The Prairie Baseball Academy Alumni Association is thrilled to announce Todd Hubka will be the sole inductee into the PBA Hall of Fame for the Class of 2025. Coach Hubka, or "Coach Hub" as he's known to many, has been a vital part of this program since its early days—joining in all but the very first year of PBA’s existence. In many ways, Coach Hubka is PBA.
Throughout his career, Coach Hubka has dedicated himself to helping student-athletes not only excel at the game, but also earn an education and become productive members of society. The values he has instilled—such as a blue-collar work ethic, the drive to get 1% better every day, and the commitment to outwork the competition both on and off the field—are the same values that have fueled PBA's long-standing success. These principles will continue to inspire and guide future generations of PBA athletes in achieving their goals and dreams.
Where do you even begin to capture the impact of a man who has done so much? Todd Hubka’s journey as both a player and coach is nothing short of remarkable. As a young ballplayer, Todd grew up playing in Claresholm, Alberta, before moving on to the Fort Macleod American Legion Program. It was during his time in Fort Macleod that Todd met Rocky Musgraves, an American coach brought in to lead the Legion program. Todd has often spoken about the profound influence Rocky had on him—not just as a player, but as a coach later in life.
With Rocky as his mentor, Todd completed his time with Fort Macleod and moved on to the collegiate level where he played at North Idaho College in 1989-90. Although Todd received offers to continue his college baseball career, he ultimately chose a different path. Todd continued to play the game he loved by joining the Oyen Pronghorns of the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (now Western Canadian Baseball League) The Oyen teams were powerhouse squads, filled with former and future standout college players. Coach Hubka, a left-handed first baseman with a powerful bat, could also pitch when needed. During his time with Oyen, the team won two SMBL Championships.
It was in Oyen that Todd forged a connection that would shape the rest of his life. While playing for the Pronghorns, Todd lived with Mr. Doug Jones, a 2020 inductee into the PBA Hall of Fame. Doug became a mentor to Todd, providing him with housing and jobs during his time in Oyen.
As Todd's playing career came to an end, he turned to Doug for advice on his next steps. Doug, who had played a significant role in the founding of the Prairie Baseball Academy, arranged a meeting between Todd and Coach Kubicek. That meeting, a simple interview
and handshake at Coach Kubicek’s kitchen table, marked the beginning of a relationship that would keep Todd involved with PBA for the next three decades.
The early years at PBA were far from easy. Many doubted that starting a college baseball program in Canada would be successful. But PBA had a visionary group of individuals who helped shape and guide the program to what it is today. Todd was one of those pioneers. He saw the potential of PBA and fully embraced the challenge. In those early years, with a young family to support and limited financial resources, Todd worked multiple jobs, ran weekend camps, and coached his own kids—all while fighting year after year to grow and establish the program.
When the time came to build their own facility, Todd played a crucial role in making it a reality. Lloyd Nolan Yard, the beautiful baseball field PBA calls home, was built by PBA, for PBA. The coaching staff, players, volunteers, and builders all worked together to make the dream come true. Todd vividly remembers spending weeks constructing the outfield fence, drilling board after board into place, and helping to lay the sod that still graces the field today. Anyone who has spent time at Lloyd Nolan Yard knows what a special place it is. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of those involved in its creation—and Todd Hubka is at the heart of it all. Those memories and accomplishments can never be taken away, and they are a source of immense pride for Coach Hubka.
Todd spent the first half of his career at PBA as the assistant to Coach Kubicek. Together, they formed a dynamic partnership that laid the foundation for the program's early success. During those formative years, Todd and Coach Kubicek worked side by side to establish the Junior Varsity program, join the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC), and build the reputation of PBA baseball. Each spring, they made the annual trip to Las Vegas to test their squad against the top junior college programs in the US, while finishing their spring seasons in Canada. During these years it was not uncommon for PBA to send 5-10 players per year to US schools to continue their baseball and academic journeys.
As of today, PBA has sent over 200 athletes to four-year schools in the U.S. Many of these men have gone on to build successful lives and have returned to Lethbridge to start families of their own. This sense of connection and community is a true point of pride for Coach Hubka. While he takes great pride in the on-field success of these young men, what matters even more is the kind of men they've become after their playing days, thanks in part to the values and work ethic they learned at PBA. The phone calls and messages he receives from former players, now adults, mean the world to him.
Anyone who knows Coach Hubka well understands that beneath his tough exterior, he is deeply emotional and genuinely cares. He may project a strong, no-nonsense persona, but his loyalty to family, friends, and players runs deep. He's the kind of man who always has his people’s backs, willing to go to bat for them no matter the circumstances. It's this unwavering loyalty and genuine care for others that have made Coach Hubka such a beloved figure in the PBA community.
In 2010, Coach Todd Hubka took the helm as the head coach of the Prairie Baseball Academy, marking the beginning of a transformative era for the program. From the outset, Todd worked tirelessly to build a strong coaching staff and lead the team with dedication and conviction. The 10-year stretch from 2010 to 2019 was nothing short of remarkable for PBA. During this period, the team won seven consecutive CCBC Championships, solidifying their status as a dynasty. PBA consistently produced talented players, year after year, and raised the bar for competition in the league. As a result, the league itself has grown and improved, with the number of teams expanding from five in 2010 to nine today.
One of the most significant outcomes of PBA's success has been the rise of high school baseball academies across Alberta. Today, there are nearly a dozen active programs recruiting student-athletes from across the country to play baseball in an academy setting. PBA's model proved that it was possible to develop elite players at the college level—and that vision has now been applied to high school athletes. This model continues to thrive, and one of the most rewarding aspects for Coach Hubka is seeing so many PBA alumni involved in coaching or mentoring within these academies. Many of these former players are now passing on the lessons they learned at PBA to the next generation of baseball players, including their own children.
The legacy of Todd Hubka at PBA is undeniable. Having devoted over half of his life to the program, Coach Hubka’s impact is immeasurable. The long hours at the field, weekends and evenings away from family, and the grueling spring bus trips all take a toll. Much of what Coach Hubka does goes unnoticed, and he is the type of person who never seeks praise. His focus has always been on the players and the program, never on personal recognition. Yet, it’s time we recognize the immense contribution he has made. Coach Hubka has played a pivotal role in helping hundreds of young men continue their dreams of playing baseball at the college level in Canada and the U.S.
Thank you, Coach Hubka, for your unwavering dedication to PBA, and congratulations on being inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame, Class of 2025.
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