NIAGARA FALLS AMERICANS ANNOUNCE FIRST SIGNINGS FOR THE 2026 ROSTER & 2026 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

The Niagara Falls Americans are excited to announce their first 18 signings & promotional schedule for 2026.  The Americans welcome Jase Burdon – RHP (Hilbert College),  Mitchell Canuel -RHP/SS (Assumption University), Marcus Castellon -1B/RHP (Alpena Community College),  Xander Clark – OF (Quincy College), Vincent Favata – OF (Thomas Jefferson University), 2025 Returner Derek Gesmondi – OF (Central Connecticut State),  Matthew Ganschow – OF (Niagara University), Christian Mikulski -RHP (Herkimer County Community College),  Angel Nova-Lopez -RHP (Curry College), Nick Paszt -C (Webber International University),  Colin Price – RPH/OF (Georgia Highlands College), Tom Rohan – C (Lock Haven University), Cooper Rowell-INF (Webber International University), Porter Slattery -LHP (Drury University), Ryan Stalony -OF (Crowder College), Dominick Zangardi – OF (Niagara University).

The Americans will have two fireworks shows this year, the first on opening day, Saturday June 6th – 6:30 PM vs the Jamestown Tarpskunks & the second show on Saturday July 4th – 6:30 PM vs the Batavia Muckdogs presented by the City of Niagara Falls. This season fans can enjoy of Bully Hill Vineyard Night on Tuesday June 9th, $1 Hotdog Night on Wednesday June 17th, $2 Beer Night on Thursday July 23rd.  Thursday June 11th will be the first ever Education Day Game at 11 AM, local schools, business, & community organizations can enjoy some baseball at Sal Maglie in the day. Sunday June 21st– 4 PM vs Newark bring your glove as families can go on field and play catch after the game with the team. Sal Maglie Stadium will be the place to be for all you dog lovers as Saturday July 20th– 6:30 PM will be Bark in the Park night (Bring your dog to the game) & Free T-shirt night will be Saturday July 11th at 6:30 PM. The Americans have teamed up with several local charities & community organizations as well. Thursday June 25th fans can bring in a canned food item and get into the game for free with all proceeds benefiting Heart, Love, & Soul. On Sunday June 28th-2:00 PM (doubleheader) vs Elmira the Americans will host Military Appreciation Night and invite all veterans or active-duty services members can come to the game for free. Then on Tuesday July 7th -6:30 PM bring in pet food and get in free benefiting Niagara County SPCA. For a full list of promotions visit www.niagarafallsamericans.com Our home opener is scheduled for Friday June 6th at 6:30pm, when the Americans will host the Niagara-Canada Ironbacks. Fans can find the full 2026 promotional schedule at www.niagarafallsamericans.com

Jase Burdon is a 6’0” right-handed pitcher from Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada. A graduate of A. N. Myer Secondary High School, Burdon played five years of varsity baseball, two years of lacrosse, two years of hockey, and one year of volleyball. Now a rising junior at Hilbert College, Burdon has started 10 games and appeared in 16 in his two seasons. He has recorded a 5.89 career ERA over 47.1 total innings, with 36 strikeouts and 23 walks.

A 5’8”, 165-pound rising sophomore, Mitchell Canuel is a two-way RHP/SS who has appeared in 14 games this season on the mound at NCAA DII Assumption University. The right-hander logged  21.2 innings, allowing 15 earned runs while striking out 13 total hitters. A Westport, MA, native, Canuel was a three-year varsity starter at Portsmouth Abbey High School (Portsmouth, RI), where he posted a 0.89 ERA in 2024 and batted .349. Canuel also showcased his speed by going 15-for-15 on steals that year.

Handling two of the most demanding positions on the field, Marcus Castellon is a two-way 1B/P at Alpena Community College. The 6’5”, 200-pound appeared in four games on the mound during the 2026 season, his sophomore year. At the plate, Castellon had the fifth-most at-bats on the team (128 AB) and hit .336, with 19 extra base hits (XBH). He also led the team with seven homers. Castellon is originally from Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Hailing from Chicago, IL, Xander Clark will join the Americans after a redshirt freshman season at Fayetteville Technical Community College. He transferred from Quincy University (DII), where he redshirted in 2025. At the NJCAA DII level, the left-hander played in 24 games and batted .258. IN 74 PA, Clark hit a pair of long balls and had 15 RBI. In the summer of 2025, Clark recorded a .308/.486/.538 slash line for the Griffith Generals of the Northern League, a pre-professional baseball league in the Chicagoland area. He also earned All Northern League Second Team honors.

Vincent Favata is a 6’2”, 175-pound redshirt rising sophomore at Thomas Jefferson University (NCAA DII). The Syosset High School graduate played varsity baseball all four years, was a 3x Perfect Game All-Region Player, and earned 1st Team All-Long Island his senior year. In high school, Favata also pitched, topping out at 85mph on the mound. After redshirting at Mount St. Mary’s University (NCAA DI) in 2025, Favata played in 16 games this season for the Rams and had 14 hits in 61 at-bats. The lanky, athletic right-hander comes from an athletic family, as his one and only brother Colin played baseball at Dean College (NCAA DIII) and his aunt played volleyball at Duquesne University.

Derek Gesmondi, a left-handed hitting/throwing 6’0”, 185-pound outfielder, returns for a second season with the Americans in 2026. In 2025, the Narragansett, RI native played in 14 games for the Americans and drew 12 walks. Gesmondi, a rising redshirt sophomore, transferred to Central Connecticut State (NCAA DI) from Mount St. Mary’s (NCAA DI) after the 2025 season. In his first season at CCSU, Gesmondi appeared in five games, but made the most of his opportunities, hitting .667 with two walks.

