Aperçu Hebdomadaire De La LECB : La Bataille De l’Alberta Aura Lieu à Mi-Chemin Et Les Premiers Chiffres à Retenir

Whenever the Edmonton Stingers and Calgary Surge square off, there’s always a little extra on the line between the Alberta rivals. But on Sunday, the stakes will be even higher. The Surge will host the Stingers at Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer, AB, the site of last year’s memorable showdown, where Edmonton came out on top. This time around, both teams enter hungry for a much-needed win. Edmonton (1-3) and Calgary (0-3) each enter the week sitting on three losses and already at least two games back of the West-leading Vancouver Bandits and Winnipeg Sea Bears. Worse yet for the Surge, there’s still a goose egg in the win column. Their closest opportunity came in the season opener when they got within a possession of the Ottawa BlackJacks in Target Score Time but wound up falling 93-88. Since then, Calgary lost by double-digits to each of the Brampton Honey Badgers and Bandits. Still, there is some reason for optimism within the Surge, who reached the CEBL Finals last year. Point guard Evan Gilyard II has picked up right where he left off last season, putting up 23.7 points per game and connecting on 38.5 per cent of his three-point shot attempts while also dishing 6.7 assists per contest. Canadian Olumide Adelodun is also off to a strong start in his second CEBL season, more than doubling his scoring average to 16.7 points per game and continuing to hit three-pointers at a high rate. Moreover, fellow Canadian Rugzy Miller-Moore has yet to make his season debut, and he’ll add another fierce scoring threat once he returns. North of Red Deer, meanwhile, the Stingers continue searching for their identity after key losses in Sean East II and Keon Ambrose-Hylton this off-season. Central to that has been newcomer Dain Dainja, who is registering a team-leading 23.8 points and nine rebounds per game despite not even attempting a three-pointer. Both marks are good for fifth leaguewide. The Stingers are also just four points away from having a completely different outlook after their 101-99 home loss to the defending-champion Niagara River Lions on Sunday marked their second two-point defeat of the season. Edmonton also has a dominant win over the Bandits on their resumé as their lone victory. But before long, more of those tight, late games must swing their way. No better time for that to start than Sunday against their provincial rivals in Red Deer. Early numbers to know 3.2 — Teddy Allen’s league-leading steals-per-game mark. The Sea Bears star scorer’s 16 swipes through four games are already the second-most of his five-year CEBL career. 17 —Bandits guard Jaelen House set a single-game CEBL assists record in a win over the Stingers in which he also had 32 points and seven rebounds. 19-0 — the Target Score Time comeback run put on by the Scarborough Shooting Stars in a stunning win over the Saskatoon Mamba. 42.5% — the Mamba’s three-point percentage for the season despite sitting last in the West at 0-4. Perhaps they need to lean even further into the deep ball. 100% — Gilyard II’s free-throw percentage on 15 tries, the last player in the league not to miss from the stripe (minimum 10 attempts). Weekly schedule (Nine games) Game #20 – Tuesday, May 26 – NRL at MTL – 7:30 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS.ca, CEBL+) Game #21 – Thursday, May 28 – MTL at BHB – 11 a.m. ET – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #22 – Thursday, May 28 – SSS at CGY – 7:30 p.m. MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #23 – Friday, May 29 – VAN at NRL – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #24 – Friday, May 29 – WPG at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST / 8:30 p.m. CDT / 9:30 p.m. ET – SaskTel Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #25 – Saturday, May 30 – VAN at BHB – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #26 – Sunday, May 31 – OTT at MTL – 4 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS.ca, CEBL+) Game #27 – Sunday, May 31 – EDM at CGY – 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET – Marchant Crane Centrium (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #28 – Sunday, May 31 – SSS at SSK – 4 p.m. CST / 6 p.m. ET – SaskTel Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .  ###

