Who doesn't like a good debate to start off the season...right?? (LOL). We will now release our 1st edition of the CABC Men's AAA Top 10 Rankings for the 2026 season. The list is meant to have some fun and grow the sport of baseball at the Men's AAA level. These rankings are based on regular season, playoffs and major tournament results from the 2025 season. To this point in the season, I have not seen too many rosters for teams so there is the chance that their may be some major movement among this first set of rankings. 

 

Again, as stated before, this is meant to have a bit of fun and create some chatter across the country about this level of baseball. Everything is not going to be perfect every time and I will do my absolute best to be as accurate as possible. So without further ado.....here we go for 2026. 

 

Honorable Mentions

*Sarnia Brigade (SW/Can Am League; 9 - 2 Reg. Season/No Playoffs) (10)

The Sarnia Brigade sneak their way into an honorable mention in the first rankings of the season. With a reduced regular season schedule, it is tough to rank the calibre of this team on a consistent basis. That being said, the Sarnia club (on top of playing their friends the Ilderton Riverhawks a handful of times) will play a condensed home & home exhibition schedule against teams from the Can Am loop this summer which should give us a better look at the strength and ability of this team. They finished in the Top 5 at the Ontario Elimination Tournament this past year and also won the CABC Gold Bat Tournament.

 

*Edmonton Cubs (Sunburst League; 11 - 7 Reg. Season/4 - 3 Playoffs) (NR)

The Edmonton Cubs had another solid season last year and find themselves in an honorable mention role to start off the 2026 season. The Cubbies finished in a three way tie (with Sherwood Park & Red Deer) for top spot in the loop with a record of 11 - 7. Through tie breakers, they were the top team in the North Division. They defeated Sherwood Park 2 - 0 in Best of 3 league semi-final before dropping a tough Best of 5 final 3 - 2 to the Red Deer Riggers. Edmonton will be looking for a big season this year as they prepare to host the nation in 2027 as the Men's Nationals host team. 

 

*Cartwright Twins (Border League; 12 - 2 Reg. Season/7 - 3 Playoffs) (HM)

The Cartwright Twins had a very good season last year and begin the season as an honorable mention for our first set of rankings for 2026. The Twins were 12 - 2 in league play good for top spot overall in the nine team loop. In the playoffs, they defeated Clearwater in the best of 5 quarter-finals 3 - 0 followed by defeating the now defunct Pilot Mound Pilots also 3 - 0 in the league semi-finals. In the Best of 5 finals, Cartwright ran into a tough Morden club dropping that series 3 - 1. The Twins also attended the Manitoba Provincials going 2 - 1 in round robin action and dropping a tight 8 - 7 decision to the Boissevain Centennials in the final. They also attended the Western Canadian Championships going 2 - 1 in pool play and defeated a tough West Winnipeg team 4 - 2 in the final. 

 

*Windsor Stars (Can Am League; 12 - 11 Reg. Season/2 - 2 Playoffs) (NR)

The Windsor Stars had a good season in 2025 which has earned them an honorable mention in our 2026 season opening Top 10 rankings. The Stars had a bit of a subpar regular season for their standards going 12 - 11 in Can Am League play landing them in 3rd spot overall in the standings. In their playoffs, Windsor ran a record of 2 - 2 and dropped the final to the Tecumseh Thunder by a score of 3 - 2. At the annual Ontario Elimination Tournament, the Stars had another good run ending the tournament going 4 - 2 and narrowly missing out on a trip to the Canadian Championships in Regina. Seems a good chunk of the roster will return for 2026 and should put them in a strong position for another strong season. 

 

*Chatham Ironmen (New Brunswick League; 18 - 10 Reg. Season/4 - 5 Playoffs) (HM)

The Chatham Ironmen had a good season in 2025 which has led them to an early selection for honorable mention in our first Top 10 Rankings of 2026. The Ironmen got out of the gate a little slow in 2025 but ended on a nice run which saw them finish at 18 - 10 good for 2nd spot in the league standings. In the playoffs, Chatham met up with the Saint John Alplines in the semi-finals and were able to win that Best of 7 series by a count of 4 - 1. In the league finals, the Ironmen ran into a red hot Charlottetown Islanders team and dropped that Best of 7 series 4 - 1. The Chatham club is going to have a busy year this season with league play as well as hosting the 2026 Canadian Championships at Ironmen Field. 

