2024 Western Conference Season Preview: Battle of Alberta kicks off season six of CEBL

May 20, 2024
Zulfi Sheikh

Season six for the Canadian Elite Basketball League tips off Tuesday and fans can expect even more nail-biting finishes, record-setting performances and premier Canadian talent on display.


It’ll all get underway May 21 with a battle of Alberta, as the Edmonton Stingers take on the Calgary Surge at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local at Scotiabank Saddledome. Typically, home to the NHL’s Calgary Flames, the local landmark will host a roaring CEBL crowd on Tuesday night instead.


But before we dive into the action, let’s get a reminder of how last season went and what changes each Western Conference team made in their pursuit of earning a spot in Montréal for Championship Weekend 2024.


CALGARY SURGE | 2023 Record: 12-8 | 1st in West

Starting with the Surge, who’ll be hosting game one of 2024 and are the reigning Western Conference Champions. Much of their success last year was courtesy of boasting the league’s premier defence, holding opponents to a league-low 80.7 points per game.


The question heading into this year is whether they can maintain that identity with a revamped roster. Veteran additions like Malcolm Duvivier, who spent last season with the Bandits, or newcomers Matt Grace (Hamilton, Ont.) and Gabe Osabuohien (Toronto) will immediately have to step up in order to replicate the team’s front court dominance like the duo of Kylor Kelly and Simi Shittu did a season ago.


For what it’s worth, newly appointed head coach Tyrell Vernon has no doubts that he can recreate Calgary’s defensive magic from a season ago.


“It always has to start on the defensive end,” said the former Shooting Stars assistant coach. “This league is extremely talented, all teams try to spread you out and in order to win a championship in this league you have to be able to defend and take things personally, so it’s definitely an identity we’re going to need to keep from last year.”


Vernon won’t just be tasked with maintaining Calgary’s strong defensive play however, he also has to find ways to improve an offence that ranked last in 2023 (80.7 points per game). Fortunately for Surge fans, if anyone had the pedigree to do it, it’s the 2023 Atlantic University Sports (AUS) Coach of the Year and U SPORTS silver medalist.


“I think we’re extremely athletic and we have diverse skillsets at every position,” coach Vernon said of his team’s offensive potential this year. “If we can space it out, make defensives play in space, we’ll naturally get better as the season goes on.”


For all the newness of this Surge squad, fans coming to the WinSport Event Centre will get to see a familiar pairing in the backcourt. Canadians Sean Miller-Moore and Stefan Smith were the first players to sign (re-sign in their case) with Calgary this season and it’s clear the duo earned the trust of the front office after their success in 2023. 


Miller-Moore is coming off a CEBL All-Canadian campaign in 2023 as the league’s 10th highest scorer while leading the team with 16.7 points per game. Smith wasn’t far behind averaging 15.4 points while leading the team with 5.6 assists (fourth in the CEBL). The workhorse duo that led the team in field goal attempts and minutes will be relied upon once again in the “Stampede City,” looking to carry them one win further this time.


EDMONTON STINGERS | 2023 Record: 9-11 |3rd in West

Edmonton will be Calgary’s opponent for game one and the two-time champions are hoping to bounce back from a middling season. The Stingers were a “do it by committee” team in 2023, quick to share the wealth as one of just three teams to average over 19 assists a game, yet they struggled to establish an identity beyond that. 


Without an identifiable strength to translate effort into wins consistently, Edmonton found itself stuck in the middle. Better than Saskatchewan and Vancouver at the bottom, but not strong enough to threaten Calgary or Winnipeg at the top of the standings in the West. They did, however, pull together to upset the Sea Bears in the Play-In round of the playoffs before falling to the Surge in the Conference Semi-Final.


A “do it by committee” team still tends to need a No. 1 option to push them over the top though. Keep in mind this is the same team that won back-to-back titles with a well-built roster that was undoubtedly spearheaded by two-time MVP Xavier Moon. Which then begs the question, who’s going to step up and take that mantle in 2024? 


Perhaps one of their four returning players as the Stingers brought back a core of Brody Clarke, Adika Peter-McNeilly, Nick Hornsby and Elijah Miller. Clarke led the team in scoring last year with 14.4 points per game and Hornsby was right behind putting up 12.9 points a night. Hornsby was also a Swiss army knife as he led Edmonton in rebounding (8.4) and assists (4.8) to go along with his offensive production. Meanwhile, Peter-McNeilly returns for his sixth season and although slotting into the No. 1 option spot isn’t likely for him, the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year will be a good option off the bench.


