Game Notes – Ottawa

ONWARD TO OTTAWA – This weekend, for the third consecutive season, PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series will buck into Ottawa, Ontario. The PBR Ottawa Classic, the sixth elite tour event of the season, and the tour’s final stop in Ontario, will be held at the Canadian Tire Centre on June 13. The action gets underway at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

 

RELATED: Click here for the complete Ottawa Game Notes.

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR Ottawa Classic will feature two rounds of bull riding and is a Tier 1 Challenger Series Global event. Each rider will get on one bull in Round 1 on Saturday. The 10 bull riders with the top scores will then advance to the championship round later than evening, where they will attempt one final bull in an effort to be crowned the event champion. This weekend, one rider will have the chance to earn 120 national points, in addition to ride score points.

WEST WINS BIG IN LONDON – Last weekend in London, Ontario, for the first time since October 2018, Lonnie West stood at arena center at the end of a Cup Series event, victorious inside Canada Life Place. As action got underway in Round 1, West delivered the seventh best score when he outlasted Leader Of The Pack for 83.7 points. West then drafted Smudge as his championship round bovine athlete opponent. In a decision which proved dividends, West dominated the bull for 85.8 points, enough to cement the win. Courtesy of his victory, his first across all levels of PBR competition since 2022, West earned a crucial 121 national points. He surged from No. 40 to No. 18 in the race for the 2026 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $100,000 bonus. A breakthrough event for West, prior to travelling to London, the Albertan had competed at 10 other events, registering just one Top 15 effort, finishing 12^th at the season-launch event in Red Deer, Alberta. Keen to continue his winning ways this weekend in Ottawa, West has drawn Xerces in Round 1 of action inside the Canadian Tire Centre.

SANTANA CONTINUES TO SURGE – In the history of PBR Canada, never before has a Brazilian been crowned Champion at season’s end. However, Gilmar Santana is hoping to change that come November. Mounting one of the most consistent seasons of any active riders in the PBR Canada ranks, Santana has steadily climbed the standings, presently ranked No. 2, 348.83 points behind No. 1 Nick Tetz.

Since making his season debut in late April at the Touring Pro Division event in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Santana has competed at nine events, logging rides at seven events, and never finishing lower than seventh. At the most recent Cup Series event in London, Ontario, Santana went 1-for-2 to finish seventh. His 85-point ride on Write This Down in Round 1 netted him a crucial 22 national points, allowing him to solidify his No.3 rank in Canada. The very next day, in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan, Santana was back to his winning ways, victorious at the Touring Pro Division’s Party In The Pasture PBR. His victory was headlined by an event-best, 88.1-point ride aboard Posty in the championship round. He left St. Walburg with a crucial 46 national points allowing him to leap-frog Jeremy Maisonneuve for the No. 2 rank in the race for the 2026 PBR Canada Championship. Santana has gone a head-turning 12-for-17 this season, riding 70.59% of his animal athlete opponents. Ready to continue his journey up the standings this weekend in Ottawa, Ontario, Santana has drawn Rattle Bones in the opening round of action.

TETZ REMAINS NO. 1 – After a broken femur derailed his plans for the 2025 season, two-time PBR Canada Champion has returned with a vengeance in 2026, determined to win his record-tying third national title. In addition to leading the PBR Canada contingent in event wins with five, he also has the most round wins across both levels of competition with eight. He has gone a torrid 17-for-23, covering 73.91% of his animal athlete opponents. Last weekend, Tetz solidified his No. 1 rank in the current standings registering Top 10 finishes at both the Cup Series event in London, Ontario, and the Touring Pro Division event in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan.

In London, Tetz finished ninth. He rode Twisted Logic for 83.8 points in Round 1, and did not compete in the championship round due to injury. The finish earned him 18 national points, and Tetz he extended his lead over then No. 2 Jeremy Maisonneuve to 333.83 points. The following day in St. Walburg, the Albertan finished second. He netted 33 national points for his 87.2-point trip atop Pyper in the championship round. At present, Tetz leads new No. 2 Gilmar Santana by 348.83 points. Looking to continue his dominant season this weekend in Ottawa, Tetz has drawn Chit Chat in Round 1 inside the home of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.

HOT TAKES – Other athletes, both rider and bull, to watch this weekend at the PBR Ottawa Classic include:

