RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Canadian players socialize during the Little League World Series opening ceremonies at Volunteer Stadium on Wednesday.

This year’s Canada Regional champion at the Little League World Series team isn’t new to South Williamsport.

This year’s representatives of the True North All-Stars from Little Mountain Little League in Vancouver are back in the Keystone State for the second time in four years and the third time in the last 15 years.

“It’s an honor when you get to go do this with the league,” said Canada assistant coach Brad Dorwart, the only coach remaining from Canada’s last appearance in 2022. “Being back from 2022, it was very similar to this role (this year). Something where you have low expectations but a high ceiling and just, it’s kind of (a case) where everything falls into place. Being part of it for a second time, I feel honored, but yet the messages are still the same.”

The program, which clinched the final international spot less than a week ago, came into the 20-team tournament after a 7-1 record in a highly competitive Canada Region.

Hailing from the western part of the country, Little Mountain turned heads with an 18-0 win against Quebec in the opening game of the region. While their run wasn’t perfect, with a loss to hosts Layritz Little League 3-4 during the competition, Little Mountain would redeem themselves with an 8-0 decisive win in the championship against that same Layritz ballclub to punch their second ticket to Williamsport in four years.

“It was very, very good,” discussed Dorwart on the regional run. “It was a bit of a surprise at how many runs we got. Again, it’s one of those things that all you could do as coaches (is) prep them.”

“Losing against the host team, coming back and winning, you really build up the whole thing. What did you learn from that game? And how to be correct. It’s OK to make mistakes, it’s OK to do all those things. How do you do it to prevent it the next time?” Dorwart said. “And these boys were able to do a really good job of learning from those mistakes. Hearing how they talk to themselves now, it is kind of like you would almost hear what other coaches would be saying to them, but they are saying it to themselves.”

Competing three years ago, the Canadians had a respectable campaign. Canada would go off to an electric start in the 75th anniversary of the Little League World Series, winning two straight games against Canada, 7-0, and Japan, 6-0. Their campaign would curtail from there, dropping a round three contest against Mexico 0-10 before being knocked out in the lower quarterfinal to Curacao, 4-2.

“My challenge to them is to see if they can do more,” concluded Dorwart. “They want to try and get at least the two wins.”

The Canadians will begin their run in South Williamsport on Friday afternoon at Volunteer Stadium with a 1 p.m. fixture against the winner of Puerto Rico versus Venezuela. The winner of that contest will play either Japan or the Czech republic, while the loser goes into the lower bracket against either Panama, Australia, Japan, or the Czech Republic depending on results elsewhere.

“If you can get past that,” echoed Dorwart in the first round match. “The sky is the limit.”