Maybe Edmonton finds their new No. 1 through one of their offseason acquisitions. The Stingers brought in a pair of NBA G League experienced players in Jacob Evans III, a former first round NBA draft pick, and Davion Warren – both of whom have the potential to be the latest import guards to dominate the Western Conference.


Evans III has four years of G League experience under his belt, primarily with the Santa Cruz Warriors, while Warren spent the last two seasons with the College Park Sky Hawks and Long Island Nets. In 2023-24, Warren averaged 11.6 points on over 50 per cent shooting from the field.


WINNIPEG SEA BEARS | 2023 Record: 12-8 | 2nd in West

The Sea Bears are ready to follow up the growling success that was their inaugural season. In 2023, the team not only set attendance records, selling out Canada Life Centre on more than one occasion, they were also a Western Conference powerhouse. 


“We got off to a great start last year,” said head coach and general manager Mike Taylor reflecting on Winnipeg’s inaugural season. “It was something special as an expansion team, but again, we want to continue to push further. Our dream goal is a CEBL championship and we’re trying to pursue that in every way possible.”


Much of their good fortune was thanks to a breakout campaign for reigning league MVP Teddy Allen. The American guard averaged 27.2 points (second in the CEBL), eight rebounds (seventh) and 1.7 steals (fourth) while leading the league in average minutes played and total three-pointers made. Allen didn’t stop at just taking home some hardware as he also added his name to the record books tying single-game records for most points scored (42) and three-pointers made (nine).


Another part of what made the Sea Bears such a tough team to face in 2023 was how physically imposing they were as the No. 1 rebounding team in the CEBL. And based on their offseason moves, it’s looking like that area of strength is something coach Taylor has chosen to double-down on.


“We felt like we did a great job upgrading our perimeter with great Canadian players, so it then became a focus for us to get size and skill around the rim,” Taylor said. 


The Sea Bears not only brought back local favourite Chad Posthumus who was one of the premier rebounders in the CEBL last season, they’ve added even more depth with the additions of Darius Days and Byron Mullens.


“What we love about Byron and Darius in particular is the fact they can score inside and out,” said Taylor on adding NBA experienced players to their roster for the first time ever. “We needed more frontcourt three-point shooting and we’ve addressed that with both guys.”


Days, 6-foot-7, has nearly 100 games of NBA G League experience with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and was named to the league’s 2022-23 All-Rookie team. Meanwhile, Mullens was the 24th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft and played in nearly 200 games, with his best season coming in 2012 with the Charlotte Bobcats when he averaged 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.


And as coach Taylor eluded too, the team made those signings after loading up on local backcourt talent. Players vying to join Teddy Allen as one of Winnipeg’s starting guard’s will be Mason Bourcier (Kelowna B.C.), Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson and Shawn Maranan (both from Winnipeg) and the CEBL’s all-time leading Canadian scorer Alex Campbell.


VANCOUVER BANDITS | 2023 Record: 8-12 | 4th in West

Another team that predicated much of their production by eating up rebounds last season was Vancouver. The Bandits were the league’s No. 2 rebounding team in 2023, but they weren’t able to translate their production on the glass into wins like the Sea Bears did. 


In 2024, the Bandits have opted for a balanced roster chock-full of talent. Notably, Vancouver’s biggest offseason move was likely nabbing McEwen from Brampton and bringing him out West. The Honey Badgers franchise leader in minutes played and assists will surely help a Bandits’ guard rotation that became a bit of a carousel last year. 


McEwen will look to bring his championship pedigree to a Bandits squad still in search of their first title and it’s safe to say the team’s head coach and general manager is excited about the addition of the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year.


“Koby was one of the top Canadian free agents in our league,” said Julius. “Koby embodies our culture and the way we want to play. He is a two-way threat and someone we have targeted the past three years. I can't wait to have him join our family.”


Even with McEwen and other new additions like Americans Zach Copeland and Taze Moore, fans at Langley Events Centre will still get to see plenty of familiar faces. Returning members of the 2023 Bandits roster include Kur Jongkuch, Diego Maffia, Duane Notice and Nick Ward. 


Ward, 6-foot-9, was a major reason Vancouver was so effective around the rim last season. The CEBL’s leader in field goal percentage (62.2 per cent) led the team in scoring with 18.5 points and was a top 10 rebounder with his 7.8 boards a game. Having the big man back to pair with a dynamic backcourt player in McEwen will be a treat for Bandits fans all season.


SASKATCHEWAN RATTLERS | 2023 Record: 8-12 | 5th in West

Battling at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with the Bandits in 2023 was the Rattlers. The team relied heavily on CEBL scoring leader Justin Wright-Foreman last season and it led to them struggling in other areas because of their dependency.


