Sylvan Lake Gulls GM Aqil Samuel looks on as WCBL President Kevin Kvame announces the team's opening day for June 11, 2021. (rdnewsNOW/Troy Gillard)

By Troy Gillard

let the countdown begin

Opening day announced for Sylvan Lake Gulls

Sep 8, 2020 | 2:33 PM

First pitch for the Sylvan Lake Gulls is officially 276 days away.

Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) President Kevin Kvame announced Tuesday that opening weekend for his league’s newest franchise will be June 11-13, 2021, including the first ever Gulls game at Pogadl Park on Friday, June 11.

“We are thrilled to see this massive undertaking come together with a firm date that fans will be able to mark on their calendars,” said Kvame. “It is great to see the WCBL continue to expand its roots within Alberta and we are very excited for the Gulls’ inaugural season in their new stadium.”

“Our fans are seeing the progress at the stadium site and what’s going on with the Gulls. Having a date they can put on their calendars to come and see an actual WCBL game is going to create even more excitement,” says Gulls GM and President of Baseball Operations Aqil Samuel.

The WCBL cancelled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s not yet known whether fans will be at games in 2021, though Kvame is confident they will.

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“There’s going to be an opportunity to come back and celebrate local community, celebrate baseball, celebrate getting together again. (It) may be a little different, we’ll see how that looks by next June, but it’s still going to be a celebration for the communities,” he suggested. “We’re learning so much about this and how to handle things and hopefully there will be better days ahead and better mitigation (of) the virus. I think the league will be better for it and teams will come back better than ever next summer.”

The Gulls’ opponent for their first ever game has yet to be determined. Kvame said that announcement could come as early as next month.

As for progress on the team’s brand new stadium at Pogadl Park, Samuel says things are coming along nicely.

“The progress at the stadium site can be seen on an almost daily basis. We currently have the concrete forms for seats in place, dugouts and pony wall concrete is also in place,” he shared. “They are currently getting things ready for the next step which will be laying the outfield sod and prepping the infield for the artificial turf. Both should be in place in the upcoming weeks.”

(Photo: Aqil Samuel/Sylvan Lake Gulls)

Sylvan Lake Mayor Sean McIntyre says the arrival of the Gulls marks the start of an exciting new era for his town.

“We’re really looking forward to being able to showcase our talent and welcome in talent from across North America. It’s going to be some really high-calibre baseball here in Sylvan Lake and we’re really looking forward to it.”