Canadian Baseball Network unveils 2023 College Player of the Year, All-Canadian college teams 

November 24, 2023

Official Canadian Baseball Network News Release

Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Baseball Network (CBN) announced its 2023 Canadian College Player of the Year and its 24th annual All-Canadian College teams on Friday. 

Brady Cerkownyk (Etobicoke, Ont.), who enjoyed one of the greatest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) seasons in history for the Connors State Cowboys, has been named CBN’s College Player of the Year. The six-foot catcher received first-place votes on 46 of 53 ballots cast by a large panel of scouts, coaches, executives, former players and baseball writers. 

Cerkownyk becomes the third Connors State Cowboy to win the award. First baseman/outfielder David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.) took home the honour in 2020 and outfielder Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.) was honoured in 2010. 

Among NJCAA players, Cerkownyk ranked first in total bases (199), RBIs (107) and slugging percentage (.985) and second in batting average (.470) and home runs (27). He also topped all Canadians in the U.S. college ranks in batting average, RBIs, slugging, OPS (1.540) and hits (95). 

For his efforts, Cerkownyk, who honed his skills with the Mississauga Tigers and Ontario Blue Jays, was also named to the 2023 NJCAA Division 1 All-American First Team and received All-Region honours. He also made the NJCAA All-Academic Team. 

The right-handed hitting slugger, who was in his freshman year at Connors State, was selected in the 15th round of the MLB draft in July by the Detroit Tigers. He signed with the big league club and played in the Rookie Ball Florida Complex League. 

Cerkownyk also claimed the catcher position on CBN’s All-Canadian First Team. He is one of five players from Ontario on the squad. The First Team also boasts three players each from B.C. and Quebec and one from Saskatchewan. 

The Canadian Baseball Network’s 24th annual All-Canadian First Team (as noted below) consists of four NCAA players, seven NJCAA players and one NAIA player. 

The players on the All-Canadian teams represent the best of the 1,003 Canadians that played the majority of their schedule south of the border in 2023. 

First Team 

LHP – Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.), Central Arizona Vaqueros, NJCAA 

RHP – Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.), Canisius Golden Griffins, NCAA 

RP – L.P. Langevin (Quebec, Que.) Wabash Valley College Warriors, NJCAA 

C – Brady Cerkownyk (Etobicoke, Ont.), Connors State Cowboys, NJCAA 

1B – Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) Weatherford Coyotes, NJCAA 

2B – Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, B.C.) British Columbia Thunderbirds, NAIA 

3B – Austin Gomm (Mississauga, Ont.) Parkland Cobras, NJCAA Div. II 

SS – Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont.) Campbell Camels, NCAA 

OF – Jordan Bach (Ladner, B.C.) Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norse, NJCAA 

OF – Ethan Murdoch (Swift Current, Sask.) McCook Indians, NJCAA 

OF – Pier-Olivier Boucher (Saint-Joseph-de-Bauce, Que.) Southern Illinois Salukis, NCAA 

DH – Noah Hull (Scarborough, Ont.) University of Mary Mauraders, NCAA Div. II 

Second Team 

LHP – Kyle Carr (San Marcos, Calif., dad born in Sydney, N.S.), Palomar Comets, NJCAA, Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.), Michigan Wolverines, NCAA 

RHP – Tyler Boudreau (Middle Sackville, N.S.), Midland Chaps, NJCAA 

RP – Kody Butt (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador), Williston State Tetons, NJCAA 

C – Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.), Bellevue Bruins, NAIA 

1B – David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.), Oklahoma State Cowboys, NCAA 

2B – Justin Carinci (Ajax, Ont.), Mineral Area Cardinals, NJCAA 

3B – Aaron Manias (Uxbridge, Ont.), Howard Hawks, NJCAA 

SS – Brando Leroux (Markham, Ont.),Bossier Parish Cavaliers, NJCAA 

OF – Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, Que.), Oklahoma City Stars, NAIA 

