2025-2026
ONC Junior Program
Founded in 2017 as St. Anthony’s Baseball Academy, the Ottawa Nepean Canucks Baseball Club provides high-level baseball development and competitive opportunities for youth athletes across Eastern Ontario
Rooted in Development Since 2017
The Ottawa Nepean Canucks trace their roots back to the Junior Ravens, a pilot project launched in 2017 to help grow travel baseball opportunities for younger players in Ottawa. In October 2018, the program was formally established as St. Anthony’s Baseball Academy by George Rigakos and Andre Robidoux.
Over the next five seasons, St. Anthony’s built a strong reputation for player development, helping young athletes grow through consistent coaching, competition, and a positive team environment. In 2023, St. Anthony’s briefly merged with the Ottawa Knights before that organization later merged into Watson Elite. In July 2024, the program adopted its current name: the Ottawa Nepean Canucks.
Today, the Canucks continue to build on that foundation as a development-focused program for young athletes, with their own leadership, coaching, and team environment. The program is led by President Chris Chapman, along with a dedicated group of coaches committed to long-term player development.
Canucks Program
Fall Season
The Fall Season begins the first week of September and runs until Thanksgiving. All teams will train 2–3 times per week and participate in simulated intersquad games and internal assessments. Depending on team schedules and readiness, some teams may also compete in one tournament during the fall window.
Training sessions are dynamic and fast-paced, with players split into smaller position-based groups to maximize reps and engagement. Our focus remains on development—building skills, confidence, and game understanding through consistent work and repetition. Simulated games will target all facets of play: innings for pitchers, at-bats for hitters, defensive reps, and in-game scenarios.
Off-Season Training
Off-season training starts in January and runs for 17 weeks. Each team will train twice a week, combining weekly sessions at ONC Labs with a second organizational session indoors (location to be determined).
Workouts will focus on skill development, open hitting and pitching, fielding, and strength and conditioning. Athletes will receive dedicated positional instruction and game-rep scenarios to prepare for the upcoming season. With thoughtful planning and a structured training environment, players will continue to build important skills during this key development window.
League Play (ENYTB / CanAm)
League play begins in April and continues through early August. Canucks teams compete in both the Eastern New York Travel Baseball (ENYTB) and CanAm leagues, offering a highly competitive schedule balanced with development-focused training.
These leagues expose players to a wide variety of opponents, helping develop adaptability, teamwork, and game IQ. Travel expenses—including accommodations, meals, and transportation—are the responsibility of each player’s family.
Tournaments
From May to late July, teams will participate in multiple tournaments across Canada and the U.S. These events provide valuable experience competing against strong teams from different regions and help players build confidence in high-pressure environments.
Tournaments are selected to support player development and give athletes a chance to test their skills against top-level competition. These events give players valuable experience competing against strong teams from different regions while continuing their development in game situations.
As with league play, travel costs for players and families—including hotels, meals, and transportation—are not covered by the program.
In-Depth Player Assessment
As part of the Canucks development experience, players will undergo a Player Assessment using FieldPro AI, our custom-built performance tracking software. Assessments are conducted at ONC Labs using technology such as Trackman, Rapsodo, and HitTrax to capture data on pitching and hitting performance.
Each player receives a personalized performance profile, including:
- Pitch velocity, spin rate, and movement metrics
- Hitting exit velocity, launch angle, and contact zone analysis
- Multi-angle video review
- Benchmark comparisons by age/level
- Key development areas and training priorities
This data-driven approach helps coaches better understand each athlete’s development and identify areas of focus throughout the year. Players also have the ability to control privacy settings and make their profiles public for sharing with coaches and family.
Developing Youth Athletes
Commitment
We encourage multi-sport participation and ask players to communicate clearly with coaches when they will be away from team activities. During the season, families should expect a committed team environment and regular participation in Canucks programming.
Personal Development
Participation in sports is crucial for youth well-being, both physically and mentally. Whether continuing in baseball or pursuing other interests over time, the Ottawa Nepean Canucks aim to provide a strong developmental experience that helps athletes build confidence, resilience, and a sense of community.
Fees are paid in four instalments, with initial payment due on acceptance:
- Initial Deposit: $250.00
- Due August 31st, 2025 $1000.00
- Due October 30th, 2025: $1000.00
- Due January 10th, 2026: $1000.00
- Due April 1, 2026: $1000.00
/player
Program includes:
- Fall Training & Player Assessment
- Indoor Winter Development
- League Play (ENYTB/CanAm)
- Three Tournaments
- 40-45 Game Season
- Mizuno Player Kit