David Asper, owner and Chair of the Winnipeg Sea Bears, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rhéanne Marcoux as team President, effective June 1, 2026. Marcoux has been serving as Chief Brand and Experience Officer since January 2026, and prior to that, worked closely with the Sea Bears as an external consultant and staff mentor. Asper will remain as Chair of the Sea Bears and, as a co-owner of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, will continue as the team’s Director on the League Board, where he currently serves on its Executive Committee. “Rhéanne is a proven success in professional sports in Winnipeg, and her impact with the Bombers is truly national – for both the team and the CFL itself,” said Asper. “Since joining the Sea Bears, she has fundamentally transformed how this organization operates, from implementing new systems and processes to establishing long-term team culture across the organization. This appointment is the natural next step, and I’m looking forward to having our fans and our entire organization benefit from her leadership.” Over an 11-year tenure with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Marcoux rose from the marketing department to Vice President, Marketing and Communications for the 112th Grey Cup, where she led the brand strategy, content creation, fan engagement, and communications apparatus for one of the CFL’s most iconic franchises. Her work culminated in overseeing the marketing and communications efforts for the 2026 Grey Cup Festival, a national tentpole event that showcased Winnipeg on the country’s biggest stage. Prior to her time with the Blue Bombers, Marcoux built a diverse career across broadcast journalism with Radio Canada, sports marketing with True North Sports and Entertainment, and as founder of her own creative agency. She holds a degree in communications and is an alumna of Red River College and the University of Winnipeg. A content strategist, design specialist, multimedia expert, and brand builder, Marcoux is known for her ability to create emotional connections between fans and the brands they love. Her approach goes beyond traditional advertising – it’s rooted in storytelling, creative ambition, and a deep understanding of what turns casual fans into lifelong ones. Since arriving at the Sea Bears in January 2026, Marcoux has implemented a new CRM, launched a marketing automation system, introduced project management infrastructure, and led a brand and culture reset across the organization. As President, she will oversee all business operations, brand strategy, revenue, marketing, ticketing, partnerships, fan experience, and community engagement. “When I came on board, I saw an organization with incredible potential and a fan base that was ready for more,” said Marcoux. “Over the past several months, we’ve been building new foundations – new systems, new processes and a new way of working together. There’s a lot of building left to do, but we are so fortunate to have a fantastic staff and I’m excited to continue to grow the Sea Bears organization together.”

The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’5 American guard Donald Carey for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Carey will join the team for this Friday’s game versus the Winnipeg Sea Bears . Carey joins the River Lions after a 2025-26 campaign which saw him feature for the Leicester Riders of the SLB and Rayos de Hermosillo of the Mexican CIBACOPA . He led both teams in assists and steals, combining for averages of 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on the season. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland native started his collegiate career with the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers . Carey found his stride midway into the season winning NEC Rookie of the Week with averages of 12.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 60% from the field and 63% from three. Carey spent his sophomore season at Siena University before transferring to Georgetown University . In Carey’s second season with the Hoyas he averaged college career highs of 13.5 points, 1.5 steals, and 33.8 minutes per game in addition to being awarded the Big East Sportsmanship Award. Carey spent his final season of college in his home state with the University of Maryland , where, in his lone year with the Terrapins , he started 33 games, averaging 7.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. After college Carey started his professional career with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League , where he played for 2 seasons. In Carey’s second season he earned a bigger role in the rotation as a key contributor off the bench, averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. After Carey’s stint in the G League he headed overseas to the Otago Nuggets of the NZ NBL where he blossomed into a starring role, leading the nuggets with 22.4 points, 5.6 Assists, 1.5 Steals, and 35.6 minutes per game. ### About the Niagara River Lions The Niagara River Lions are one of the founding franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and the league’s reigning back-to-back champions (2024 & 2025). Competing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, from May to August each season, the River Lions proudly represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region, uniting fans through passion, pride, and purpose. Entering their second decade, the River Lions have earned a reputation for championship-caliber performance and community impact, embodying the strength and spirit of Niagara both on and off the court.

