Shushkewich, Connors State Canadian Cowboys: 3 CBN Players of Year, plus 23 all-Canucks
Former Mississauga Tigers C Brady Cerkownyk (Etobicoke, Ont.) who played for the Connors State Cowboys and is in the Detroit Tigers’ system, was the Canadian Baseball Network’s college player of the year in 2023.
May 21, 2025
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
Located in the pan of the panhandle of Oklahoma sits the town of Warner, boasting a population under 2,000.
Warner is also home to the Connors State College Cowboys, a home away from home for many Canadian players.
The Cowboys, who play in the JUCO circuit under the NJCAA D1 banner, have an extensive history as their head coach, Perry Keith, has the most wins among active NJCAA coaches and has been with the program for over 36 years. He has won 18 Bi-State East Conference Championships, eight Region II titles, six NJCAA South Central District championships and made six trips to the JUCO World Series.
Warner may be a long hike from any Canadian province, yet the program is deeply rooted in Canadiana.
“We’ve been getting guys from north of the border since the late 90s,” said Keith, speaking to the Canadian Baseball Network. “And I think our program is one of the top JUCO programs across the country, where we can bring these different players in and shape them into more established players both on and off the field.
“We attract a lot of Canadians because our previous alumni and current players have a good experience here, and word of mouth travels far in this game, and our results are there for those who want to take their game to the next level.”
Former Ontario Blue Jays and Etobicoke Rangers C George Kottaras (Scarborough, Ont.) attended Connors State before signing with the San Diego Padres.
The Cowboys have produced 13 players who went on to the majors, including three from north of the border: C George Kottaras (Scarborough, Ont.), RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) and OF Jared Young (Prince George, BC).
Kottaras enjoyed a seven-year tenure in the big leagues and an 11-year pro career, spending time with seven different organizations. The catcher was a 20th-round selection of the San Diego Padres in 2002 but played for the Cowboys in 2003 signing before the end of the close period when he would have reentered the draft or accepted a scholarship from the Florida Gators.
On Sept. 3, 2011, Kottaras hit for the cycle while with the Milwaukee Brewers against the Houston Astros.
Both Romano (Oral Roberts Golden Eagles) and Young (Old Dominion Monarchs) went on to other four-year programs eventually hearing their names called during the draft.
“As a player, you’re going to come down to good weather, be on the field in November, and we will give you a chance to develop your skills,” said Keith. “We do things the right way every day and develop players in a way that suits their needs while pushing them to get better.
“In this program, there are no shortcuts, and it is pure baseball, day in and day out. You’re going to be able to find out how good you can be here in Oklahoma.”
Both Romano and Young are still active, Romano with the Philadelphia Phillies after a six-year stint with the Blue Jays, while Young is currently in triple-A in the New York Mets’ organization after signing as a free agent this winter.
Ontario Blue Jays grad Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) is a Connors State alum
Romano ranks fourth lifetime among Canadians with his 110 saves.
Young returns stateside after spending the latter part of the 2024 season in Korea with the Doosan Bears and owns a .259/.371/.506 slash line with five doubles and five home runs through 81 at-bats in triple-A Syracuse.
“Romano had great arm strength, he was tall, lanky, and loose when he first showed up, we all knew his best days were ahead of him,” said Keith. “He really started to click when he grew into his frame. He would have great outings, then he would have outings where the plate was jumping all over the place.
“Once he put the pieces together, both here and even after he turned pro, you can see just what kind of damage he can do on the mound.”
Other Canucks that played for the Cowboys who were drafted include: C Brady Cerkownyk (Etobicoke, Ont.), RHP Danny Desclouds (Stittsville, Ont.), INF Kyle Gilligan (Etobicoke, Ont.), RHP Adam Hawes (Victoria Harbour, Ont.) and OF Marcus Knecht (Toronto, Ont.).
Knecht was the lone Canadian from the Cowboys to be drafted from the program by the Toronto Blue Jays, while Cerkownyk is the only current player in the minors, drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 15th round in 2023. The pair were each voted Canadian Baseball Network college player of the year.
Cerkownyk is with the Tigers’ rookie-class affiliate after missing the 2024 campaign with a UCL injury.
Former Ontario Blue Jays and Ontario Nationals INF David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.), now of the Evansville Otters, was the Canadian Baseball Network’s college player of the year in 2020.