The 2019 champions come into this season hoping to change that and make some noise with a revamped roster built around experienced talent. At the top they’ve brought in Larry Abney to be their new head coach. Abney brings lots of NBA experience as he’s coached with the Los Angeles Clippers for seven seasons with a focus on player development, working alongside the likes of NBA champion Kawhi Leonard and Canadian All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.


Abney’s on-court floor general is likely going to be Jalen Harris. Formerly of the Scarborough Shooting Stars, Harris is the latest import guard to bring his talents West. He ended up playing four games in the CEBL last season due to NBA-related commitments, but in 2022 the former second round pick by the Toronto Raptors was one of the league’s best scorers. Harris averaged 20.1 points two seasons ago, which was third in the league, as he led the Shooting Stars to their first finals appearance.


Along with Harris, Abney also added more NBA G League experience by way of a Clippers reunion. Elijah Harkless and Bryson Williams are joining the Rattlers after successful seasons with the Ontario Clippers. Harkless averaged 11.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and a steal in 22.6 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Williams put up 9.4 points and 5.6 rebounds through 57 games. 


It won’t be all fresh faces however, as Saskatchewan brings back five players who previously played for the team in Julian Roche, Adong Makuoi, Isaac Simon, Alexander Dewar and fourth year CEBL player Anthony Tsegakele.



- CEBL -


About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

Powell Named MVP as Scarborough Takes Home Five 2026 CEBL Awards

August 20, 2026
Vancouver’s Samuel Repeats as Canadian Player of the Year

CEBL Finals Recap: Xavier Moon Propels Sea Bears to Long-Awaited CEBL Championship Victory

August 15, 2026
At last, Winnipeg has its first CEBL title. The Sea Bears earned their long-awaited maiden championship after taking down the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 on Saturday in the CEBL Finals at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. It was in that same arena, on that same floor last year that the Sea Bears were forced to watch the Niagara River Lions celebrate after the home club was knocked out in the semifinals. All that did was lead to a summer of change, including the import of three-time MVP, and now three-time champion, Xavier Moon as well as a new head coach in Mike Raimbault, who joins the elite ranks of title-winning bench bosses in his rookie season. Now, the trophy belongs in the Manitoba capital. “I'm just super happy for everybody that is out there celebrating today and that it came to fruition because the organization did definitely deserve a championship,” Raimbault said. It was Moon who put the Sea Bears on his back en route to earning the title of Finals MVP — aptly already named after him after he won two previous with the Edmonton Stingers in 2020 and 2021 — racking up a game-high 29 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists. “It's crazy to be back in this environment again. I mean, obviously, familiar territory for me for winning, but to do it in a city that's never won a playoff game, I think it means a lot more. This one is a lot more special than the first one. So, like I've been saying, man, I'm happy for my teammates, and I'm happy for the city of Winnipeg,” Moon said. The full Moon struck when the clock stopped for Target Score Time and Winnipeg held an 88-74 advantage. After Brampton scored six of the first eight points, Moon took matters into his own hands with a layup followed by a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions, putting the Sea Bears one bucket away. Then, Winnipeg native Simon Hildebrandt delivered the glory, capping off the title with a three-pointer, sending teal-and-white confetti streaming onto the court. He said he’s still unsure what was going through his head when the ball left his fingertips. “I don't know how to put into words,” Hildebrandt said. “I'm so fortunate to just play in my hometown for an organization like this, and have an opportunity to be on the floor, and Target Score of the Finals like this, and like I said, being from here, and being put in the opportunities to be successful by my teammates and my coaches around me is just unbelievable.” Hildebrandt, a two-time Developmental Player of the Year, finished second on the Sea Bears with 24 points, while Jelani Watson-Gayle put up 17 points — all in the first half — off the bench. For Brampton, the loss marked the end of a roller-coaster season that saw it begin 7-1 before barely squeaking into the playoffs. The Honey Badgers seemed to find their groove in the Eastern Conference playoffs but could not finish the job in the Finals. Sean East II led the way for the Honey Badgers with 27 points, while Canadian big man Matthew Moncrieffe added seven points and 16 rebounds. “We fought hard. We dealt with adversity. Not the outcome we wanted,” East II said. “We turned the Brampton program around so we can be happy about that for sure.” Brampton was ultimately done in by 19 turnovers, including seven for East II, compared to just nine for Winnipeg. Honey Badgers head coach Alex Cerda pointed to the second quarter as the inflection point. “Self-inflicted wounds with the live-ball turnovers, led out to runouts for them, easy transition points and kind of flipped the score from there and they have really good players, they space the floor well and they put us in tough positions that compromised our defence,” Cerda said. The Honey Badgers came hot out of the gates, but the tide turned in the second quarter when Jelani Watson-Gayle hit back-to-back three-pointers, igniting the Canada Life Centre crowd and giving the Sea Bears their first lead of the game. Winnipeg took a 46-42 lead into halftime. “I just didn’t feel like we were ever able to come back from that marginal lead,” Cerda said. Moon rose up in the third quarter, breaking out with seven of Winnipeg’s first nine points in the frame and 14 total as the Sea Bears lead grew to double digits. By the end of 30 minutes, Winnipeg was up 73-60. It never looked back. For the game, the Sea Bears shot 41 per cent from beyond the arc compared to 27 per cent for the Honey Badgers. A CEBL-record 12,519 fans packed the Canada Life Centre stands to witness the eighth championship game in league history. “A chance to play for the championship doesn't come around all the time, and we knew that the place was going to be packed, and the level of excitement was going to be through the roof. And I mean, I think as we're recognizing people that make this possible, obviously the fans are at the forefront of that,” Raimbault said. The Honey Badgers entered having won both regular-season matchups against the Sea Bears. That didn’t matter Saturday. Instead, Winnipeg overcame the adversity of losing three key starters on the eve of the playoffs, bonding together behind Moon — who himself appeared in just five regular-season contests — to dismiss the Saskatoon Mamba, shock the top-seeded Vancouver Bandits and blow by the Honey Badgers en route to their first championship. “Adversity is always going to be a part of your path, and I think it's no different than anything else in life. Nothing really worth accomplishing is easy,” Raimbault said. “It does definitely reveal the character of the people in our locker room that we believed that we could get it done, and now we have.” And with that, the party in Winnipeg is on.

