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The Winnipeg Goldeyes have gone above and beyond to bring the love of baseball to kids in remote areas this year.
"This professional baseball team just hosted a camp more than 1,400 km away from their stadium," said the American Association on Instagram. "What's even crazier is where the camp was hosted."
The Winnipeg Goldeyes are the only Canadian team in the American Association of Professional Baseball.
"You've probably heard about Major League Baseball's 'Playball Weekend.' But you might not know about how this team goes way above and beyond to spread the love of the game."
Last year, the Goldeyes team flew to Flin Flon and The Pas in northern Manitoba. This year, they went 1,467 km north of Winnipeg to host a camp in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
"As the lone Canadian team in the league, they not only have a strong fanbase in Winnipeg, but in the surrounding territories of the country as well. Since 2023, when partner leagues joined #playballweekend, the Goldeyes have taken long trips up north to remote parts of Canada, to encourage the youth to give baseball a try."
In 2023, the first year they participated, the team flew over 750 km north to Thompson, Man.
At the time, the Goldeyes' General Manager, Andrew Collier, said, "I hope this will be the start of something special for all involved."
It certainly has been as the team continues to go out of their way to bring the love of baseball to kids all over Canada.
"The season the Goldeyes outdid themselves when they flew all the way near the Arctic Circle to Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. This is a town of under 3,000 people, where even in June the temperatures can drop to around zero degrees."
The Rankin Recreation Coordinator, AJ Curley, shared his thoughts on this baseball camp.
"Before the camp, baseball has actually gotten bigger than it ever has been in the small town. Now these kids have an experience with professional baseball players that they'll never forget."