 

*Pirates de St Jean sur Richelieu (Ligue de Quebec; 21 - 9 Reg. Season/ 6 - 7 Playoffs) (HM)

The Pirates de St Jean sur Richelieu had a strong season in 2025 which has earned them an honorable mention in our Top 10 rankings to open the 2026 season. The Pirates regular season record of 21 - 9 had them in a 3-way tie for top spot in the LBMQ but they finished 2nd in the Louisville Slugger division just behind the Castors d'Acton Vale. In the playoffs, they met up with divisonal foes the Jets de Montreal and won that Best of 7 series by a count of 4 - 3. In the Best of 7 semi-finals, St Jean matched up with the always tough Castors d'Acton Vale. In another tough series, the Pirates dropped this one by a count of 4 - 2 ending their 2025 season. With some key additions this season, the club will look to have another strong year. 

 

 

National Top 10 Rankings

#10 - Newmarket Hawks (Greater Toronto League; 15 - 4 - 1 Reg. Season/3 - 0 Playoffs) (8)

The Newmarket Hawks had another strong season in 2025 which has them claiming the #10 spot in our opening rankings of the 2026 season. The Hawks sported a 15 - 4 - 1 record in league play good for 2nd place overall behind the 16 - 2 - 1 Kendal Eagles. In the GTBL playoff tournament, the Newmarket club ran the table going 3 - 0 and capturing the playoff title with a hard earned 2 - 0 win over the Thornhill Reds in the final game. After winning the 2024 Ontario Elimination Tournament, the Hawks bowed out on Saturday evening in 2025 after a 2 - 2 record in the double elimination format. Newmarket returns a large portion of their 2025 roster and should be a perennial provincial favourite again in 2026

 

#9 - Red Deer Riggers (Sunburst League; 11 - 7 Reg. Season/9-4 Playoffs) (NR)

The Red Deer Riggers had a great 2025 season which has propeled them into the #9 spot of the 2026 CABC Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings. The Red Deer club was one of three teams that finished the regular season with an 11 - 7 which was good for top spot in the South Division standings. In the playoffs, the Riggers had an opening date with the always tough and mainly sleeveless Calgary Diamondbacks. They would sweep the D-Backs in straight games for a 2 - 0 series win. In the league finals, they locked up with a tough Edmonton Cubs team winning that Best of 5 series 3 - 2. The Riggers will now defend their title this year as well as make the trek to Miramichi, NB for the 2026 Canadian Championships to represent Alberta.

 

#8 - Etobicoke Rangers  (COBA Major League; 18 - 5 Reg. Season/0 - 2 Playoffs) (7)

The Etobicoke Rangers had a very strong season in 2025 which has landed them in the #8 spot in our 2026 CABC Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings. The Etobicoke club had another strong season in regular season play finishing with an 18 - 5 record good for top spot in the COBA Major League loop. The playoffs were a little bit of a blip for the Rangers as they lost both their games there missingout on a league playoff title. The following week, the team was preparing for their first trip to the Canadians in 22 years. At the Canadians, Etobicoke (Ontario Rep #2) finished with a 1 - 3 record and missed out on the medals at that event. With a few roster tweaks this season, the Rangers should field another strong roster in 2026.

 

#7 - Cactus de Victoriaville (Ligue du Quebec; 21 - 9 Reg. Season/11 - 7 Playoffs) (6)

The Cactus de Victoriaville had another strong season in 2025 and enter our 2026 Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings at #7. The Cactus had another strong regular season as they finished at 21 - 9 which was good for top spot in the B45 Division in the LBMQ. In the playoffs, they had another great showing just missing out on repeating as playoff champions. In the league quarter-finals, they easily took care of the Big Bill de Coaticook by a count of 4 - 1 in that Best of 7 series. In the semi-finals, Victoriaville then hooked up with the Unicanvas de Thetford and won that Best of 7 series 4 - 2. In the finals, a repeat of 2024, they met up with the Castors d'Acton Vale and dropped that series 4 - 3 giving Acton Vale their 2nd title in three years.

 

#6 - Dartmouth Dry (Nova Scotia League; 22 - 5 Regular Season/2 - 3 Playoffs) (1)

The Dartmouth Dry had a very good season in 2025 and find themslves at #6 in our 2026 CABC Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings. Probably not a spot the Dry are used to being but I am sure with the fire power that they possess, they will not be in this spot for long. The Dartmouth club had another great regular season finishing at 22 - 5 and top spot in the Nova Scotia League. In the playoffs, the Dry ran into a very strong Halifax Mets team that was playing some great baseball at the right time of the year as they upended Dartmouth 3 - 2 in that Best of 5 series. Dartmouth also had a trip to the Canadian Men's Championships last year in Regina and went 2 - 2 narrowly missing out on a spot in the medal round by a tie breaker. 