OF – Noel McGarry-Doyle (Maple, Ont.), Mid-American Christian Evangels, NAIA 

OF – Avery Owusu-Asiedu (Saskatoon, Sask.), Southern Illinois Edwardsville Cougars, NCAA 

DH – Ben Jones (Toronto, Ont.), Dayton Flyers, NCAA 

Third Team 

LHP – Harley Gollert (Toronto, Ont.), Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, NCAA 

RHP – Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.), Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders, NAIA 

RHP – Brady Forno (Okotoks, Alta.), Williston State Tetons, NJCAA 

RP – Fynn Chester (Victoria, B.C.), Cal State Fullerton Titans, NCAA 

C – Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.), Northeastern Community College Plainsmen, NJCAA 

1B – Martin Vincelli-Simard (St-Therese, Que.), Sacramento State Hornets, NCAA 

2B – Emilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.), Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA 

2B – Ricky Sanchez (Okotoks, Alta.), Barton County Cougars, NJCAA 

3B – Kaiden Cardoso (Abbotsford, B.C.), Antelope Valley Pioneers, NAIA 

SS – Benji Sauve (Mascouche, Que.), Trinidad State Trojans, NJCAA 

OF – Micah McDowell (Kentville, N.S.), Oregon State Beavers, NCAA 

OF – Jude Hall (Chilliwack, B.C.), Yavapai Roughriders, NJCAA 

OF – Layton Cuvilier (Hantsport, N.S.), Sussex County Miners, NJCAA Div. II 

DH – Nick George (Sarnia, Ont.), William Penn Statesmen, NAIA 

Fifty-three baseball experts from Canada and the U.S. voted for the Canadian Baseball Network’s annual college All-Canadian teams which have been recognized since 2000. The Canadian Baseball Network is regarded as the premier source of information on Canadian college players. Pete Berryman was the primary statistician for this project. 

For more detailed information about each member of the Canadian Baseball Network’s 24th annual college All-Canadian teams, visit https://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/. 

List of previous Canadian Baseball Network college Player of the Year winners: 

2022 _ 1B Matt Coutney (Wetaskiwin Alta), Old Dominion Monarchs 

2021 – INF Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.), Wright State Raiders 

2020 – INF David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.), Connors State Cowboys 

2019 – LHP Ryan Johnson (Winnipeg, Man.), Lubbock Christian Chaps 

2018 – DH Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.), Auburn Tigers 

2017 – OF Christopher Acosta-Tapia (Laval, Que.), Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles 

2016 – LHP Guillaume Blanchette (St-Constant, Que.), Lubbock Christian Chaparrals 

2015 – 3B Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.), Canisius Golden Griffins 

2014 – 2B-OF Craig-St. Louis (Gatineau, Que.), Seminole State Trojans 

2013 – LHP Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.), Arizona State Sun Devils 

2012 – 2B Maxx Tissenbaum (Toronto, Ont.), Stony Brook Seawolves 

2011 – OF Chase Larsson (Vancouver, B.C.), Cameron Aggies 

2010 – OF Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.), Connors State Cowboys 

2009 – 3B Jesse Sawyer (Calgary, Alta.), South Dakota State Jackrabbits 

2008 – DH Mike Gosse (Pitt Meadows, B.C.) Oklahoma Sooners 

2007 – 1B Kevin Atkinson (Surrey, B.C.), New Mexico Jr. College Thunderbirds 

2006 – OF Jon Baksh (Mississauga, Ont.), Florida Tech Panthers 

2005 – 1B Karl Amonite (Woodslee, Ont.), Auburn Tigers 

2004 – OF Charlie MacFarlane (Lantzville, B.C.), Cumberland Bulldogs 

2003 – C Aaron McRae (Delta, B.C.), LSU-Shreveport Pilots 

2002 – tie: OF Ryan Kenning (North Vancouver, BC), New Mexico State Aggies; RP-SS Jesse Crain (Toronto, Ont.), Houston Cougars. 

2001 – LHP Jeff Francis (North Delta, B.C.), British Columbia Thunderbirds 

2000 – OF Ben Emond (Farnham, Que.), Texas Longhorns