The NightOwls have a goal of being a playoff time for the first time as the team prepares for the 2025 campaign with a coach and a brand new roster. (Nanaimo NightOwls)

By Dan Marshall

NightOwls are Back

New coach and fresh faces for NightOwls in year four

Mar 9, 2025 | 6:14 AM

NANAIMO — The NightOwls will be a much different team on and off the field as their franchise looks to take a step forward.

Player turnover is very common in summer baseball but for the first time Nanaimo has a new head coach with Cody Andreychuk taking over from Greg Frady.

Andreychuk knows he has tough shoes to fill.

“Any time you come in and a replace a guy who’s had a really good career you try to continue to build on what made them successful. Some of the players I’m coaching now have gone up to play there. I was able to get hired earlier than some summer coaches. That allowed me to get on the recruiting trail in the fall,”

The new bench boss grew up in Nanaimo and is currently coaching for the University of Pikeville in Kentucky.

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In the NightOwls fourth season Andreychuk is clear on what the team goal needs to be.

“I think the playoffs are the one thing that is missing. If anyone knows the Nanaimo market, I think I do. It’s a very passionate fan base, and a really good sports community. For me, it’s to get to the playoffs and have a have a playoff game at Serauxmen Stadium, I think that’s really exciting for the community.”

The NightOwls have a bevy of new players with Andreychuck excited to see the likes of Caden Petrey on the field in 2025.

“I think he’ll make a really good run at Player of the Year for the league. He had 20 plus home runs last year at his school, upwards of 55 RBIs, a big bat for us and he’ll play third. We’re excited about a couple of our infielders, and we’ve got an outfielder, Brady Morse, from Bellarmine who’s hitting .385 with the Division 1 level right now, I’m very excited to have him.”

Returning players include all-star pitcher Adison Mattix, Richter Castillo and Cole Carmichael.

Andreychuk is also looking forward to seeing local talent like Lucas Laukkanen and Carter Cathers as well.

Most of the roster is already solidified ahead of the NightOwls season opener at home on May 30 against Bellingham.

“We’re pretty set on where we’re at, but a guy could go down with an injury, or if we signed a pitcher and he logged too many innings throughout the regular season that they weren’t anticipating they may not send them. We’re never going to say no to a guy, we have a list saved in our back pocket where if we do lose a guy, we can fill that guy in that roster spot.”

There’s a special rivalry with the Victoria Harbourcats who will visit Serauxmen Stadium on June 10 and 11 as well as on Canada Day.

Andreychuk is aware of how important the Vancouver Island games are and is looking forward to it.

“I know the market for Nanaimo and Victoria. It creates a little bit of chippiness and all those kind of things that fans want to engage with, its good. If we’re both putting competitive teams on the field then you’re going to have that rivalry.”

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