Athletic Forward Returns for Fourth Season with the Rattlers
Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that the club re-signed 6-foot-8 D’Andre Bernard for the 2024 season. The Ajax, Ontario-native will return to the CEBL for his fourth season, adding athleticism and size to the Rattlers front court. Bernard earned 2024 Rattlers Man of the People Award for his work in the community. He is celebrated as the longest tenured player in franchise history, returning to the court this Saturday in a match-up against the Niagara River Lions at SaskTel Centre.
“D’Andre has always demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Rattlers organization both on and off the court,” said General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, Barry Rawlyk. “We needed to do the right thing by rewarding that loyalty by re-signing him to the team this year. His character and veteran experience will be great assets for the team.”
During his four-year professional career, Bernard has played with five teams in Romania, Denmark, Nicaragua, and Canada. He has a career average of 5.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 16.7 minutes in 112 games.
Bernard made his professional debut with the Saskatchewan Rattlers during the 2021 season playing 13 games and averaging 6.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.5 assist, and 19.4 minutes per game. In his three seasons with the Saskatchewan Rattlers, he has only missed 4 games where he is ranked as the franchise leader in all-time most games played with 51 games. During his tenure with the Rattlers - he has scored 205 total points, recorded 20 blocks (third all-time), and grabbed 145 rebounds (fifth all-time).
Bernard made his overseas debut in the 2021 offseason, when he joined Edmonton Stingers representing the Canadian Elite Basketball League during the BCLAmericas in Nicaragua. During the 2022 offseason, he signed with CSM Miercurea Ciuc of Romania Liga averaging 7.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 26.1 minutes in 19 games played. Most recently Bernard played in Denmark with Team FOG Naestved of Basketligaen. Naestved finished in second place in the league with a 24-14 record. Bernard played in 38 games averaging 5.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 15.3 minutes. Bernard returned to Saskatoon at the end of his season in Denmark, where he filled a practice roster spot with the Rattlers.
“Saskatoon is like a second home for me and the fans are always a pleasure to play in front of,” said Roche. “The team is off to a solid start and I look forward to getting to work with the guys and coaching staff. Can’t wait to be back in the Snake Pit representing Sask!”
Prior to his professional career, Bernard attended Bill Crothers Secondary in Unionville, Ontario. As a senior prep standout, he averaged 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. He was ranked the no. 1 prep player in the country and considered a top 10 prospect in Canada in 2015. Bernard began his collegiate career at the University of North Florida in 2015-16, transferring to Georgia Highlands College for the 2016-17 NJCAA season. During his two seasons with Georgia Highlands, he averaged 7.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.6 assist, and 9.2 minutes in 59 games. He made a trip to the Region 17 NJCAA national championship in Hutchinson with the Georgia Highlands Chargers that went 32-2 during the 2016-17 season. As a junior, Bernard joined East Tennessee State where he helped lead the Buccaneers to a 20-10 record, including a postseason tournament trip. As a senior, he transferred to the University of Louisiana Monroe, where he averaged 3.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 13.6 minutes in 24 games.
The Rattlers play five more games leading up to Championship Weekend (CW24) happening in Montréal, QC from August 9-11, 2024.
Premium seat options are available including VIP tables, Luxury Suites, and the Rattlers Courtside Lounge. All tickets options can also be purchased through the
Rattlers Front Office (306) 244-2181,
Saskatchewan Rattlers website, or via
Ticketmaster. For more seating options, and partnership opportunities; fans can contact
Graham Forrester (Senior Account Executive) or
Ivan Brown (Director of Partnerships).
About the Saskatchewan Rattlers
The Saskatchewan Rattlers are Saskatchewan’s professional basketball team, one of the six
original teams in the CEBL – the Rattlers won the 2019 inaugural season championship. Playing out of SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – the Rattlers offer an entertainment-focused environment surrounded by some of the world’s top professional athletes. The Rattlers are a community-first organization and take pride in their ability to bring communities together while making sport more accessible to the province.
About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (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 73% of its 2023 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. 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. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.
For more information on the Saskatchewan Rattlers professional basketball team - visit therattlers.ca
