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At the start of the season, head coach Joe Ellison was confident the Fort McMurray Giants would continue their strong performance seen in 2023. He hoped the Giants would win at least 36 games and have a strong showing in the playoffs. Things didn’t turn out that way.

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Instead, the Giants failed to qualify for playoffs. They finished second last in the western division of the Western Canada Baseball League. The team had 36 losses and 20 victories.

“I’m a little disappointed in how we played and how the season finished. I mean, after making the playoffs last year and setting the win record to regress to how we did was frustrating,” Ellison said in an interview.

“We were on the wrong side of a bunch of stuff that we just couldn’t control.”

Ellison said the Giants led the league in transactions, making 23 roster moves during the two-month season. About 60 athletes played for the team. Only a handful of players stuck with the entire season. It was difficult for the team to mesh. Ellison said other leagues are reporting similar issues.

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“In general, everybody signs the contract that says they’re going to be here and then the next best thing comes up and they don’t. I think they need to be held accountable,” said Ellison, adding some reasons for players leaving were understandable, such as family issues.

“We’re going to try and create a system that is fair but also firm in the commitment they have to make to the community and to the team.”

There were some successes. Crowds at Legacy Dodge Field were larger and social media saw more engagement from people. The Giants partnered with Drum Brewing to sell a made-in-Fort McMurray beer at games.

Ellison is happy with how the athletes interacted with the public both in Fort McMurray and during away games. He praised the off-season work of Andrew Swagers, Dutche Iannetti and Josh Iannetti.

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Fort McMurray is becoming a stronger baseball town, he felt. Ellison has heard enrollment for youth baseball teams is up. Fort McMurray is currently hosting the Baseball Canada Cup, after hosting the 13U national western championship and 18U national championship during summer 2023.

Next year Fort McMurray hosts the 2025 Baseball Canada 18U Championship. The 2026 Baseball Canada 18U Championship is also coming to Fort McMurray.

“It was a big step forward as an organization in terms of community engagement and ticket sales. I just wish the team performed at a level it did last year,” said Ellison.

“In 2025 we will do better again. We’re going to continue doing what we’re doing off the field and continue to grow the brand within the community. We’re really excited with what we saw this year. We’re excited for the future and we hope to keep growing it in Fort McMurray.”

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