CEBL Statement: CEBL Finals Format Update

August 13, 2026
Following the cancellation of Game 1 of the 2026 CEBL Finals due to condensation on the court in Brampton, the Canadian Elite Basketball League has confirmed that the Finals will be decided in a single championship game. The Winnipeg Sea Bears and Brampton Honey Badgers will meet for the 2026 CEBL Championship on Saturday, August 15 at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, the previously scheduled date and host venue for Game 2. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. CDT / 3:30 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on CBC, TSN, TSN+, CBC Gem and CEBL+. The decision was made by the League in consultation with both clubs. With the best-of-three series unable to be completed within the scheduled window, a one-game championship was determined to be the fairest and most practical path to crowning a champion. It also returns the Finals to the format used from 2019 through 2025, when the CEBL Champion was decided in a single Championship Game. Additional ticketing details will be shared by the Winnipeg Sea Bears. Fans who held tickets to Game 1 in Brampton will be refunded as previously announced. The League will provide updates as necessary. Thank you for your understanding. About the Canadian Elite Basketball League The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada's professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide. The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL's ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball's cultural footprint across Canada. Running from May through August, the CEBL's season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement.

CEBL Statement: Game 1 of CEBL Finals Cancelled

August 13, 2026
Today's Canadian Elite Basketball League game between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and hosts Brampton Honey Badgers has been cancelled due to condensation on the court, which left the playing surface unsafe for competition. The decision was made in consultation with both clubs, game officials and venue staff. The safety of our players, officials and fans is the League's first priority. All tickets for today's game will be refunded. Further information will follow. The League will provide updates as necessary. Thank you for your understanding.  About the Canadian Elite Basketball League The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada's professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide. The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL's ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball's cultural footprint across Canada. Running from May through August, the CEBL's season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement.

