Winnipeg is hosting the 2013 International Jewish Men's Slo-Pitch Tournament August 31 – September 2, 2013. The local Jewish community is invited to come out to watch the games, which are being played at the John Blumberg Complex. Admission is free and concessions are available. Games will take place Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and afternoon, and Monday morning.

 “There will be a two or maybe even three Winnipeg teams playing this year,” said Shael Glesby player on the Winnipeg Sweepers team.

“We have some great players and many with several years’ experience. Howie Gilmore is the Winnipegger who has played in the most tournaments - I believe 22. Wayne Nemy will be playing in his 15^th tournament, and this is my 14th. We also have a couple of father-son combinations like Max and Dan Polinsky and me and my son Daniel Glesby.”

 “Something that will surprise many Winnipeggers – the Blumberg complex is perhaps the finest facility for softball in Canada, and it is certainly as good as any venue that we have played at in the US,” said Glesby.

Over thirty years ago, the Toronto B'nai B'rith region established a mid-summer slo-pitch tournament for its men's leagues and invited B'nai B'rith teams from other Canadian cities to participate. In 1984, Toronto B'nai B'rith extended an invitation to teams from Detroit's B'nai B'rith softball league to compete against the Canadian teams. In order to accommodate the American teams, the tournament was moved to Labor Day weekend and the Canadian B'nai B'rith Slo-Pitch Tournament became the International Jewish Men's Slo-Pitch Tournament.

Many teams from all across Canada have participated in the tournament, representing Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. In addition to Detroit, teams from Minneapolis, Chicago St. Louis, and Las Vegas have sent teams to the tournament to represent the United States.

The tournament travels to a different host city annually, which allows tournament participants to enjoy the adventure of visiting a different city each year. Detroit, Las Vegas, Toronto, Minneapolis, St Louis, Vancouver, Chicago, and Montreal have all hosted the tournament. Winnipeg is hosting the IJMSPT for the third time! 1998, 2004 and now in 2013.

The mission of the International Jewish Men's Slo-Pitch Tournament is to provide an opportunity for Jewish men from around North America to assemble in a different host city each year to share their common passion for softball and to socialize.

The spirit of the tournament is based on the core values of sportsmanship, Judaism, and building relationships with other Jewish men who hold these values in high regard and share the same passions.

So far the following teams have registered to participate in the 2013 International Jewish Men's Slo-Pitch Tournament in Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA from August 31st to September 3rd: Chicago Waste Management, Detroit Mayhem, Detroit Motor City Hit Men, Hamilton Hess Village, Las Vegas Explosion, Montreal Royals, Toronto Gamblers, Vancouver Reign, and the Winnipeg Sweepers.

For more information see www.jewishsoftball.com