Nous sommes encore au début de cette saison de la LECB, alors que les équipes sont en train d’apprendre à découvrir qui elles sont et ce qu'elles pourraient devenir. Mais si l'on regarde de plus près, les plus petits signes des équipes qui pourraient émerger comme aspirants au titre commencent à se montrer. En fait, il n'est même pas nécessaire de regarder de si près pour remarquer la fiche de 2-0 de Brampton et son différentiel de points de plus de 24 points. Sur la côte ouest, l'explosion de 124 points de Vancouver lors de son match d'ouverture a également mis ses adversaires en alerte. Étonnamment, ces deux équipes vont subir un test unique sous la forme d'une revanche alors que nous entrons dans la deuxième semaine complète d'action. Les Honey Badgers rencontreront les BlackJacks d'Ottawa dans la capitale nationale après que Javonte Smart et son équipe aient fait peur à Brampton sur leur terrain. Pendant ce temps, les Bandits auront une autre chance contre les Stingers d'Edmonton, cette fois à domicile, après une défaite de 13 points samedi. Explorons un peu plus profondément ces deux gros matchs … Honey Badgers (2-0) contre BlackJacks (2-1) — jeudi, 19 h 30 (HE), L'Aréna de la Place TD (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Sean East II a été à la hauteur des attentes lors de sa première année avec les Honey Badgers. Finaliste au titre du joueur le plus utile de la saison dernière, East II a marqué 47 points, enregistré 24 passes décisives et 14 rebonds tout en tirant pour 50 pour cent derrière l’arc en deux matchs. C’est exactement pourquoi le directeur général Jermaine Anderson l'a recruté. Mais East II ne l'a pas fait seul. En effet, les 21 rebonds combinés de Matthew Moncrieffe et l'incroyable performance de Cameron Tyson avec huit trois points lors de la victoire 91-86 contre Ottawa l’ont aidé. Les BlackJacks, de leur côté, pourraient voir ces tirs comme une raison d'optimisme. Ottawa a tiré seulement 25 pour cent de l'extérieur de l'arc comparé aux 48 pour cent de Brampton, Tyson réussissant la moitié de ses tentatives à lui seul. Si les BlackJacks peuvent réduire cet écart, cela pourrait faire toute la différence. Ottawa semble avoir conservé un certain élan depuis la fin de la saison dernière, lorsque l’équipe a trouvé une combinaison gagnante menée par Javonte Smart, pour ensuite être perdue dû à des absences pendant les séries éliminatoires. Smart, en particulier, a repris là où il s'était arrêté, marquant 71 points et 28 passes décisives en trois matchs, dont des victoires contre le Surge de Calgary et les champions en titre, les River Lions de Niagara. Cependant, pour qu'Ottawa évite de lutter autant pour remonter la pente comme la saison dernière, une victoire rapide en début de saison contre les Honey Badgers serait cruciale pour maintenir les classements serrés et le bris d'égalité en jeu. S’ils perdent, la séparation devient déjà plus importante. Pour Brampton, qui a commencé la saison avec de grandes attentes, c'est une chance de prouver que toute l’excitation collective était justifiée. Stingers (1-1) contre Bandits (1-1) — vendredi, 17 h (HP) / 18 h (HR) / 20 h (HE), Envision Financial Court au Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) En théorie, Vancouver pourrait bien être la meilleure équipe de l'Ouest. Bien sûr, les matchs ne se jouent pas seulement en théorie, et les Stingers ont prouvé qu'ils pourraient également être une force malgré la perte d’East II ainsi que de Keon Ambrose-Hylton au profit des Honey Badgers durant l'intersaison. Ce qui signifie qu'il y a beaucoup en jeu dans ce match de revanche en termes de perception (Edmonton gagnerait sûrement beaucoup de confiance avec une autre victoire ici) et de la réalité des classements. Après avoir perdu le joueur le plus utile, Mitch Creek, durant l'intersaison, les Bandits pourraient avoir trouvé un remplaçant immédiat avec Jaelen House, qui mène la ligue avec 60 points malgré n'avoir commencé qu'un des deux matchs. House, un Américain de 25 ans, est deuxième dans les tentatives de tir, juste derrière le tireur notoire Teddy Allen, bien qu'il ait également 14 passes décisives. Ailleurs, les vedettes cimentées de la LECB, Tevian Jones et Tyrese Samuel, ont également connu de forts débuts. Les deux ayant un pourcentage de réussite de plus de 59 pour cent. Edmonton, quant à eux, a été menée par le merveilleusement nommé Dain Dainja, qui est ressorti avec une performance de 25 points et 14 rebonds lors de la victoire contre les Bandits. Empêcher Dainja d'avoir ce genre de soirée à nouveau sera parmi les points clés pour les Bandits lors du match d’ouverture à domicile. Et, quelle que soit l'équipe qui sort victorieuse de ce match, elle se présentera comme le principal rival des meneurs de l’Ouest, les Sea Bears de Winnipeg. Horaire hebdomadaire (huit matchs) Match #12 – le jeudi 21 mai – SSK à SSS – 11 h (HE) / 9 h (HC) – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #13 – le jeudi 21 mai – BHB à OTT – 19 h 30 (HE) – L'Aréna de la Place TD (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #14 – le vendredi 22 mai – NRL à WPG – 20 h (HC) / 21 h (HE) – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #15 – le vendredi 22 mai – EDM à VAN – 19 h (HP) / 20 h (HR) / 22 h (HE) – Envision Financial Court au Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #16 – le samedi 23 mai – MTL à OTT – 19 h (HE) – L'Aréna de la Place TD (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #17 – le dimanche 24 mai – NRL à EDM – 17 h (HR) / 19 h (HE) – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #18 – le dimanche 24 mai – CGY à VAN – 17 h (HP) / 18 h (HR) / 20 h (HE) – Envision Financial Court au Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #19 – le lundi 25 mai – WPG à BHB – 19 h 30 (HE) / 18 h 30 (HC) – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Pour le calendrier complet de la LECB 2026, veuillez visiter cebl.ca/games . ###

It’s early days in this CEBL season as teams go through the learning process of discovering who they are and what they might become. But squint closely enough, and the tiniest signs of which teams might emerge as contenders are beginning to show. In fact, you don’t even have to squint all that much to notice Brampton’s 2-0 record and plus-24 point differential. On the west coast, Vancouver’s 124-point opening-game outburst also put opponents on notice. Interestingly, both of those squads will get a unique test in the form of a rematch as we enter the second full week of action. The Honey Badgers will meet the Ottawa BlackJacks in the nation’s capital after Javonte Smart and company gave Brampton a scare on its home court. Meanwhile, the Bandits will get another shot at the Edmonton Stingers — this time at home — after a 13-point loss on Saturday. Let’s dive a little deeper into those two marquee games… Honey Badgers (2-0) vs. BlackJacks (2-1) — Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET, The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Sean East II has come as advertised in his first year with the Honey Badgers. The MVP runner-up last season, East II has scored 47 points, tallied 24 assists and 14 rebounds while shooting 50 per cent from three-point range through two games — exactly why General Manager Jermaine Anderson brought him in. But East II hasn’t done it alone, getting help from Matthew Moncrieffe’s 21 combined rebounds and Cameron Tyson’s incredible outburst of eight three-pointers in the 91-86 win over Ottawa. The BlackJacks, on the other side, might be pointing at that very shooting as a reason for optimism. Ottawa shot just 25 per cent from beyond the arc compared to Brampton’s 48 per cent, with Tyson hitting half of his attempts alone. If the BlackJacks can close that gap at all, it could make all the difference. Ottawa appears to have carried some momentum from the end of last season, when it found a winning mix led by Javonte Smart only to be undone by playoff absences. Smart, in particular, has picked up where he left off, putting up 71 points and 28 assists through three games, including wins over Calgary Surge and defending-champion Niagara River Lions. However, for Ottawa to avoid fighting uphill like it did last season, an early win over the Honey Badgers would be crucial in keeping the standings close and the head-to-head tiebreaker in play. Lose, and the separation becomes significant already. For Brampton, which entered the season with big expectations, it’s a chance to prove all the hype was warranted. Stingers (1-1) vs. Bandits (1-1) — Friday, 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET, Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) On paper, Vancouver might just be the best team in the West. Of course, the games aren’t played on paper, and the Stingers have proven they might be a force too despite losing East II along with Keon Ambrose-Hylton to the Honey Badgers in the off-season. Which means there’s plenty at stake in this rematch in terms of both perception — Edmonton would surely gain lots of confidence from another victory here — and the reality of the standings. After losing MVP Mitch Creek in the off-season, the Bandits might have stumbled onto an immediate replacement in Jaelen House, who leads the league with 60 points despite starting just one of two games. House, a 25-year-old American, is second in shot attempts only behind noted gunner Teddy Allen, though he also has 14 assists. Elsewhere, cemented CEBL stars Tevian Jones and Tyrese Samuel have also enjoyed strong starts, with both shooting over 59 per cent from the floor. Edmonton, meanwhile, has been led by the wonderfully named Dain Dainja, who erupted for a 25-point, 14-rebound effort in the win over the Bandits. Preventing Dainja from having that kind of night again will be among the keys for the Bandits in the home opener. And whichever team emerges victorious in this game will present itself as the top challenger to the West-leading Winnipeg Sea Bears. Weekly schedule (8 games) Game #12 – Thursday, May 21 – SSK at SSS – 11 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CST – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #13 – Thursday, May 21 – BHB at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #14 – Friday, May 22 – NRL at WPG – 8 p.m. CDT / 9 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #15 – Friday, May 22 – EDM at VAN – 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT / 10 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #16 – Saturday, May 23 – MTL at OTT – 7 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #17 – Sunday, May 24 – NRL at EDM – 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #18 – Sunday, May 24 – CGY at VAN – 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #19 – Monday, May 25 – WPG at BHB – 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CDT – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games . ###

he Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’5 American guard Keonte Kennedy for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Kennedy will join the team for their season opening game tonight versus the Ottawa Blackjacks. Kennedy joins the team after just days ago finishing his season with Imortal Albufeira of the Liga Betclic in Portugal where he led the team with 17.4 points per game and averaged 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24 games. The Austin, Texas native graduated from the University of California, Berkeley , where, in his lone year with the Bears , he started all 25 games he played, averaging 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists. He finished the season strong, shooting over 42% from three-point range across the final eight games and recording 13 double-figure scoring performances. Prior to Cal, Kennedy averaged 9.2 points per game at the University of Memphis and enjoyed a breakout season at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) 2021-22, where he posted 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Kennedy began his professional career with Umea BSKT of the Swedish Basketball League (SBL) for the 2024-2025 season and finished that year with Sporting FC in Portugal. The Niagara River Lions are one of the founding franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and the league’s reigning back-to-back champions (2024 & 2025). Competing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, from May to August each season, the River Lions proudly represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region, uniting fans through passion, pride, and purpose. Entering their second decade, the River Lions have earned a reputation for championship-caliber performance and community impact, embodying the strength and spirit of Niagara both on and off the court. For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on IG , FB , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . ###

Al Whitley menait une vie épanouie après sa carrière dans le basketball, après avoir passé 22 ans au sein des Mavericks de Dallas. Puis, Leonard Asper a racheté les Honey Badgers de Brampton. Asper, un ami et associé de Mark Cuban, a sollicité l'avis de l'ancien propriétaire des Mavericks. Cuban l'a orienté vers Whitley. Il n'a pas fallu longtemps pour que leur relation devienne officielle. « Quand on m'a proposé ce projet », se souvient Whitley, aujourd'hui chef de la direction des Honey Badgers, « je me suis dit que c'était une opportunité que je ne pouvais tout simplement pas laisser passer. » L'embauche de Whitley a été annoncée en novembre. Six mois plus tard, Cuban a rejoint le groupe de propriétaires de l'équipe. Entre-temps, les Honey Badgers ont entièrement remanié leur effectif, notamment en recrutant trois vedettes en tant que joueurs autonomes : Sean East II, finaliste du titre du joueur le plus utile, Jameer Nelson Jr., élu meilleur défenseur de l'année, et l'ailier canadien Keon Ambrose-Hylton. « Tout le monde est plein d'énergie. À Brampton, on parle d'une nouvelle ère. Je pense que la communauté s'en rend compte et adhère à cette idée. Et on a hâte », a déclaré Whitley. La nouvelle ère du basketball des Honey Badgers commencera vendredi lorsqu’ils recevront les BlackJacks d'Ottawa au CAA Centre (19 h 30 HE, CBC Gem/YouTube/LECB+). Brampton espère rebondir après deux saisons au cours desquelles leurs fiches cumulées se sont élevées à 11 victoires pour 33 défaites, dont 5 victoires pour 19 défaites l'année dernière. Les Honey Badgers n'ont plus remporté de match dans les séries éliminatoires depuis leur unique titre en 2022. Bien sûr, il y a de nombreuses raisons de penser que cela pourrait maintenant changer. Et Whitley ne recule pas devant ce défi. « Notre objectif est de nous battre pour le titre. C'est le début. C'est ce qu'on a toujours dit. Ce sera notre norme », a déclaré Whitley. East II, ce joueur de 26 ans originaire de Louisville, a déclaré que tout partait d'un objectif simple. « On va sans aucun doute être meilleur que l'année dernière. C'est vers ça qu'on se dirige. … On va simplement continuer à travailler fort et on va voir ce que vous en pensez », a déclaré l’arrière vedette. Pour Whitley, âgé de 52 ans, qui a côtoyé les grands noms du basketball canadien toute sa vie — qu'il s'agisse d'avoir grandi aux côtés de Steve Nash ou de l'avoir croisé à Dallas —, l’opportunité d'avoir un impact direct sur le basketball canadien par l'intermédiaire des Honey Badgers était extrêmement intéressante. Il a déclaré avoir suivi de près la LECB depuis ses débuts et avoir reçu des retours positifs de la part des entraîneurs des Mavericks qui ont consacré du temps dans cette ligue. « C'est l'âge d'or du basketball canadien. Le niveau de jeu dans la NBA est incroyable. Donc, si je peux faire quoi que ce soit pour contribuer au développement de ce sport ici, en m'appuyant sur mon expérience en NBA et au-delà, je vais certainement essayer », a déclaré Whitley. Le projet des Honey Badgers était ambitieux, mais Whitley savait qu'il pouvait s'appuyer sur son expérience acquise lors de son passage dans la NBA. Après tout, il était là lorsque Dirk Nowitzki a remporté le titre NBA en 2011, et il a vu de grands meneurs, comme Nash, Jason Kidd et Luka Doncic, évoluer à Dallas. « Pour moi, c’était simplement l’appréciation de pouvoir être à leurs côtés chaque jour, d’observer leur façon de faire, leur état d’esprit, leur discipline, ce qu’ils accomplissent, et de constater que les petits détails comptent, que le souci du détail compte. Faire partie de ça et côtoyer ces gars au quotidien a été pour moi une expérience incroyable que je n’ai pas tenue pour acquise », a déclaré Whitley. C'est peut-être cette influence du meneur qui a poussé Whitley à recruter East II et Nelson Jr. parmi ses principaux ajouts en tant que joueurs autonomes. East II a connu une première saison remarquable dans la LECB avec les Stingers d'Edmonton l'année dernière, au cours de laquelle il a terminé meilleur marqueur de la ligue avec une moyenne de 22,8 points par match, auxquels s'ajoutent 4,8 rebonds et 4,3 passes décisives, avec un pourcentage de tirs de 53,4 %. Nelson Jr., quant à lui, a dominé la ligue en nombre total de vols et en nombre de vols par match. « Ils ont le bon programme ici », a déclaré East II. « Des installations dignes de la NBA, gérées comme une organisation de la NBA. Je ne sais pas, il y avait juste quelque chose là-dedans qui m'a intéressé. Ça m'a tout simplement attiré. » En effet, Whitley a déclaré que le développement des joueurs constituait un élément clé de sa présentation pendant le marché des agents libres. « Notre travail consiste à faire en sorte que ces gars-là viennent et qu’ils repartent meilleurs. Et comment sont-ils meilleurs ? Nous avons mis en place un système avec nos recruteurs, notre équipe d'entraîneurs, mon expérience dans la NBA, et même au niveau de la direction avec notre directeur général et son adjoint, grâce auquel ces joueurs vont progresser cet été », a déclaré Whitley. « Et on a en quelque sorte mis en place un environnement de type G League pour ce qui est du développement, n'est-ce pas? Nous essayons de leur trouver leur prochain emploi, et c'est notre travail. » East II a déclaré qu'Ambrose-Hylton faisait déjà partie de l'équipe lorsqu'on lui a initialement proposé, après un match de la G League, de rejoindre les Honey Badgers. Ce n'est que plus tard que Nelson Jr. — avec qui il a joué et contre qui il s'est mesuré depuis l'université — a lui aussi fait le grand saut. Bien sûr, aucun d'entre eux ne savait à ce moment-là qu'ils allaient jouer pour une équipe appartenant à Cuban. Pour Whitley, cependant, il s'agissait simplement d'une évolution logique pour les Honey Badgers, qui ne cesse de s’élever. « Il y a là un aspect de loyauté qui compte beaucoup pour Mark », a déclaré Whitley. « Mark, en fin de compte, est un mordu de basketball. Il adore ce sport et souhaite le voir se développer à l'échelle mondial et il connaît très bien le Canada. Il est venu ici plusieurs fois avec moi et mes amis, il considère que Toronto et la région du Grand Toronto sont une ville de classe mondiale, donc je pense que ça a été une décision très facile à prendre pour lui. » Malgré tout, c'est l'une des premières choses qu'East II a mentionnées lorsqu'on lui a posé des questions sur son nouveau logement. « J'aime cette ville. C'est assez grand. De jolis appartements. Tout est bien. De belles installations. Un superbe aréna. Tout est génial. Je viens d'apprendre que Mark Cuban est devenu propriétaire. Tout va très bien. Beaucoup d'énergie. Il faut juste se mettre en route pour la saison », a-t-il déclaré. Whitley a déclaré que la principale leçon qu'il avait tirée de ses décennies passées aux côtés de Cuban à Dallas était que l'expérience des partisans était primordiale. Dans la LECB, a-t-il déclaré, cela se traduit par les moments du pointage cible où l'intensité monte d'un cran au lieu de dégénérer en une succession de fautes. Mais il sait aussi que pour les partisans, rien ne vaut une victoire. « Nous voulons être une franchise dont notre communauté soit fière, tant sur le terrain qu’en dehors. Voilà donc mon état d'esprit », a déclaré Whitley. « C'est un divertissement abordable. Ce sont des basketteurs incroyablement talentueux. À mon avis, la compétition de cette année sera la meilleure de toute l'histoire de la LECB. Et nous avons hâte de commencer. »