CEBL Playoff Preview: Sea Bears, Honey Badgers set for Finals Showdown

August 11, 2026
It all comes down to this. The Brampton Honey Badgers and Winnipeg Sea Bears will meet in the CEBL’s first-ever best-of-three Finals series beginning Wednesday to determine the champion of the league’s eighth season. Game 1 takes place in Brampton, while the rest of the series will go down in Winnipeg. Here’s everything you need to know: The schedule Game 1 – Wednesday, Aug. 12 – WPG at BHB – 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CDT – CAA Centre (CBC, TSN, CBC Gem, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+) Game 2 – Saturday, Aug. 15 – BHB at WPG – 2:30 p.m. CDT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC, TSN, CBC Gem, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+) *Game 3 – Sunday, Aug. 16 – BHB at WPG – 2:30 p.m. CDT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC, TSN, CBC Gem, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+) -- if necessary How they got here Neither the Sea Bears nor Honey Badgers travelled the straightforward path to these Finals. The hype in Winnipeg began in the off-season, when it announced that it was bringing former MVPs Teddy Allen and Xavier Moon back to the CEBL to play under new head coach Mike Raimbault. Allen and Moon promised to form a formidable duo, one capable of bringing Winnipeg its first-ever championship and righting the wrong of last year’s semifinal loss at home. Turns out, the MVPs only played five games together, and the team went just 2-3 in that span. Moon’s arrival was delayed due to a FIBA issue. Allen, meanwhile, shouldered the load, leading the league in both points (27.8 per game) and steals (two per game) before an injury on the eve of the playoffs prevented him from participating in the opening two rounds. It is unclear whether he will be available for the Finals. Even still, the Sea Bears fought the Vancouver Bandits for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference all season, with the two clubs emerging in a tier of their own. The Bandits seemed to gain the upper hand with a pair of blowout wins in the season’s final weeks, but it was the Sea Bears who got the last laugh, punching their Finals ticket with a victory over Vancouver in the conference final. Like Winnipeg, Brampton also enjoyed a superlative off-season, transforming the franchise top-down with new front-office leadership, a new coach in Alex Cerda and a new star player in Sean East II. The moves paid off immediately as the Honey Badgers rolled to a 7-1 start, threatening the Scarborough Shooting Stars atop the East. Then, however, things went sideways. Brampton undid its strong start with an immediate 1-7 stretch to fall back to .500, then limped to the finish line and just barely squeaked into the playoffs despite an 11-13 record. Frustration boiled over in the regular-season finale, when a brawl with the Shooting Stars led to multiple player suspensions on both sides, but it only seemed to bring the Honey Badgers closer “together” — their team motto — before playoff wins over the Ottawa BlackJacks and two-time defending champion Niagara River Lions. The stakes Winnipeg has never so much as reached the CEBL Finals in its existence, maxing out with last year’s semis. The Sea Bears’ massive fanbase is hoping this year’s squad can be the one to break through — and to do it at home, no less. Brampton, meanwhile, has one championship under its belt from 2022, but that was back when the team was located in Hamilton, and it hadn’t so much as won a single playoff game since until this season. Players to watch In Winnipeg, Moon has stepped up in Allen’s absence during the post-season, leading the team with 22 points per game including a perfect 10-for-10 mark from the free-throw line. The three-time league MVP could become just the second player in CEBL history with three titles if he can finish the job in his first season in Winnipeg. Helping him will be Canadian big man Simon Hildebrandt, who has stepped up in the absence of Emmanuel Akot, who left the team for overseas opportunities. Hildebrandt, 23, put up 24 points in the win over the Bandits in a head-to-head matchup with Vancouver superstar Mitch Creek. He’s made six-of-14 three-point attempts in the post-season while tacking on 11 rebounds. The Sea Bears’ x-factor could be Jelani Watson-Gayle, who exploded for 27 points in the conference semifinal and has made more than half of his three-pointers in the playoffs. If he goes on another scoring binge in the Finals, he could easily tilt a game in Winnipeg’s favour. On the other side, the Honey Badgers will continue to be powered by East II, who’s led the team with 25.5 points per game in these playoffs while dishing 17 assists and collecting 12 rebounds. It would not be a surprise to see the do-it-all guard emerge as Finals MVP if the Honey Badgers hoist the trophy in Winnipeg. He’ll have help in the form of scorers Trentyn Flowers, who has 45 total points in the playoffs, and Tyrese Hunter, who went five-for-six from beyond the arc against the River Lions, including the Target Score Winner. East II said after that victory that their presence transformed the Honey Badgers down the stretch, allowing them to break through as East champions. Down low, Canadian big man Matthew Moncrieffe has gobbled up 20 playoff rebounds, including a putback game-winner against the BlackJacks. A force in the post, Moncrieffe has also added 17 points and will be a load to handle for Winnipeg big men Hildebrandt and DJ Burns.