Matthew Ganschow is a 6’2”, 205lb outfielder who just completed his first season at Niagara University (NCAA DI). A graduate of nearby Clarence High School, Ganschow was a two-time First Team All-ECIC I and 2x First Team All-Western New York (WNY) selection. He also played three years of varsity volleyball at Clarence, earning All-WNY first and second team honors. In his first season at Niagara, Ganschow totaled 13 hits and 12 walks in 58 at-bats. Known for his big, athletic frame, Ganschow can play all three outfield positions at a high level.

Christian Mikulski is a 6’0”, 200-pound right-handed 3B/2B from Glenmont, NY. A rising junior, Mikulski played his freshman season at SUNY Adirondack (NJCAA DIII), where he played 37 games and led the team with a .437 batting average. Also, Mikulski totaled 33 RBI, 17 XBH, including 5 homers, and 13 steals. He then transferred and played the 2026 season at Herkimer County Community College. Mikulski tallied 35 hits, among them 9 XBH, in 32 games and batted .389 while consistently hitting third for the Generals.

Angel Nova-Lopez is 6’0”, 205-pound right-handed pitcher from Miami, FL. A rising sophomore at Curry College, Lopez appeared in three games in 2026. He started one game for Curry. The righty graduated from Miami Sunset Senior High School in 2025, where he played four years of Varsity baseball.

Nick Paszt is a 6’1”, 220-pound right-handed hitting catcher from Sanborn, NY. A graduate of local Niagara Wheatfield High School, Paszt is returning to the Americans for his second straight season. In 2025, he tallied 19 hits in 88 at-bats, posted a .403 on-base percentage, and recorded a 1.82 pop-time behind the plate. Paszt appeared in 30 games and flashed power in spurts, hitting three doubles, one triple, and one home run. Collegiately, he played two seasons at Eastern Florida State College (NJCAA DI) and is currently a rising junior at Webber International University (NAIA DI).

Colin Price is a 6’2”, 200-pound two-way from Jefferson, GA. Price graduated from Jackson County High School in 2025 and earned All-Region honors. In his senior year, he recorded a .406 average and totaled eight XBH as an outfielder. On the mound, the right-hander compiled a 2.66 ERA and struck out 31 batters in 23.2 innings. In the summer of 2025, Price played for the Forestbrook Mallards of the Beach Collegiate Baseball League (BCBL), which is based Myrtle Beach, SC. He finished the season second on the team in hitting numbers (.333/.404/.915) and helped the Mallards make a run to the final four. Price is currently a rising sophomore at Georgia Highlands College (NJCAA DI).

Tom Rohan is a 5’11”, 190-pound right-handed catcher from Scranton, PA. The electric-city native is a rising redshirt senior exercise science major at Lock Haven University (NCAA DII). In 35 starts, Rohan hit .250 and tallied 25 hits, including five XBH. He also showcased high-level defensive skills, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage during his junior season and registering a 1.91 pop-time. A graduate of Holy Cross High School, Rohan was ranked 27th academically in his class, played varsity golf for two years, and spent seven years on the varsity bowling team.

Cooper Rowell is a 6’2”, 205-pound right-handed infielder from Jacksonville, FL. In the 2026 season, he played in 25 games and posted a .306 batting average in the 2026 campaign. The Generals’ sophomore shortstop totaled 19 hits, 13 RBI, and 15 runs scored. Defensively, Rowell features an 88-mph arm from shortstop. After redshirting his freshman year at Webber International University in 2025, Rowell played for the Stingrays of Jacksonville’s Coastal Collegiate Baseball League (CCBL). He was a CCBL all-star and recorded a slash line of .297/.460/.432.

Porter Slattery is a 6’4”, 195-pound left-handed pitcher from Shawnee, KS. Slattery, a rising junior at Drury University (NCAA DII), pitched 16 innings and went 2-0 in the 2026 season. The southpaw pitched for the Jaw Bats of the Kansas City Collegiate Baseball League (KCCBL) in 2024 and was an all-star selection. He is a 2024 graduate of Mill Valley High School.

Ryan Stalony is a 5’11”, 200-pound right-handed outfielder from Mississauga, Ontario. Stalony, a rising sophomore at Crowder College (NJCAA DI), started in 44 of 46 games played in the 2026 campaign and recorded a .343/.435/.524 slash line. In 143 at-bats for the Roughriders, Stalony had 49 hits, including five home runs, 34 RBI, and 44 runs scored. Stalony has played for the Ontario Blue Jays, a premier summer league team based out of Mississauga, as well as the Canada Junior National Team. The Loyola Secondary Catholic School graduate was also part of Ontario’s gold medal-winning team at the 2023 Baseball Canada Cup.

Dominick Zangardi is a 5’9”, 180-pound left-handed hitting and throwing outfielder from Shavertown, PA. A 2026 graduate of Dallas High School, Zangardi is committed to continuing his playing career at Niagara University. He is a four-year varsity letterman from Dallas High School, where he won team MVP in 2025 and was first team all-conference and second team all-state. Spending time both on the mound and in center field for Dallas, Zangardi recorded his 100th career strikeout earlier in the 2026 season. In the summer of 2025, Zangardi played for the RCS Warpath, a premier Pennsylvania-based baseball organization. During that stint, he batted .400 with 26 hits, 22 RBI, and 30 runs scored.

Season tickets start as low as $99! If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the Americans or organizing a group outing to an Americans game, please contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.  Opening Day is Saturday June 6th – 6:30 PM.