HarbourCats announce 2022 schedule

The Victoria HarbourCats have announced their 2022 schedule. Photo: Victoria HarbourCats

November 9, 2021

Official Victoria HarbourCats News Release

VICTORIA, B.C. -- The 'Cats came back, shiny and new for 2022.

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to announce the 2022 West Coast League schedule that will see baseball return to Wilson's Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park, headlined by the home opener on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 against the cross-strait rival Port Angeles Lefties.

The HarbourCats, who have been patiently staying active as the world deals with a health crisis, have weathered the storm and are excited to reveal the 34 home dates (not counting playoffs) that will welcome fans to Wilson's Group Stadium.

Included in that mix is the first-ever series against the fledgling Nanaimo NightOwls, who will visit Victoria June 7-8-9. The NightOwls were set to debut in 2021, but the pandemic put that on pause.

'We get to work on things we've wanted to work on for two years," said Christian Stewart, Assistant GM, who handles ticketing aspects for the WCL club. "People have told us how much they have missed our games, the fun we bring to the community. They want to see Harvey, meet our new players, see Head Coach Todd Haney and the coaching staff. They want a hot dog and a beverage and to sing Sweet Caroline with thousands of others.

"We want that, too. We have a lot of ideas and energy to unleash."

The HarbourCats are planning major promotional nights that will include the VICA (Vancouver Island Construction Association) bobble head giveaway, along with the ever popular fireworks games -- dates to be announced soon.

Some final details are yet to be completed, but teams visiting Wilson's Group Stadium for league play this year include Port Angeles, Nanaimo, the Kelowna Falcons, Wenatchee AppleSox, Cowlitz Black Bears, expansion Kamloops NorthPaws, Yakima Valley Pippins, Bellingham Bells, and another Canadian expansion team in the Edmonton Riverhawks. Non-League exhibition games are also planned against the Coquitlam Angels and Redmond Dudes, with one other series nearly finalized, and to be announced soon.

In 2022, the HarbourCats will visit Kelowna, Kamloops, Ridgefield, Portland, the expansion Springfield Drifters, Nanaimo (July 12-13-14), Edmonton, Port Angeles and Bellingham.

"The biggest thing this schedule reminds us of is how appreciative we are of our season members and corporate partners who have stayed with us through this -- each and every one," said Stewart. "We all knew the situation, and the work to keep the faith and be ready for a return to play. There hasn't been much activity at our park since August of 2019, aside from our new CCBC college team Victoria Golden Tide, so we're anxious to animate the facility again, with our loyal supporters and put on the full show that is HarbourCats baseball!"

Playoffs would start August 9, and the HarbourCats -- two-time league finalists, 2017 and 2019 -- are eager to make that next step under Coach Haney, who recently inked a five-year contract.

Victoria HarbourCats 2022 schedule (bold, home)

Game Times: Mon-Sat, 6:35pm/Sun, 1pm first pitch for home games, except where noted

May 31-June 2, HOME TO PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
June 3-5, at Kelowna Falcons
June 7-9, HOME TO NANAIMO NIGHTOWLS
June 10-12, HOME TO KELOWNA FALCONS
June 14-16, at Kamloops NorthPaws
June 17-18-19, HOME TO Coquitlam Angels (Non-League)
June 21-23, HOME TO WENATCHEE APPLESOX
June 24-26, at Ridgefield Raptors
June 28-30, HOME TO COWLITZ BLACK BEARS
July 1-3, at Portland Pickles
July 4-6, at Springfield Drifters
July 8-10, HOME TO KAMLOOPS NORTHPAWS
July 12-14, at Nanaimo NightOwls
July 15-17, HOME TO YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS
July 19-21, HOME TO BELLINGHAM BELLS
July 22-24, at Edmonton Riverhawks
July 26-27-28, HOME TO TBD (Non-League)
July 29-31, at Port Angeles Lefties
Aug. 1, HOME TO Redmond Dudes (Non-League)
Aug. 2-4, at Bellingham Bells
Aug. 5-7, HOME TO EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
 Playoffs begin August 9