Powell, Allen Top 2026 CEBL Award Nominee List

August 11, 2026
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Sunday the individual award nominees for the 2026 CEBL Awards, ahead of the first-ever best-of-three CEBL Finals, which run August 12–16 between the Brampton Honey Badgers and Winnipeg Sea Bears. Most Valuable Player finalists Myles Powell of the Scarborough Shooting Stars and Teddy Allen of the Winnipeg Sea Bears headline the list of nominees revealed across five player award categories. 2026 CEBL Award Finalists  Most Valuable Player: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Teddy Allen (Winnipeg Sea Bears) Canadian Player of the Year: Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits) Sixth Man of the Year: Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Stanley Davis Jr. (Edmonton Stingers) Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Fudge (Ottawa BlackJacks), Kellen Tynes (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Developmental Player of the Year: Easton Thimm (Saskatchewan Mamba), Mohamed Mahadhi (Saskatchewan Mamba) Additional 2026 CEBL Awards, including Coach of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year, the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award, and the All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian teams, will also be announced next week following the conclusion of the CEBL Finals. Powell was the driving force behind a league and franchise-record 20-win season in Scarborough, averaging 22.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists across 21 games while draining 3.8 three-pointers per game, tied for the league's best. He led the Shooting Stars in scoring, assists and threes made, finished third in the CEBL in scoring, and drained a team-record nine three-pointers in a single game, tied for second-most in a game league-wide. He also led the CEBL with nine Target Score Winners, four more than any other player. Allen led the CEBL in scoring with 667 total points in 2026, setting a new single-season league record, and also set the CEBL single-game scoring record with 54 points against Montreal on July 19. The Winnipeg guard topped the Sea Bears in points per game (27.8), steals (2.0), rebounds (7.5) and threes made per game (3.0), and twice matched a team record of six steals in a game while setting a team mark with nine three-pointers made in a single contest. Frank Mitchell earned a double nomination, up for both Sixth Man of the Year and Canadian Player of the Year after a record-setting season for Scarborough. Mitchell set a new CEBL single-game record with 22 rebounds on June 27 against Brampton and led the league in rebounding at 10.5 per game while coming off the bench, averaging a double-double of 13.8 points and 10.5 rebounds. He ranked third on the Shooting Stars in both scoring and assists (58), tied for third in blocked shots (15), and finished second on the team in field goal percentage (51.5%) as Scarborough set a league record with 20 wins. Samuel returns as the reigning Canadian Player of the Year, up for the award for a second consecutive season. The Montreal, Quebec native ranked third in the CEBL in rebounding at 8.7 per game and led Vancouver in rebounds (8.7), blocked shots (1.1) and field goal percentage (53.5%), while finishing second on the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Nominated for Sixth Man of the Year, Davis Jr. was a steady two-way presence for Edmonton, ranking second on the Stingers in scoring (13.7 points per game) and third in both assists (3.5) and steals (1.5) across 20 games, while shooting 47 per cent from the field. Fudge and Tynes headline the Defensive Player of the Year finalists after standout seasons with their respective franchises. Fudge finished second in the league in blocks per game (1.7) and led the CEBL with 40 total blocks in 24 games for Ottawa, while also pacing the BlackJacks in steals per game (1.1) and tying for the team lead with 25 total steals. Tynes led the league outright in both steals per game (2.0) and total steals (49) across 24 games for Scarborough. Thimm (University of Saskatchewan) and Mahadhi (University of Saskatchewan) were nominated for the CEBL's Developmental Player of the Year award after strong seasons with the Mamba. Thimm averaged 3.3 points on 52.4 per cent shooting to go with 2.9 rebounds across 18 games, arriving in Saskatchewan as the third-leading rebounder in program history (622). Mahadhi, his Mamba teammate, averaged 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds over 14 games after a standout collegiate career of his own at the University of Saskatchewan. Award nominees and winners are determined by votes cast by the league's head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and media personnel. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team. CEBL Finals Set for August 12–16 The CEBL is gearing up for its first-ever best-of-three Finals series, starting August 12, after the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Brampton Honey Badgers punched their tickets with wins in Saturday's Conference Finals. Lower-seeded Brampton hosts Game 1 at CAA Centre on Wednesday starting at 7 p.m.ET, before the series shifts to Winnipeg's Canada Life Centre for Game 2 on Saturday, August 15 and, if necessary, Game 3 on Sunday, August 16. Both games in Winnipeg will tipoff at 2:30 p.m. CDT / 3:30 p.m. ET. All three games will air nationally on CBC and TSN, with streaming available on TSN+, CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem, YouTube and CEBL+. Tickets are available now at CEBL.ca/tickets. About the Canadian Elite Basketball League The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada's professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide. The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL's ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball's cultural footprint across Canada. Running from May through August, the CEBL's season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement.

