We are officially under the 100-day mark!
The countdown to our Sea of Gold Home Opener is on: just 93 days until we pack Gulls Field and kick off the 2026 season with our Gulls Gold flair. Speaking of exciting theme nights… we’ve included the full 2026 season rundown in this edition of From the Nest, along with details on the 2026 Summer Send-Off Music Festival & Backyard Party (tickets are officially on sale!), our annual Gulls Kids Camp, and the ever-popular Group Booking Form opening on March 1.
Baseball season will be here before we know it!
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The Gulls Summer Send-Off is back for YEAR THREE
After two exciting years of country headliners, we’re switching gears this year with an all-Canadian classic pop and rock tribute lineup designed for sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs moments. Taking the stage this year:
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ABBA Revisited
Canada’s top ABBA tribute band from Kingston, Ontario.
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The Hip Replacements
Coquitlam BC’s powerful and heartfelt tribute to The Tragically Hip.
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PWRUP
High-voltage AC/DC energy coming straight from Kelowna, BC.
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And of course, the Backyard Party returns as well – food trucks, local market vendors, cold drinks, and the late-August party atmosphere that has quickly become a Summer Send-Off tradition. Several of the 2025 vendors have already confirmed they’re eager to be back ( and we hope you feel the same way too!)
Tickets launched yesterday. Which means… you’re already behind.
Grab your crew, secure your spot, and click the link below to get yours now!
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Thursday, May 30 | Sea of Gold Home Opener
As per tradition, we’re encouraging fans to wear their Gulls Gold shirts, sweaters, or anything yellow/orange/gold to light up the stands. The Red Deer & District Pipe Band will once again lead the charge to kick off the evening and officially launch the 2026 season!
Saturday & Sunday, May 30 – 31 | Annual ‘Fill the Wagon’ Food Drive
Help us fill the Gully Wagon for the Sylvan Lake Food Bank. Staff and fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the game as we work together to pack the ol’ Gull-ified ambulance before delivering your generous donations downtown.
Tuesday, June 9 | Minor Ball Night
Mark your calendars, little leaguers! We’re aiming to fill the stadium with as many local minor league softball and baseball teams as possible. Wear your team jersey, bring your teammates, and show your pride at our ballpark.
Friday, June 19 | Vintage Ball Night
You may have noticed a “bonus” game on our 2026 schedule. As the Brooks Bombers are unable to host at their home field, they’ll be playing this matchup at Gulls Field. (Please note: this game is not included in season ticket packages.)
Since this is a unique addition to our schedule, we’re taking the opportunity to offer something different- a low-stimulation, relaxing evening at the park. No music, no in-game promos, minimal announcements. A true vintage game to focus on the game.
Friday, July 3 | 80’s Night
We had to bring it back. The outfits were totally rad and we simply can’t resist an 80’s playlist. Consider this your sneak peek of the Summer Send-Off cover band concert! We need you dressed 80’s and vibing accordingly.
Thursday, July 16 | Toga Party
Because why not?
Saturday, July 25 | Hawaiian Luau
We know you were scrolling through the list to find this one. This annual fan favourite always delivers. Who can resist Hawaiian shirts, colourful leis and piña coladas??
Monday, August 3 | Billet Appreciation Night
A seriously important night as we recognize the many families who open their homes to players from across the country and around the world for the entire summer. We take time before the game to honour these host families who make the Gulls experience possible.
(Ps, we are still looking for a few local families to join our billet team. Reply to this email for more information!)
Wednesday, August 5 | Fan Appreciation Night
A celebration of YOU and yes, there will be fireworks after the game.
Throughout the season we’ll also be hosting additional appreciation games and specialty nights. We’ll share more details in the next edition of From the Nest!
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2026 Group Bookings Open March 1
Before we drop the link… a quick update: The Provincial Vodka Patio is getting a refresh for 2026!
The seven lower-deck picnic tables will remain, but the upper deck seating is transforming into high-top tables. We received feedback that this layout would improve sightlines to the field and we agree. It also enhances the patio’s social atmosphere, making it an even better space for company outings, team celebrations, and summer get-togethers.
The Group Booking Form opens on March 1. If you’re planning to bring a group of 10 or more, simply submit your details through the form. A member of our Gulls Ticketing Department will then connect with you directly to assist with seating options, payment coordination, and all the details to make your outing seamless.
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The Sylvan Lake Gulls season is getting closer, and like every season we look forward to see what the new edition of the Gulls will look like. This season, for the first time in their short history, we will be looking at the new bench boss. Jason Chatwood has stepped down as the Head Coach, and Matt Hape is stepping into a new role with the team.
Matt is from Bozeman, Montana and played his minor ball there as a pitcher/outfielder. He played for the Bozeman Bucks and led the team in many offensive categories as well as having an impressive record on the pitching mound. After finishing up his high school career at Bozeman High where he was All-State and named to the Eastern Conference AA team, as both a pitcher and an outfielder, he went to Salt Lake Community College. At Salt Lake he pitched for the Bruins and put up some impressive numbers. He finished the season with a 7-0 record in the 65 innings he pitched and had 32 strikeouts. They won the 2014 SWAC Championship. He was also part of a combined no-hitter there.
