The Intercounty Baseball League is no more.
Enter the Canadian Baseball League.
The same nine teams that made up the IBL are still part of the CBL, including the defending champion Welland Jackfish.
In a release earlier this week, the Jackfish announced they are proud to be part of a major moment in Canadian baseball. After more than 100 years as the Intercounty Baseball League, our league is now a fully professional league under a new name: the Canadian Baseball League (CBL.ca). This step comes at a time when fan support across the league has reached new heights, with more than 249,000 fans attending games in 2025.
For the Welland Jackfish, this change reflects what our fans already know. The level of play has never been higher. Last season, 64 players with MLB or Minor League experience played in the league.
“Fan interest in our League has exploded to historic levels,” said CBL Commissioner Ted Kalnins. “The quality of baseball has always been top-rate, but the main engine of our growth has been significantly enhanced fan experience, with fun in-game entertainment, contests, unique theme nights, and accessible players, all at an affordable price for an entire family.”
As the Canadian Baseball League moves into 2026, more changes are coming. The regular season will expand from 42 to 48 games, starting in the second week of May. Only five teams will qualify for the playoffs, raising the stakes every night. The fourth- and fifth-place teams will meet in a one-game playoff, followed by two best-of-seven series to crown the Dominico Cup champion.
Fans will now be able to watch CBL games not only on YouTube but also on Roku, FireTV, Apple TV with the new free CBL TV app.
While the league moves forward, the history of the Intercounty Baseball League will continue to be protected and celebrated. Over the last year, significant work has gone into preserving decades of stories, photos, and artifacts, with help from partners including the Hanlan’s Point Chapter of SABR.
“The Jackfish are excited to be part of this amazing change that will only allow the league and its nine member clubs to flourish,” stated Jackfish President Ryan Harrison. “Although fans of Jackfish won’t see many changes at our games, we are hopeful this change brings even bigger moments to a much bigger stage!”
The Jackfish also enter December, and the holiday season, partnering with the Welland Professional Firefighters Association for their annual Toy Drive, helping bring joy to children in need across the Niagara Region. The Jackfish will be collecting new, unwrapped toys which will be handed out to children in need on Christmas Day.
This year’s Toy Drive runs through Sunday, December 14, with a festive campaign event planned for the A Very Jackfish Christmas Party on Friday, December 6.
For more information visit wellandjackfish.com
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