Winnipeg, Brampton Punch Tickets to CEBL Finals; First-Ever Best-of-Three Series Tips Off August 12

August 8, 2026
Game 1 tips off Wednesday, August 12 in Brampton, with all three games airing nationally on CBC and TSN

CEBL Playoff Preview: Welcome to the Conference Finals

August 8, 2026
A four-game slate to open this season’s CEBL playoffs promised to be a doozy and boy, did it ever deliver. From Brampton to B.C., there were massive buckets, huge momentum swings, one significant upset and, of course, four game-winners. Now, four teams remain to duke it out in one-game knockouts for a spot in the first-ever best-of-three CEBL championship series. Here’s the tale of the tape for the Saturday showdowns: Eastern Conference Final: Niagara River Lions at Brampton Honey Badgers 1 p.m. ET – CAA Centre – CBC, TSN, CBC GEM, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+ Well, this isn’t quite the game we expected. For the first portion of the season, the Brampton Honey Badgers were neck-and-neck with the Scarborough Shooting Stars for top spot in the East. Then, the Honey Badgers fell off, eventually sliding below .500. Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars rocketed to a CEBL-record 20 wins. Yet like the record-setting 2016 Golden State Warriors, their historic season will not end in a title because the most clutch player in league history did it yet again. Niagara River Lions star Khalil Ahmad sent the Shooting Stars packing for the second straight season, draining a deep game-winning three-pointer to book the two-time defending champions a ticket in the conference final. Ahmad’s troops will now head to Brampton for a duel with the Honey Badgers, who squeaked out a dramatic win of their own over the Ottawa BlackJacks, avoiding a near-collapse in the process. Just three weeks ago, these teams met in a crucial home-and-home with both unsure of their playoff status, and the River Lions won both relatively handily. There was, however, one crucial caveat: Honey Badgers star Sean East II did not play in either game. And in Brampton’s playoff opener, all East II did was put up 29 points and 13 assists, combining with fellow scoring guard Trentyn Flowers (who had 25 points himself) to power the Honey Badgers to victory. East II and Flowers form a fearsome backcourt duo that promises to wear out Ahmad and Keonte Kennedy on the defensive end. Down low, longtime River Lion and three-time CEBL champion Elijah Lufile will go to battle with Canadian big man Matthew Moncrieffe, whose putback was the Target Score Winner against Ottawa. In the bigger picture, a return to the Finals would give Niagara a shot at becoming the first franchise with three championships and have done it in a three-peat, no less. Brampton, meanwhile, could join Niagara and the Edmonton Stingers as the only teams with two if it emerges victorious. Neither squad had quite the regular season it envisioned when the ball tipped off in May. Now, one will be headed to the championship. Western Conference Final: Winnipeg Sea Bears at Vancouver Bandits 12:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. CDT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre – CBC, TSN, CBC GEM, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+ Unlike the East, this West final is the game CEBL fans have waited all season for. Throughout 24 regular-season contests, the Sea Bears and Bandits duked it out for the No. 1 spot in the West. It all came down to the regular-season finale between the teams on Sunday in Vancouver, when the Bandits rolled to a 24-point win just 10 days after beating the Sea Bears by 15 on the road. Now, Winnipeg is eyeing revenge, but it may have to do it without some key players: leading scorer Teddy Allen missed Round 1 with a “significant” injury and could be unavailable against the Bandits while Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. and Emmanuel Akot have both left the team to pursue overseas opportunities. It’s a good thing, then, that the Sea Bears brought in three-time MVP Xavier Moon for a return to the CEBL after five years. Moon shone in the playoff win over the Saskatoon Mamba with a near double-double of 20 points and nine assists while fellow guard Jelani Watson-Gayle, who averaged just 4.6 points in five regular-season games, exploded for 27, including six three-pointers. The Sea Bears will require similar performances against the Bandits, whose Mitch Creek-Tyrese Samuel frontcourt each had double-doubles in their win over the Edmonton Stingers while guards Shamar Givance and Tevin Brown provided the bulk of the scoring. Vancouver experienced some turmoil earlier this season when head coach Kyle Julius departed, but have enjoyed relative consistency, outside of the welcome late return of reigning MVP Creek, ever since. Perhaps no team is hungrier for a title shot than the Bandits after years of regular-season success without a championship ring. Then again, Winnipeg has never even reached the Finals. It all sets up for what should be a fascinating next chapter of the Western Conference’s fiercest rivalry.

