June 18, 2022

Official Okotoks Dawgs News Release

Okotoks, Alta. – The Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club has announced its 2022 inductees into the Dawgs Hall of Fame. Recognized at the June 18, 2022 “Hall of Fame” Game between the Moose Jaw Miller Express and the Dawgs will be:

Jim Wildeman: a director of the Dawgs following the move to Okotoks from Calgary, Jim was instrumental in introducing the Dawgs to the new community. His ties to the “movers and shakers” in Okotoks was an important factor in the town embracing the club in record numbers. Dawgs managing director, John Ircandia, talks of first meeting Wildeman as he got out of his truck sporting a bale of hay at the ground breaking ceremony. Jim confidently proclaimed, “Having the Dawgs in Okotoks is fantastic. I guarantee that I will sell 200 season tickets myself”. And you know what, he did!

Jim Amy: this current Honorary Director has been a phenomenal volunteer over the past 17 plus years. He has served the Dawgs as Operations Manager, Concessions Manager and VP of Food & Beverage. He was instrumental in exposing the Dawgs Academy in its initial years to Calgary and area Little Leagues. He continues to play an important role in the Dawgs “Father’s Day” Prostate Cancer Fundraiser and is the founding father of Jim Amy’s Margaritaville, home of the Mad Dawg Margarita! An extraordinary Dawgs volunteer.

Pablo Forno: another Honorary Director of the Dawgs, Pablo and his Grand Slam Sports has been part of the Dawgs family since the summer collegiate club first took flight in Calgary. In addition to operating the Dawgs General Store and providing all Dawgs merchandise, Pablo has also served as the club’s operations manager. It is testament to his dedication to the club that when the Dawgs moved to Okotoks, so did Pablo, his wife Bobbi and their boys, one time Dawgs, John and Dallas and current Dawg, Brody Forno.

The Three PEAT Dawgs: All this Dawgs team did was deliver to the Town of Okotoks three consecutive WCBL Championships in the club’s first three years at Seaman Stadium. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 this Dawgs team was simply unbeatable. Anchored by an outstanding core group of players including famous All Canadian Dawgs like Jeff Duda and Manny Kumar, and the “California Boys” Brett Thomas, Matt Dufour and Alex Jensen, these Dawgs set a bar that was pretty tough to reach.

The Original CORE 4 (+14) Dawgs: these Dawgs dating back to our Calgary roots are without overstatement, responsible for the Dawgs vision. Without them there would be no Seaman Stadium and no Dawgs today. This one team produced one major leaguer, three triple-A level players, six minor leaguers, two Olympians, one World Baseball Classic standout, eight MLB Draft Picks, eight Team Canada players and 16 college scholarships. As a scout in California said, “You do not want to play that Dawgs team!”