2025 CEBL Playoffs Set to Begin Thursday

August 11, 2025

Niagara, Winnipeg await matchups for 2025 Championship Weekend

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is preparing for the playoffs in its seventh season, with this year’s single-elimination format set to tip off Thursday, August 14, in a Play-In round doubleheader at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Eastern Conference Playoffs, presented by LOTTO MAX, and the Western Conference Playoffs, presented by Kal Tire, feature four rounds: the Play-Ins, the Conference Semifinals, the Conference Finals, and the CEBL Championship Final.

On Thursday, the Eastern Conference Play-In game features the Montréal Alliance visiting the Scarborough Shooting Stars at 7 p.m. ET at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Immediately afterward, the Western Conference Play-In tips off at 9:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. MT) at Calgary’s WinSport Event Centre, where the Surge will host the Edmonton Stingers.

The Ottawa BlackJacks and Vancouver Bandits will host their respective Conference Semifinal games on Sunday, August 16, taking on the winners of the Play-In matchups. The BlackJacks’ game will be held at Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau, QC, while the Bandits will host at Langley Events Centre.

Winners of the Conference Semifinals will advance to 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25), where the defending champion Niagara River Lions and the host team, the Winnipeg Sea Bears, await their Conference Finals opponents. The four-team CW25, hosted this year at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, features a Conference Finals doubleheader on Friday, August 22, followed by the CEBL Championship Final on Sunday, August 24.

Ticket information for all CEBL games, including single-game tickets for 2025, can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets. Ticket and event information for 2025 Championship Weekend in Winnipeg is available at cebl.ca/cw25/tickets.

For full details on the CEBL playoff format, visit cebl.ca/playoffs.

The CEBL’s full 2025 playoff schedule is as follows:

GM	ROUND	DATE	AWAY	HOME	TIME (EDT)	TIME (LOCAL)	VENUE
121	Eastern Conference Play-In	Thu, Aug 14	Montréal	Scarborough	7:00 PM	7:00 PM	Toronto Pan AM Sports Centre
122	Western Conference Play-In	Thu, Aug 14	Edmonton	Calgary	9:30 PM	7:30 PM	WinSport Event Centre
123	Eastern Conference Semifinal	Sat, Aug 16	Gm 121 Winner	Ottawa	1:00 PM	1:00 PM	Centre Slush Puppie (Gatineau, QC)
124	Western Conference Semifinal	Sat, Aug 16	Gm 122 Winner	Vancouver	3:30 PM	12:30 PM	Langley Events Centre
125	Eastern Conference Final	Fri, Aug 22	Gm 123 Winner	Niagara	6:00 PM	5:00 PM	Canada Life Centre
126	Western Conference Final	Fri, Aug 22	*Winnipeg	Gm 124 Winner	8:30 PM	7:30 PM	Canada Life Centre
127	CEBL Championship Final	Sun, Aug 24	TBD	TBD	7:00 PM	6:00 PM	Canada Life Centre

*Winnipeg will be the lower seed due to finishing beneath Vancouver, Calgary & Edmonton in the 2025 CEBL standings.

All 2025 CEBL playoff games will be televised live on TSN in Canada and NLSE in the United States, and available to stream on CEBL+ powered By Tonybet, and TSN+. All CW25 games will also be televised in French on RDS.

- 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 73% of its rosters being Canadian and more than 15 players with NBA game experience in 2025. 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. More than 20 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 Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

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Former NBA Executive Al Whitley Joins Brampton as Chief Executive Officer

November 12, 2025

The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that Al Whitley, former NBA executive and general manager of the Texas Legends (NBA G League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks), has joined the franchise as chief executive officer (CEO). Whitley brings more than two decades of experience in professional basketball, having spent 22 years within the Dallas Mavericks organization, where he helped drive basketball operations at the highest level. His leadership has been defined by his commitment to creating a winning culture, fostering relationships, and developing talent on and off the court. Born in Belleville, Ontario and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Whitley discovered his passion for basketball alongside childhood friend and NBA legend Steve Nash. After playing college basketball at the University of New Brunswick, Whitley began his professional career with the Dallas Mavericks in 2001 in their marketing department, before quickly transitioning to basketball operations. As a special advisor to former Mavericks Majority Owner Mark Cuban, Whitley played a pivotal role in the franchise’s success, including its historic 2011 NBA Championship. That experience, he says, gave him firsthand insight into “what it truly takes to build and sustain a championship team and culture.” In 2017, Whitley was named general manager and vice president of basketball operations for the Texas Legends, where he oversaw all aspects of the organization - from basketball operations and scouting, to business development and community engagement - leading the team to its first-ever playoff win. “I am incredibly grateful and excited for this opportunity to help lead the Brampton Honey Badgers back to championship form - both on the court and in the community,” said Whitley. “I want to sincerely thank our owner, Leonard Asper, for his trust and commitment. Being born and raised in Canada, this is a full-circle moment for my family and me. Coming back home to help guide, develop, and grow the Brampton Honey Badgers of the CEBL is not only an honour - it’s a privilege and a challenge I wholeheartedly embrace.” Throughout his NBA career, Whitley has worked with some of the game’s most influential figures, including Mark Cuban, Donn Nelson, Rick Carlisle, Donnie Nelson and legendary players such as Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Luka Dončić. “When I acquired the Honey Badgers, I committed to creating a winning team that also serves as a pillar of its community,” said Leonard Asper, owner of the Brampton Honey Badgers. “Al Whitley’s track record and reputation leave me no doubt that he is the right person to fulfill that mission. We are extremely fortunate that he is making this commitment to Brampton, and I thank him for his trust in us.” As CEO, Whitley aims to elevate the Honey Badgers organization both competitively and culturally - building a championship-caliber roster, enhancing fan engagement, and strengthening the team’s ties within the community. Honey Badgers fans can look forward to an exciting offseason filled with community events leading up to the 2026 CEBL season tip-off in May. Details on 2026 season ticket packages will be announced soon. ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca .