Over the last decade, Team Quebec has quietly developed into one of the strongest and most respected softball programs in Canada, producing national medal-winning teams, NCAA athletes, and an increasing number of players capable of competing at the highest levels of the sport.

At the center of much of that growth of youth softball development in Quebec has been program lead Brad Pelletier.

Known for his intensity, high standards, and commitment to development, Pelletier has helped shape a culture that stretches across every level of the program—from young athletes first learning the fundamentals to senior players competing nationally and collegiately across the United States.

Under his leadership, Team Quebec captured a historic silver medal at the 2022 Canada Games, a breakthrough moment that signaled the province was no longer chasing the country’s elite programs but becoming one itself.

What makes the program stand out goes beyond wins and medals is how Team Quebec has built a true high-performance environment while still maintaining a strong developmental foundation.

Athletes train year-round, compete against top competition across Canada and the United States, and are surrounded by specialized resources designed to prepare them for the next level.

Just as importantly, the program has created a pathway that continues to open doors for athletes pursuing college softball and national team opportunities.

In this conversation, Pelletier discusses the evolution of Team Quebec, the philosophy behind the program’s success, the challenges of building elite teams within a smaller player pool, and why he believes the future of softball in Quebec is only getting stronger.

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Program & Structure

For people outside Quebec who may not know the program well, what is Team Quebec, how has it evolved over the last decade, and what is the overall mission behind it?

For people outside Quebec who may not know the program well, Team Quebec’s mission is to create the best possible environment for athletes to succeed at the highest levels of softball. 

Over the years, the program has continued to grow both competitively and structurally, with a major focus on developing athletes capable of competing nationally, earning opportunities within the American college system, and eventually contributing to the women’s national team program. 

Beyond athlete development, the organization also places importance on growing the game throughout Quebec by supporting coaches, increasing visibility for the sport, and running clinics, camps, and regional development opportunities.

This year you have teams at the U15, U17, U19 and Senior levels. How do you build continuity throughout the entire system?   

Continuity throughout the system is built through a shared vision across every age group, from U15 all the way to the Senior team.

The goal is for each level to prepare athletes for the next stage by using consistent teaching methods, terminology, expectations, and developmental standards throughout the program. 

Coaches at every level work closely together to align training plans and athlete evaluations, while older athletes help mentor younger players and reinforce the culture of accountability and pride within the organization.

Camps, clinics, and program-wide events also help strengthen the connection between all levels of Team Quebec.

Can you walk us through what the Team Quebec program actually looks like for an athlete throughout the year, including training, camps, practices and competition?  

The Team Quebec experience for athletes is essentially year-round but there are two main components: the indoor training from October to April and the outdoor competition from May to August.

Indoor training begins in mid-October and runs through April, with centralized practices in the Greater Montreal area several times per week depending on the team.

Athletes have access to specialized instruction in areas like pitching, hitting, catching, strength training, speed development, sports psychology, and nutrition.                       

During the outdoor season from May through August, teams typically travel extensively, competing in tournaments across Ontario and the United States while also participating in local league schedules and national championships.     

What does the selection and tryout process look like for players hoping to make Team Quebec?   

The selection process begins after the Canadian Championships, once athletes have had some time to rest.

Players then go through a two-weekend tryout process.

The first weekend focuses heavily on evaluating individual skills and measurable metrics, while the second weekend shifts more toward game situations, competitive drills, and live evaluations.

Most roster decisions are finalized by the end of the fourth day of tryouts before teams begin preparing for the next season.

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Player Development & Recruiting

What qualities do you look for when identifying athletes who could eventually represent Team Quebec?       

When identifying athletes for Team Quebec, the staff looks for far more than raw talent alone.

Athletic ability matters, but so do work ethic, character, competitiveness, coachability, and a willingness to embrace development over the long term.

The program values athletes who are motivated to improve, handle challenges well, and represent Team Quebec properly both on and off the field.                

Development seems to be a major focus within the younger age groups. What are the most important things you want athletes learning at the U15 and U17 levels?  

At the younger age levels, particularly U15 and U17, development remains the top priority.

The focus is on building strong fundamentals in throwing, fielding, hitting, baserunning, and positional play while also helping athletes develop a deeper understanding of the game.

Coaches want players thinking and reacting naturally on the field rather than simply following instructions mechanically. Just as important, the program works to instill passion for the game along with respect for teammates, opponents, and the sport itself.

What separates the Team Quebec development model from other provincial or club programs in Canada?   

What separates Team Quebec from many other programs in Canada is its commitment to creating a true high-performance environment while still maintaining a strong developmental focus.

Athletes have access to specialized instructors, strength and conditioning resources, sports psychology, nutrition support, and consistent exposure to elite competition throughout Canada and the United States.

The belief within the program is that competing against top-level opposition accelerates development and better prepares athletes for national and international opportunities. 

What teams and organizations do you typically compete against throughout a season in both Canada and the United States?    

Being a travel team, there isn’t one specific team or organization we compete against more than the others.

At the Canadian Championships, we consistently see strong programs from Ontario, BC, Saskatchewan and provinces across the country.

In the United States, our schedule changes depending on the year, with trips to places like New Hampshire, Buffalo, New York, Pittsburgh and other major events.

We travel quite a bit, and especially at the U17 and U19 levels, we focus on choosing tournaments that provide the best exposure opportunities for our athletes.

Your senior team is made up largely of athletes from the 2022 and 2025 Canada Games teams who are now playing or have played collegiately. Can you speak about the caliber and background of some of the athletes who have come through the program? 

The current Senior team features many athletes who were part of the 2022 and 2025 Canada Games teams, including several who have gone on to play collegiately in the United States. 

The 2022 team captured the first-ever Canada Games silver medal for Quebec, and a number of those athletes have continued competing at high levels.

Among them are Lea Chevrier, who pitched at the NCAA Division I level for Miami (Ohio(, and Emma Duncan, who is on the 2026 NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year watchlist and was the Great American Conference Pitcher of the Year at Southern Arkansas.

The roster also includes multiple athletes competing at strong NJCAA Division I programs, giving Team Quebec a veteran and highly competitive Senior group heading into nationals.

What opportunities does Team Quebec provide for athletes looking to pursue college softball, and how involved are your coaches in the recruiting process? 

Team Quebec provides significant support for athletes pursuing college softball opportunities. The program works alongside Sports Ambition to help players navigate the recruiting process and identify schools that fit their goals academically and athletically. 

In addition, relationships built over the years with college coaches throughout the United States have helped create additional recruiting opportunities for athletes coming through the program.

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Quebec Softball Landscape

What do you think people across Canada underestimate most about softball in Quebec? 

One thing often underestimated nationally about Quebec softball is the province’s offensive ability.

Quebec teams have consistently been among the stronger hitting teams at national events and tournaments, something that was showcased during the 2022 Canada Games run and again in 2025.

While there is still room for growth in every area of the game, hitting has become one of the program’s defining strengths.

What are some of the biggest challenges of building a successful provincial program from a smaller player pool? 

Building a successful provincial program from a smaller player pool does come with challenges. Geography is a major factor, as bringing together the best athletes from across the province multiple times per week requires significant travel and commitment.

Another factor unique to Quebec is the strength of women’s baseball, which draws some athletes away from softball.

At the same time, increasing numbers of Quebec players earning college opportunities have helped demonstrate that softball offers strong pathways for athletes to continue competing at high levels beyond the province.

Through your academy, Académie Softball Double Jeu, you work closely with younger athletes year-round. At what age do you typically start training players, and what areas of development do you focus on most to prepare them for elite competition?  

Through Académie Softball Double Jeu, work with athletes often begins at a very young age—sometimes as early as six or seven years old.

Early development focuses heavily on fundamentals, including proper throwing, catching, hitting, and running mechanics.

The philosophy is that before athletes can truly understand and excel within the game itself, they first need a strong technical foundation built through quality individual skill development.

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Leadership, Experience & Vision

You’ve now spent more than a decade with Team Quebec and have also worked with the Junior National Team coaching pool. What has that experience taught you about building elite athletes and successful teams? 

More than a decade of coaching experience with Team Quebec and the Junior National Team coaching pool has reinforced the idea that talent alone is never enough to sustain long-term success.

The athletes who separate themselves are typically the ones who embrace adversity, stay disciplined, remain coachable, and commit themselves to improvement over many years. 

Development is viewed as a long-term process, with some athletes maturing earlier than others, making projection and patience extremely important. A strong culture combined with athletes who genuinely want to learn can ultimately produce elite-level results.

Are there any players, teams, or moments during your time with Team Quebec that stand out as especially memorable or meaningful to you? 

Among the most memorable moments during my time with Team Quebec was the historic silver medal run at the 2022 Canada Games, the first silver medal Quebec had ever earned in softball at the event.

Defeating Ontario twice during that tournament, including in the semifinal, made the achievement even more meaningful. 

Watching athletes celebrate the accomplishment after years of work remains one of the defining moments of his coaching career and helped open the door to opportunities with the Junior National Team coaching pool shortly afterward.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of Team Quebec softball over the next five to ten years? 

Looking ahead, the vision for Team Quebec is to continue evolving and building athletes capable of succeeding nationally and collegiately.

Preparing for future Canada Games cycles will remain a major focus, along with continuing to help athletes reach opportunities beyond Quebec. 

Seeing former players succeed at the next levels continues to be one of the biggest motivations behind the work being done throughout the program.

— Tyler Johnstone/Line Driver Media Canadian Correspondent