New-look Shooting Stars open championship defence on road against Sea Bears

May 24, 2024
Myles Dichter

When the defending champions Scarborough Shooting Stars open their season on Friday, little besides the team jerseys will be familiar.


Just two players who won the 2023 CEBL title are returning to the team to begin its trophy defence against the Winnipeg Sea Bears at 7:30 p.m. CT / 8:30 p.m. ET at Canada Life Centre. Broadcast coverage is available on TSN in Canada and NLSE in the U.S., while you can catch a live stream of the game on CEBL+, TSN+ and Courtside 1891 outside North America.


Kyree Walker, a 6-foot-6 American forward, and Danilo Djuricic, a forward from Brampton, Ont., will be counted upon to hold the fort down until they’re rejoined by fellow champions Cat Barber, the CEBL’s all-time leading scorer, and Toronto forward Kalif Young, upon the conclusion of their overseas pro leagues.


There’s even a change behind the bench, as head coach Chris Exilus was promoted into the front office and replaced by Devan Blair, the head coach of the Barbados national team and the G League’s Westchester Knicks.


In the meantime, a pair of ex-BlackJacks in 2023 Canadian Player of the Year Kadre Gray and fellow all-Canadian Jackson Rowe joined Scarborough in the off-season in the push to help the Shooting Stars join the Edmonton Stingers as franchises with multiple titles.


But Scarborough’s first test is a tough one on the road against Winnipeg, which should be hungry for a win after dropping its season opener 94-86 against the rival Saskatchewan Rattlers.


The Sea Bears enter with chemistry on their side as coach Mike Taylor and reigning MVP Teddy Allen are back from a successful inaugural 2023 season, which saw the team place second in the Western Conference at 12-8 before falling in the play-in round.


Against Saskatchewan, Allen picked right back up where he left off last season, going off for his third career 40-point game while keeping the Sea Bears afloat deep into Target Score Time. But both he and Taylor would have preferred a victory.


“We’re excited about the home opener. You’ve got the defending champs coming in … great home city in Winnipeg so we’re looking forward to that. But we’ll try to learn from this game,” Taylor said following the loss to Saskatchewan.


Winnipeg also saw successful CEBL debuts by NBA imports Byron Mullens and Darius Days, who combined for 22 points and 17 rebounds as the starting frontcourt.


Key matchup


In the teams’ lone meeting last season, Allen went off for 40 points in 40 minutes. Even though many of the players are different, the MVP should be feeling good seeing the name Scarborough on his opponents’ chests once again.


It’ll be important, then, for someone on the Shooting Stars to step up defensively and create some resistance against Allen. It’s still too early to see who coach Blair envisions in that role, but his answer will go a long way to determining Scarborough’s success this season.


Milestone watch


  • Winnipeg’s Alex Campbell, of Brampton, is six points away from 1,000 for his career, including playoffs
  • Winnipeg’s Chad Posthumus needs 16 rebounds to reach 400 for his career, regular season only
  • Winnipeg’s Teddy Allen is five assists away from reaching 100 for his career, including playoffs


2023 season series


Winnipeg beat Scarborough 98-93 in the teams’ only ever matchup on June 2 last season.


- 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.

Sea Bears Sign Canadian Guard Walker

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The Winnipeg Sea Bears today announce the signing of Canadian guard David Walker. Walker most recently appeared for the Ottawa BlackJacks in the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League season, where on Aug. 16 2025, in a playoff game, he had a standout performance, scoring 19 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and recording 3 steals in 25 minutes. Prior to his time in Ottawa, he suited up for the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2025. Walker was also recognized as a finalist for the 2024 CEBL Developmental Player of the Year award. In addition, Walker was a finalist for the 2023 U SPORTS Player of the Year award, recognizing his outstanding performance at the university level and cementing his reputation as one of Canada’s top basketball talents. Over his CEBL career, playing for Brampton Honey Badgers, Scarborough Shooting Stars, and Ottawa BlackJacks, Walker has averaged 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. “David fits the identity we’re building. He’s a tough, physical Canadian guard with league experience who strengthens our Canadian depth,” said Lead Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager Alex Campbell. “He defends with purpose, plays hard, and gets downhill offensively. We believe he has tremendous upside, and I think Sea Bears Nation is going to appreciate the way he competes and works every single day.” Walker was originally selected 22nd overall in the 2024 CEBL Draft and began his professional career with the Brampton Honey Badgers, where he averaged 7.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16 games during the 2024 season. Before turning professional, Walker starred at Toronto Metropolitan University, averaging 16.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during the 2023–24 season. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Sea Bears,” said Walker. “Winnipeg has built something special, and I’m coming in ready to bring toughness, versatility, and a winning mindset every time I step on the floor.” ###

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The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), are committed to making a positive impact through basketball and growing the game across British Columbia, and this dedication was highlighted this past week in Kelowna and the Okanagan area. Coming off the recent announcement of Kelowna HOOPFEST, a brand-new basketball festival featuring a CEBL neutral-site home game in partnership with the City of Kelowna, Bandits head coach Kyle Julius spent time at five Okanagan-area secondary schools and both of Kelowna’s post-secondary men’s basketball teams, as part of the Vancouver Bandits third-annual Bandits School Tour. Julius and Bandits staff visited Mount Boucherie Secondary School, Immaculata Regional High School, Okanagan Mission Secondary, Rutland Secondary School and Kelowna Secondary, as well as the men’s basketball teams at UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College, providing dedicated and tailored practices along with motivational talks and training materials. Launched in 2023, the Bandits School Tour is supported by the Bandits Community Foundation, Preston Chevrolet and Envision Financial and offers a unique opportunity for student-athletes and volunteer coaches to learn directly from BC’s only professional basketball coach. “What stood out most during our visit was the impact basketball can have when it is rooted in mentorship and connection; it is clear how vibrant the basketball and business ecosystem is in the Okanagan,” said Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We are thankful to the Okanagan and Kelowna communities for welcoming us so openly, and this is only the beginning. We are committed to being present and intentional in the lead-up to Kelowna HOOPFEST from June 5th to 7th.” In addition to the Bandits School Tour, Julius and members of Bandits staff had the opportunity to connect with various Okanagan business, media and community leaders, including attending the 51st annual Western Canada Tournament at Kelowna Secondary and a Kelowna Rockets hockey game. ###

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