 

#5 - Kentville Wildcats (Nova Scotia League; 19 - 10 Reg. Season/7 - 5 Playoffs) (HM)

The Kentville Wildcats had a great year in 2025 saving some of their best baseball for the playoffs as they catapult themselves into the #5 spot of our 2026 CABC Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings. The Wildcats had a good regular season going 19 - 10 good for 2nd spot overall. In the playoffs, they drew the Sydney Sooners in the semis and ended up winning that Best of 5 series by a 3 - 2 count. In the Best of 7 league finals, Kentville locked horns with the upstart Halifax Mets and in a very entertaining series they won by a 4 - 3 count. Heading into 2026, the Kentville club will now have their work cut out for them as they try and defend their league title and will also make the trek to Miramichi, NB for the Canadians in August.

 

#4 - Boissevain Centennials (South West League; 12 - 2 Reg. Season/8 - 1 Playoffs) (3)

The Boissevain Centennials had a great season in 2025 and they come in at #4 in our 2026 CABC Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings. The Cents had another strong regular season as they went 12 - 2 in league play good for top spot in the south division and a 1/2 game behind the Oak River Dodgers. In the league playoffs, they opened with a sweep of the Wawanesa Brewers in their Best of 3 series. They followed that up with a 3 - 0 sweep in their Best of 5 series against the Brandon Cardinals in the semi-finals. In the Best of 5 league final, they finally lost a game but took care of the Oak River Dodgers 3 - 1. They also took part in the Manitoba Provincial Tournament going 2 - 1 in pool play and winning the final by a narrow 8 - 7 score over the Cartwright Twins

 

#3 - Regina Trappers (Prairie Men's League; 10 - 2 Regular Season/3 - 2 Playoffs) (2)

The Regina Trappers had another very strong season in 2025 which brings them into our 2026 CABC Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings at #3. The Trappers had another great regular season in the Qu'Appelle Valley League (now Prairie Men's Baseball League) as they went 10 - 2 in league play grabbing top spot. In the playoffs, the Regina based club took down the Regina Dodgers in a Best of 5 semi-final series 3 - 1. That set up a final against the Regina Rockies. This was to also be a Best of 5 but because of time constraints and kids going back to school it was a one game final which the Rockies won 16 - 6. The Trappers also hosted the Canadian Championships and came up just a bit short in their quest for a medal after a 4th place finish in the tournament. 

 

#2 - Castors d'Acton Vale (Ligue du Quebec; 21 - 9 Reg. Season/12 - 5 Playoffs) (9)

The Castors d'Acton Vale had another impressive season in 2025 which lands them in our #2 spot for the 2026 CABC Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings. The Castors were one of three teams tied at 21 - 9 overall in the LBMQ and ended up in top spot in the league. In the playoffs, Acton Vale defeated the Cardinaux des Laurentides 4 - 0 in their Best of 7 quarter-final. In the semis, they defeated the Pirates de St Jean sur Richelieu 4 - 2 in that Best of 7 series. In the league final, the Castors had a hard fought battle with Victoriaville and came out victorious in that Best of 7 series with a 4 - 3 count. With two league titles in the last three years, the Castors should be in the running for another title this season. 

 

#1 - Charlottetown Islanders (New Brunswick League; 19 - 9 Reg. Season/8 - 0 Playoffs) (4)

The Charlottetown Islanders had a dream season in 2025 and find themselves at the top of the mountain in the 2026 CABC Top 10 Pre-Season Rankings. The Isles finished their regular season at 19 - 9 narrowly edging out the Chatham Ironmen for top spot in the loop. In the playoffs, they were flawless as they went a perfect 8 - 0 as they had four games sweeps against the Fredericton Royals in the semi-finals and the Chatham Ironmen in the finals locking up their 3rd straight New Brunswick League championships. Charlottetown also had a magical run at the Canadian Championships going 3 - 1 in pool play and defeating the defending champions Team Quebec in the final 8 - 1 to capture the first ever national championship for the province of PEI. 

 

Congrats to all of the teams that made the list this time around. After a few weeks, we will release our 2nd edition of the rankings for the 2026 season. By this point, we will have an idea of what rosters are looking like for this season as well as having some league play completed as well. Wishing the best to all of the teams in their upcoming seasons this year. Looking forward to another awesome season of Men's AAA Baseball in Canada. 

 

The CABC Team