Thunder Bay Sports

The Thunder Bay Border Cats manager is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Joe Ellison has signed a three-year contract extension to remain with the team through the 2028 Northwoods League (NWL) Season.

The 34-year-old is from Toronto and is the 15th manager in franchise history, the second of whom to be Canadian-born.

Under Ellison this past season, the Border Cats finished with a 40-30 record, the most wins since the team’s NWL championship season in 2008.

“We had a great season this past summer, and while it was disappointing to not secure a playoff berth, we have set the bar very high in 2026,” said Ellison.

“This will only fuel the players returning and those joining us moving forward to push the needle even further to return to the championship days of Border Cats baseball, which our loyal fan base certainly deserves.”

He also currently serves as the recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at the University of the Science & Arts of Oklahoma.

“We are thrilled to extend Joe’s contract for three more years,” said Vice President and General Manager Bryan Graham.

“Having continuity in our manager position is very important for the program and helps maximize roster retention. Our players really enjoyed playing for Joe this past season, and having him return is also a bonus for recruiting top Canadian talent to Thunder Bay as well.”