The Cowboys have also produced players who went on to play independent ball after their college days. David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.) spent two years with the program before moving to the South Carolina Gamecocks and then Oklahoma State. Mendham won the Canadian Baseball Network college player of the year award in 2020.
Following college days, Mendham moved into the Frontier League, spending time with the Ottawa Titans in 2023 before moving to the Evansville Otters for the 2024 season where he will play this summer.
This season, the Cowboys went 42-20 and made it to the Region II championship game before falling to Eastern Oklahoma Mountaineers 4-3.
This spring Connors had seven Canucks, Marc Nellis (North York, Ont.) and David Stanley (Toronto, Ont.) sat second and third on the team in batting average at .386 and .380, respectively, while Stanley also chipped in seven home runs. Stanley made his Connors debut in a doubleheader going 8-for-8.
On the mound, two Canuck pitchers in Kieran Glassford (Burlington, Ont.) and Rhys Montgomery (Mississauga, Ont.) saw limited action during their freshman campaigns. The remaining Canadians on the team include Keshav Tebeck (Brampton, Ont.), Aidan George (Woodstock, Ont.) and Solomon Hardwood (London, Ont.). Tebeck and Stanley are the only sophomores.
“Once I decided that the JUCO route was the path for me, the decision was pretty easy,” said Stanley, a former Mississauga Tiger. “The school ticked a lot of boxes for me, especially with the fact that Canadians had done so well there. There’s a comfort knowing some players before attending and getting the opportunity to play and learn from a Hall of Fame junior college coach (Keith) and the rest of the amazing coaching staff.”
That mentality is felt amongst younger Canadians as well, as currently, over five high school players have letters of intent to attend in the future. Players speak to each other about the future destinations.
“I had talked to a few former teammates who were at Connors the year before me,” said Stanley. “The two guys I spoke with informed me what the program was all about, and how it was going to be hard work, but if I loved the game and wanted to get better, then Connors was going to be the best spot for me and my future. They explained the difference in scene and culture of a small town, which was key for me coming from Toronto.”
Connors State is well-known and provides either the stepping stone needed to reach the next level, such as a four-year school or the pros.
“The JUCO route is a great route to consider,” said Stanley. “People get caught up in this ‘D1 or bust’ mindset, but for me, I felt that JUCO was definitely the right path. I decided on this route to get as many bats as possible and continue improving my game. With the heavy fall schedule at Connors, I got that, more at-bats than one could dream of, and that has been incredibly helpful for my game. Be yourself and play for free.”
* * *
Numerous Canucks have taken their talents to the Cowboys program, many have enjoyed success making the Canadian Baseball Network all-Canadian college team
Canadian Baseball Network all-Canadian college team
First teamers
Brody Cerkownyk (Etobicoke, Ont.) 2023 *
David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.) 2020 *
Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) 2017
Tony Hrynkiw (Brampton, Ont.) 2017
Conner Stevenson (Kewswick, Ont.) 2015
Former Ontario Blue Jays OF Marcus Knecht (Toronto, Ont.) was voted Canadian Baseball Network college player of the year in 2010.
Marcus Knecht (Toronto, Ont.) 2010 *
Peter Bako (Mississauga, Ont.) 2010
Kyle DeGrace (Toronto, Ont.) 2008
* * *
Second team
Jared Young (Prince George, BC) 2016
George Kottaras (Scarborough, Ont.) 2002
Karl Amonite (Windsor, Ont.) 2002
Marc Chabot (Kingston, Ont.) 2002
* * *
Third Team
Bryce Dimitroff (Burlington, Ont.) 2015
Jordan Castaldo (Toronto, Ont.) 2009
Jim Ripley (Mississauga, Ont.) 2002
Aaron Hornostaj (Waterloo, Ont.) 2002
* * *
Honourable Mention
Hrynkiw 2018
Dimitroff 2016
Phil Diedrick (Pickering, Ont.) 2012
Ryan Clarke (Mississauga, Ont.) 2012
Chris Nagorski (Mississauga, Ont.) 2010
Tyler Wheeler (Guelph, Ont.) 2010
Brodie Ross (Unionville, Ont.) 2010
Bako 2009
James Kottaras (Markham, Ont.) 2009
Kyle Fillier (Campbellville, Ont.) 2009
* Denotes Canadian College Baseball Network college player of the year.
Major league service time in BOLD.