HOUSTON — Team Canada received some extra motivation ahead of Friday night’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Team USA at Daikin Park.
Canada hockey legends Sidney Crosby and Jarome Iginla, as well as the Canadian Paralympic men’s hockey team, sent videos wishing their baseball counterparts good luck.
Advertisement
“It’s nice to have other athletes that have represented the country at a high level and are playing in a major sport, so they’ve been through it,” Canada infielder Edouard Julien said. “They know what it is, the competition between the U.S., and just playing big games. So, it’s always great to have some videos to motivate you.”
Canada manager Ernie Whitt also said he hoped that a win on Friday could help lessen the sting of losing the men’s and women’s hockey Olympic gold medal games to the U.S. in Milan-Cortina last month.
“There’s always a rivalry between the U.S. and Canada. It’s just the way it is,” Whitt said. “I guess it stems from hockey a little bit, I would think. But there’s no question that the players in that locker room, they want to beat the U.S. tonight just to (avenge) the loss that the hockey team had.”
1 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
United States shortstop Gunnar Henderson (11) celebrates after hitting a two-run double against Great Britain during the fifth inning at Daikin Park on Mar 7, 2026.
1 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
United States shortstop Gunnar Henderson (11) celebrates after hitting a two-run double against Great Britain during the fifth inning at Daikin Park on Mar 7, 2026.
2 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Shohei Ohtani of Team Japan is forced out after the grounder of Kensuke Kondo #8 of Team Japan in the seventh inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Australia and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
3 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Fans celebrate Taiwan’s victory after the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool C game between Taiwan and South Korea at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 8, 2026.
4 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Taiwan players celebrate after winning their game against South Korea on March 8, 2026 at the Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan.
5 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Taiwan’s Shao-Hung Chiang (R) tags out South Korea’s Kim Ju-won at home plate during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool C game between Taiwan and South Korea at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 8, 2026.
6 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Fans hold up Korean national flags as they stand for the national anthem prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Chinese Taipei and South Korea at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
7 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
United States shortstop Gunnar Henderson (11), right fielder Roman Anthony (3) and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) celebrate after the game against Great Britain at Daikin Park.
8 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Venezuela first baseman Luis Arraez reacts from second base after hitting a double against Israel during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park on March 7, 2026 in Miami.
9 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Bo Gyeong Moon of Team Republic of Korea collides with fence in the seventh inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between South Korea and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 7, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
10 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Venezuela center fielder Javier Sanoja reacts from third base against Israel during the seventh inning at loanDepot Park on March 7, 2026 in Miami.
11 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Venezuela first baseman Luis Arraez (2) celebrates with catcher Salvador Perez (13) after hitting a two-run home run against Israel during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park on March 7, 2026 in Miami.
12 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Italy pitcher Gordon Graceffo (44) reacts after getting an out during the seventh inning against Brazil at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026 in Houston.
13 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Dominican Republic center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates his three-run home run in the eighth inning against Nicaragua with teammates at loanDepot Park on March 6, 2026 in Miami.
14 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Brazil first baseman Dante Bichette Jr. (77) looks on from the dugout during the third inning against the United States at Daikin Park on March 6, 2026 in Houston
15 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Seiya Suzuki #51 of Team Japan celebrates scoring a run by a RBI triple of Masataka Yoshida #34 (not pictured) in the second inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Japan and Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
16 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Venezuelan baseball fans show their support for their team against the Netherlands at loanDepot Park on March 6, 2026 in Miami.
17 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Brazil shortstop Vitor Ito (1) throws to first on an infield single by United States shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (not pictured) during the first inning at Daikin Park on March 6 in Houston.
18 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Fans cheer as Mexico center fielder Alek Thomas (5) slides to score a run during the ninth inning against Great Britain at Daikin Park on March 6, 2026 in Houston.
19 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Mexico first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) celebrates with right fielder Jarren Duran (16) after. hitting a home run during the eighth inning against Great Britain at Daikin Park on March 6, 2026 in Houston.
20 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Robbie Perkins #9 of Team Australia is tagged out at home by Martin Cervenka #55 of Team Czechia in the ninth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Australia and Czechia at Tokyo Dome on March 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
21 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Ronald Acu–a Jr. of Team Venezuela throws hit bat after getting walked during the fifth inning of a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game against Team Kingdom of the Netherlands at loanDepot park on March 6, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
22 / 22
See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
Venezuela outfielder Ronald Acu–a Jr. celebrates scoring a run in the first inning against the Netherlands at loanDepot Park on March 6, 2026 in Miami.
Making it to the WBC quarterfinal was already a historic achievement for Canada, which in five previous editions of the tournament had never made it to the quarterfinal round.
Advertisement
On Friday at Daikin Park, Canada players took the field for pregame batting practice wearing red long-sleeved hockey jerseys.
They didn’t just want to look the part but also wanted to embody the hockey spirit, said Canada infielder Abraham Toro.
“I come from a Venezuelan family so for me it was baseball right from the go, but all my friends were hockey players,” Toro said. “All the intensity that goes behind the hockey mentality, that’s kind of like what we’re gonna bring today to the game.”
Canada outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who cut the sleeves off his hockey warmup, grew up playing hockey in Canada and said he was on skates, “probably as soon as I could walk.” The Baltimore Orioles outfielder gave up hockey at 15 when he realized he was better at baseball and decided to invest more time in that sport, but said hockey is a crucial part of sporting culture in Canada.
Advertisement
“It’s definitely been a part of my heritage, and the guys after me and before me, so something we would take a lot of pride in,” O’Neill said. “That gold medal game, the U.S. and Canada, obviously was a tough, heartbreaking loss for us. But hopefully we can turn the tides this time.”
Despite having 15 MLB players on the roster, Canada entered the game as an underdog to the USA.
“We’re trying to play hard and just compete with these guys and show them that we’re here to play baseball as well,” Julien said. “We’re not here to cause a surprise. We’re here to play with them and we know we can do it and it’s just a matter of doing it in one game.”
Advertisement
USA baseball has an all-time record of 12-6 against Canada, including 4-1 in the WBC. Canada’s lone Classic win over the U.S. came during pool play in 2006, and highlights of that game are played every year at the Baseball Canada banquet.
“I get to see those over and over again,” said pitcher Michael Soroka, who was starting for Canada in Friday’s quarterfinal. “And they don’t get old.”
Although the USA-Canada rivalry is most fervent and closely competed in hockey, Canadian players viewed Friday’s game as an opportunity to help close the baseball talent gap between the two countries.
“Especially last year with the Blue Jays in the World Series, it brought so many eyes to baseball in Canada,” Julien said. “And now, to do it in the same year and to show these kids back home that it’s possible to get to the big stage and compete with any other countries and baseball is growing
Advertisement
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winter Olympics hockey losses gives Canada WBC motivation vs USA