our kids and also to thank the Okotoks organization for what they have been doing. They reached out to us also.”
He said the entire Western Major Baseball League has helped the Giants. As well he’s overwhelmed with the support the Fort Mac community received from Albertans and from across Canada.
The Dawgs had offered to either share Seaman Stadium with the Giants or possibly have the Fort Mac squad playing in nearby Tourmaline Field until they could return to their home.
Iannetti said there were concerns the Giants would have to miss their inaugural season. Fortunately, the ball park at Shell Place in Fort Mac was not harmed by the fire.
As well, the Edmonton Prospects stepped to the plate as the teams will share Telus Field in the Capital City for the opening part of the season.
“I phoned them back and said ‘Let’s see what we can work out,’” Iannetti said in an interview from Telus Field last week. “We are getting ready to play baseball and our home field is going to their home field too here in Edmonton.”
It’s home field, but not home.
Iannetti is hoping to be back in Fort Mac sometime this summer.
“The picture in Fort Mac is much bigger than baseball -- it’s about our community and the first-responders in our community who are working countless hours to try and save our community,” he said. “For me and the organization, this is about giving people peace of mind after what they have been dealing with.
“Absolutely, that’s our vision -- to get back to Fort McMurray.”
The home-opener will be the 10th one for the Dawgs and they are celebrating with “5K for Opening Day.” They hope to have 5,000 people go through the gates on June 3.
“We would love to show our community support for Fort McMurray on opening day,” Ircandia said.
The Giants do present one problem for the Dawgs. They will be tough to beat.
This expansion team isn’t going to be the clones of hapless first-year 1962 New York Mets.
Ircandia said the Giants come into the league with an executive with plenty of baseball experience and Fort Mac will have a strong team.
The WMBL schedule has been slightly adjusted as the Dawgs will open the season against arch-rivals the Medicine Hat Mavericks on June 1 in the Hat.
For ticket information for the Dawgs home-opener and upcoming games go to dawgsbaseball.ca or call 403-262-DAWG.