For the 2016 season, Matt transferred to Montana State University – Billings, where he spent the next two seasons pitching for the Yellowjackets and gaining his Masters Degree in Psychology. During his first season at MSUB Matt had 12 starts and finished with 3 complete games. As a Junior he had 37 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings pitched. He was part of MSUBs second consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season Championship team. His second, and final season of college baseball he appeared in 11 games, with 10 starts. He threw 40 2/3 innings that last year and had 20 strikeouts.
After his college playing days were over he stepped into coaching. He remained at MSUB as a coach for seven of seasons and in 2024 he transferred to Niagara University, near Buffalo, NY. This year Matt will be beginning his third season as an Assistant Coach with the Purple Eagles.
Matt also took advantage of the College Summer League, WCBL, and joined the coaching staff of the Gulls in their second season, and has been a Pitching Coach for the team over the past 4 seasons. After last season Jason Chatwood announced that he would be stepping away from the coaching position and he recommended Matt as his replacement. Gulls President and COO, Aqil Samuel says “We have witnessed Matt grow as a coach in his time in Sylvan Lake and feel he is ready for the next step in our organization. His dedication to winning, recruiting, developing players, and being part of this community make him a prefect fit as the second ever Head Coach of the Gulls. He will be reporting to our General Manager, Jason Chatwood. The two have worked closely together on and off the field for the Gulls the last four years, and we expect them to continue to do so in their new roles.” Matt will still be working with the Gulls pitching staff, helping them to develop.
We’re looking forward to the new season and seeing Matt to continue to grow as a Coach and a person.
Go, Gulls, Go!
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Registration is open for the 2026 Gulls Kids Camp, running July 6 to 8 at Gulls Field.
This three-day camp has become a summer staple for young ballplayers in our community. It is an engaging chance to learn the game, build confidence, and create lasting memories right on the same field as their favourite Gulls players.
Presented by Slash Sports and led by Gulls players and coaches, the camp focuses on skill development in a fun and encouraging environment. These young athletes will work on fundamentals like hitting, throwing, fielding, and base running, all while learning the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. New to the game or already playing competitively, this program is designed to meet your child at their current level and help them grow.
Spots fill quickly each year, and we expect this summer to be no different. Families are encouraged to register early to secure their place.
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July’s Double Headers Explained
We’ve had a few questions about our two Sunday double headers against the Energy City Cactus Rats, so here’s the breakdown.
On the first two Sundays in July, the Gulls and the Cactus Rats will be flying/scurrying up and down Highway 2 for back-to-back games on the same day.
SUNDAY, JULY 5
Game One: 12:05 PM at Gulls Field
Game Two: 7:05 PM at Energy City Metro Ballpark
Then we flip:
SUNDAY, JULY 12
Game One: 12:05 PM at Energy City Metro Ballpark
Game Two: 7:05 PM at Gulls Field
We’re thinking we should call it the QE2 Rivalry… and it’s gonna be heated!
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The word strike is heard plenty of times around ballparks scattered all over the face of the globe we live on. If you’re a pitcher, you enjoy hearing it yelled from behind the plate. If you’re a batter, maybe not so much.
If you are a fan of the game however, when you hear the word uttered in boardrooms across the breadth of Major League Baseball, you shudder and for those of us old enough to recall, there are three moments when that word had a haunting impact on our psyche.
There have been four work stoppages in MLB and one lockout that impacted the game and those who play it. Not to mention, those of us who watch it.
The most recent one was 2021-22 season which lasted 99 days and the result was a new collective bargaining agreement. A positive result for the game but a black eye at the same time as the fans didn’t then, and likely never will understand how millionaires playing a game and billionaires who run the game, can argue about dollars and cents, among other things.
That, however, is another story.
The most devastating one happened on August 12, 1994, and saw the cancellation of 938 games and the World Series. Fans of the Montreal Expos still get incredibly wound up as it was Les Expos who had the best record in MLB at the time of the strike. Many pundits felt this Expos team could have brough home the championship that year, but now we will never know. By the way, the Jays were 16 games back of the Yankees that year.
The other milestone strike took place in 1981 which lasted 50 days, cancelled 713 games and led to the split season that year. Once again the Expos were in the mix, making the playoffs and falling to the Dodgers in five games. Rick Monday became the most hated man in Canada with his 9th inning home run sending the Dodgers to the World Series and from that point, October 19th is known as Blue Monday. The Jays were mired in last place in the A.L. East and had no playoff aspirations.
The strike was a significant one as it really set the ball in motion for the players to be treated as much more than employees or an asset. It set the stage for free agency to blossom, but it also defined the distrust between the players and the owners. Another side-effect was the impact it had on the fans. They were not pleased with either side and when play resumed, attendance dropped and TV revenue suffered. Two things that get the attention of owners and players alike.
Collectively, players lost approximately $30 million in salaries while the owners said goodbye to $70 million in lost revenue. The League came up with a crazy playoff system that year which saw two teams with the best records in the N.L., the Reds and Cardinals miss the playoffs because they failed to win one of the two half season standings. In the A.L. Kansas City wound up in the playoffs despite having a record under five hundred but perfectly timed their wins to claim the second half of the season.
It was a mess on all accounts and now we hear rumblings of potential for another strike. It would seem neither side has learned from their mistakes. Thanks to the Sylvan Lake Gulls and the rest of the WCBL for giving us the ability to scratch our baseball itch, uninterrupted by labour disputes.
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