• Dakota Buttar: The two-time PBR Canada Champion appeared poised to defending his London Classic event win last weekend after a dominant Round 1 winning ride, topping Joker On A Jack for 87.2 points. Buttar, however, was denied the win when he was tossed by More or Less in a close 4.99 seconds in the final round. Finishing the event fourth overall, Buttar collected 49 national points, rising from No. 8 to No. 7 in Canada. He presently trails No. 1 Nick Tetz by 485.33 national points. Throughout 2026, Buttar has gone 10-for-23, riding 43.48% of his animal athlete opponents, registering nine Top 15 finishes across all levels of PBR Canada competition. Still searching for his first event win of the season, Buttar will attempt Write This Down in the opening round of the PBR Ottawa Classic.
• Jordan Hansen: Annual PBR Canada Championship contender Jordan Hansen delivered a statement performance at last weekend’s Cup Series event in London, Ontario, going a flawless 2-for-2 to finish second and net 79 national points. Hansen rode Frigg Off for 81.5 points in Round 1, and Holy Smokes for 85.3 points in the championship round. Seeking his first PBR Canada Championship this November, Hansen climbed from No. 32 to No. 22 in the national title battle. He now trails No. 1 Nick Tetz by 623.33 points. The event was just Hansen’s third of the season in PBR Canada competition. After being shutout in his season debut in early May at the Touring Pro Division event in Camrose, Alberta, Hansen was eighth at the Cup Series event two weeks ago in Hamilton, Ontario. Across those events, he’s gone 3-for-5, covering 60% of his draws. This weekend in the nation’s capital, Hansen has drawn Says Who.
• Jayden Roy: Just days after being drafted by the Nashville Stampede for the 2026 PBR Teams season, young gun Jayden Roy turned his focus to London, Ontario, and logged his second Top 5 finish of the seas in Cup Series competition. Roy delivered a statement score in Round 1, covering Affairs In Order for 85.4 points. Roy’s momentum, however, came to an abrupt end in the final round when he was bucked off by Bo Diddley in a close 7.66 seconds. The 18-year-old earned 35 national points and rose from No. 20 to No. 18 in Canada. Chasing his first career PBR win on Canadian soil, Roy will square off against A List in the opening round of competition in Ottawa.
• Moonwalk: Reigning Bull of the Year Moonwalk is delivering yet another championship contending season within the PBR Canada ranks. Thus far this season, the Thompson Rodeo Livestock bovine has delivered an organization best three YETI “Built for the Wild” Bull of the Event performances, including at both Cup Series events held to date in Ottawa. In Hamilton, Moon Walk earned the honor for his 44.3-point score, earned for tossing Griffin Koester in 3.93 seconds. Last weekend, Moonwalk again led the field in London, scored 44.2 points after bucking off Gilmar Santana in 2.52 seconds. Moonwalk was also crowned Bull of the Event at the season-launch Cup Series event in Red Deer, Alberta, awarded 43.8 points after upending current Canadian No. 3 Jeremy Maisonneuve in 3.96 seconds. As a result, Moonwalk is currently ranked No. 1 in this seasons Bull of the Year race with a 43.9-point average score. He will look to complete his sweep of the Eastern events this weekend, slated to buck in the championship round.

PAST OTTAWA EVENT WINNERS – When the Cup Series last travelled to Ottawa in June 2025, welcoming a record-setting crowd, Jared Parsonage delivered a dominant 2-for-2 performance, including a monster 90-point ride, to win the event at the Canadian Tire Centre. As competition got underway with Round 1, Parsonage was tasked with Red Rust. Parsonage dominated the bull for 85 points, punching his ticket to the championship round tied for third. With an early selection in the final round’s bull draft, Parsonage elected to take on Moonwalk as his final animal athlete opponent inside the home of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. Parsonage delivered a picture-perfect ride, conquering the bovine for a mammoth 90 points to cement the event win. The monster effort was the first of three 90-point rides in Canada during the regular season during which both Parsonage and Moonwalk finished atop the standings. Courtesy of the golden finish, Parsonage earned a crucial 205 national points. He rose form No. 6 to a then No. 3 in the national standings, propelled within 332.17 points of then No. 1 Dakota Buttar. At season’s end, both Parsonage and Moonwalk were crowned champions, earning the title of PBR Canada Champion and Bull of the Year, respectively. While Moonwalk is still bucking in arenas across Canada, following his championship Parsonage retired from the sport of bull riding.

2025 Jared Parsonage
2024 Boudreaux Campbell
2018 Austin Richardson
2017 Cody Casper
2016 Brant Atwood

FAMILIAR WATERS – Round 1 of the PBR Ottawa Classic will feature two rematches. The riders facing familiar opponents are:

• Cody Coverchuk will look to remain perfect aboard Dream Living. At the December 2024 Touring Pro Division event in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Coverchuk rode the bull for 84 points.

• Dakota Buttar will attempt to approve to 2-0 against Write This Down. Buttar made the requisite 8 aboard the bovine athlete for 86.5 points at his namesake Touring Pro Division event in September 2025 in Kindersley, Saskatchewan.

NEXT UP – Following a one-month break, the 2026 PBR Canada Sup Series will next travel to Kelowna, British Columbia, and Prospera Place for the PBR Okanagan Challenge on Thursday, July 16. Action will get underway at 7 p.m. PT.   

PROVIDING PROTECTION – The bullfighters on hand for this weekend’s event in Ottawa, Ontario, are Tanner Byrne, Josh Haeberle and Logan Kadlec.

2026 5/5 BUCKING BATTLE SCHEDULE AND RESULTS - Each 5/5 Bucking Battle features the Top 5 riders from the event following Round 1, competing against the five highest-ranked bulls at the event for extra bonus points and an additional purse. Here are the winners of the special round in 2026:

March 6 in Lethbridge, Alberta      Stefan Tonita, 89.5 points on Monster Chip

 

 

OTTAWA COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Brazil (2) – Francisco Costa, Gilmar Santana

Canada (21) – Trinity Bear, Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Tyler Craig, Tanner Eno, Tyler Ewart, Jordan Giguere, Jordan Hansen, Griffin Koester, Shawn McIlwaine, Eric O’Flynn, Nick Ortufo, Tiger Ramcharitar, Jayden Roy, Ashton Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Marshall Senger, Tanner Skene, Chanse Switzer, Nick Tetz, Lonnie West

United States (1) – Daniel Keeping

BREAKDOWN BY PROVINCE –

Alberta – Tyler Craig, Tanner Eno, Jordan Hansen, Griffin Koester, Tiger Ramcharitar, Ashton Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Nick Tetz, Lonnie West; British Columbia – Eric O’Flynn; Ontario – Tyler Ewart, Shawn McIlwaine; Quebec – Jordan Giguere, Nick Ortufo, Jayden Roy; Saskatchewan – Trinity Bear, Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Marshall Senger, Tanner Skene, Chanse Switzer.