Samsung and CEBL Unite To Bring True North Tunes To Canadian Basketball and Music Fans

August 6, 2026
Samsung's True North Tunes platform will integrate emerging Canadian artists into every 2026 CEBL Playoff game, from pre-game playlists to Halftime Performances

CEBL Playoff Preview: How Teams Stack Up in Conference Semifinals

August 6, 2026
It’s been a wild CEBL season. Key records fell, the standings never stayed static and Target Score Time provided its usual heaping of excitement. Now, it’s all set to get ramped up even further as the playoffs begin with the conference semifinals on Thursday. Here’s what you should know about each of the four matchups: No. 1 Scarborough Shooting Stars vs. No. 4 Niagara River Lions The two-time defending champion River Lions squeaked into the post-season on the strength of a tiebreaker and then caught a huge break with their Round 1 opponent. Niagara will visit Scarborough, which will be without Canadian big man Frank Mitchell as well as guards Terquavion Smith and Javan Johnson, who were each suspended for their roles in a brawl against the Brampton Honey Badgers in their regular-season finale. The Shooting Stars, who finished with a CEBL record 20 wins and ran away with the East, will now be even more reliant on leading scorer Myles Powell, who has paced the team from the guard position all season. Still, the key question will be how coach Tyrell Vernon adjusts to the absences, especially in a revenge game against the River Lions, who beat the Shooting Stars by just two points in last season’s Eastern final. The River Lions counter with experience and continuity, led by two-time Finals MVP Khalil Ahmad and coach Kimbal Mackenzie, a point guard on both championship-winning teams. It hasn’t been Ahmad’s best season, but everyone knows the playoffs are when he shines brightest. With a vulnerable Shooting Stars squad in Round 1, despite a lacklustre regular season, Ahmad has title No. 3 squarely in sight. No. 2 Brampton Honey Badgers vs. No. 3 Ottawa BlackJacks In the off-season, the Honey Badgers completely remade themselves from top-down. Through eight games, when the team was 7-1, it seemed like every move was the right one. But Brampton struggled the rest of the season and finished under .500 at 11-13. Its fortunes seemed tied to sharpshooter Cameron Tyson, who had perhaps the hottest shooting stretch in league history to start the season but struggled in the second half. Tyson shot 2-of-14 from beyond the arc in the season finale as he looked to regain his groove. More consistent has been Sean East II, part of the off-season rebuild as a marquee free-agent import from the Edmonton Stingers. He’s lived up to that billing, leading the team in points and assists, and seeking his first title in his sophomore season. He’ll face another strong point guard, however, in BlackJacks star Javonte Smart, who sat second leaguewide in both points (24.4) and assists (6.7) per game. Smart had a similarly stout season last year but was forced to miss the BlackJacks’ playoff opener. Now, he’ll be in the mix and out to prove that his regular-season success can translate. Ottawa lost four of its last five games before the playoffs. No. 1 Vancouver Bandits vs. No. 4 Edmonton Stingers The Bandits led the West for much of the season and clinched it against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Sunday. They now have reigning MVP Mitch Creek back in the fold. The big Aussie returned for that win over the Sea Bears without missing a beat, putting up 28 points, six rebounds and six assists while hitting the game-winner. Combined with Canadian Tyrese Samuel in the frontcourt, the Bandits will be a difficult team to stop. Indeed, it will be a tall task for the Stingers, who won just two of their final 10 contests down the stretch and nearly coughed up their playoff spot entirely to a streaking Calgary Surge squad, which fell short by one game. Still, like Niagara, Edmonton comes equipped with experience thanks to the likes of head coach Jordan Baker and forward Nick Hornsby. Perhaps Creek is rusty after just one game. Some ingredients are there for what would be the biggest upset of the first round. No. 2 Winnipeg Sea Bears vs. No. 3 Saskatoon Mamba Xavier Moon’s CEBL return may have been worth the wait for Winnipeg. After the three-time MVP’s season debut was delayed due to a FIBA issue, he returned with five games left and was right back to his old self, averaging 20.8 points, 7.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds per contest. Now, with MVP frontrunner Teddy Allen out due to injury, Moon will step back into the lead role as he looks to collect a third CEBL title in his first season with Winnipeg. But the Mamba are no easy out. Saskatoon quietly finished the season on a three-game winning streak led by shifty point guard Tavian Dunn-Martin, who enjoyed an especially strong closing stretch and led the league with 80 three-pointers. Saskatoon began its season with four straight losses but still finished above .500 at 13-11, including wins in six of its final seven games. The Mamba, looking for their first title since the inaugural CEBL season, may just be getting hot at the exact right time. Schedule (Four games) Game #121 – Thursday, Aug. 6 – OTT at BHB – 7 p.m. ET – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #122 – Thursday, Aug. 6 – NRL at SSS – 7:30 p.m. ET – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TSN, CBC Gem, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #123 – Thursday, Aug. 6 – SSK at WPG – 7:30 p.m. CDT / 6:30 p.m. CST / 8:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #124 – Thursday, Aug. 6 – EDM at VAN – 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT / 10 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (TSN, CBC Gem, TSN+, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .