Softball Canada’s Chief Executive Officer Hugh Mitchener has announced that he will retire in late May 2022 after nearly 25 years on the job. He is one of Canada’s longest-serving CEOs in the sport sector and very well-respected among the Canadian sport and international softball communities. Over the next six months, he will help in Softball Canada’s transition to a new CEO, with the application and interview process expected to be launched shortly.
Mitchener started in the position in September 1997 and has seen Softball Canada develop numerous successful world-class programs at the domestic level in coaching, officiating and player development which are widely considered world leaders. Internationally, Softball Canada has garnered respect both on the diamond with strong performances and off the diamond through contributions from Canadians in key administrative positions.
“Looking back over the past 24 years, I am so proud of all that our people have been able to accomplish on so many levels,” stated Mitchener. “It’s a testament to the passion, skill and teamwork that everyone brings every day to softball, whether it be on the diamond, at clinics, in meeting rooms or in the office. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to work with such a talented group of people.”
At the international level, all of Softball Canada’s National Teams have established themselves as perennial medal contenders. The Women’s National Team recently captured Canada’s historic first Olympic softball bronze medal after winning bronze at the last two WBSC World Cups and winning gold at the 2015 Pan American Games.
The Men’s National Team has also enjoyed tremendous success as the only country to have medalled at the last three WBSC World Cups (gold in 2015, bronze in 2017 and 2019) and won three gold medals at the 1999, 2003 and 2015 Pan American Games.
The Junior National Teams also continue to push to achieve podium results, with the U-19 Women’s team winning its first World Cup medal in 2019 and the U-19 Men’s team capturing bronze in 1997, 2001 and 2005 and silver in 2008. Canada has also been very fortunate to host more WBSC Softball World Cups than any other country in the World in the period - a total of 11 World Cups plus two Pan American Games softball competitions, the 2019 WBSC Americas Olympic Softball Qualifier and the annual Canada Cup International Fastpitch Championship.