Al Whitley was content in his post-basketball life after 22 years in the Dallas Mavericks front office. Then, Leonard Asper bought the Brampton Honey Badgers. Asper, a friend and business associate of Mark Cuban, sought expertise from the ex-Mavericks owner. Cuban referred him to Whitley, and it didn’t take long for the relationship to become official. “When it was presented to me,” recalled Whitley, now CEO of the Honey Badgers, “I think it was just an opportunity I couldn't say no to.” Whitley’s hire was announced in November. Six months later, Cuban joined the team’s ownership group. In between, the Honey Badgers rebuilt their entire franchise, including a trio of star free-agent signings in MVP runner-up Sean East II, Defensive Player of the Year Jameer Nelson Jr., and Canadian forward Keon Ambrose-Hylton. “Everybody's energized. We call it the new era in Brampton. I think the community is seeing that and embracing that. And we can't wait,” Whitley said. That new era of Honey Badgers basketball will tip off Friday when the team hosts the Ottawa BlackJacks at the CAA Centre (7:30 p.m. ET, CBC Gem/YouTube/CEBL+). Brampton is looking to bounce back from a pair of seasons in which its combined record was 11-33, including a 5-19 mark last year. The Honey Badgers have not won a playoff game since the franchise’s lone title in 2022. Of course, there’s plenty of reason to believe that could change now. And Whitley isn’t shying away from it. “Our expectations are to compete for a championship. That's Day 1. That's been the message. That’s gonna be our standard,” Whitley said. East II, the 26-year-old from Louisville, said it all begins with one simple goal. “We’re definitely going to be better than last year. That’s what we’re going towards. … We’re just going to keep putting the work in and see what you guys think,” the star guard said. For the 52-year-old Whitley, who’s been around Canadian basketball royalty his entire life — from growing up with Steve Nash to crossing paths with him in Dallas — the chance to make a direct impact on Canadian basketball through the Honey Badgers was greatly appealing. He said he’s kept tabs on the CEBL throughout its existence and received positive reviews from Mavericks coaches who spent time in the league. “This is the golden age of Canadian basketball. The talent in the NBA is unbelievable. And so anything I can do to help grow the game up here through my experiences in the NBA and beyond, I was definitely all in to try,” Whitley said. The Honey Badgers project was a big one, but Whitley knew he could lean on his expertise from his time in the NBA. After all, he was there as Dirk Nowitzki broke through for an NBA title in 2011, and he watched as great point guards like Nash, Jason Kidd and Luka Doncic plied their trades in Dallas. “For me it was just the gratitude to be around them every day, to see their approach, to see their mindset, how disciplined they are, what they do, that the small things matter, attention to detail matters. To be a part of that and see these guys on a day-to-day basis was an incredible experience for me and one that I did not take for granted,” Whitley said. Perhaps that point-guard influence is why Whitley targeted East II and Nelson Jr. among his key free-agent additions. East II enjoyed a remarkable first CEBL season with the Edmonton Stingers last year, when he put up the most points in the league while averaging 22.8 per game to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 53.4 per cent shooting. Nelson Jr., meanwhile, paced the league in total steals and steals per game. “They got the right program over here,” East II said. “Like an NBA facility, running like an NBA organization. I don't know, just something about it was interesting to me. I just gravitated towards it.” Indeed, Whitley said player development was a key part of his free-agency pitch. “Our job is that these guys all come in and they are better when they leave. And how are they better? We have the system in place with our scouts, with our coaching staff, with my NBA experience, even at our executive level with our GM and assistant GM, where these guys are going to get better this summer,” Whitley said. “And we've kind of set it up like a G League type of environment in terms of development, right? We're trying to get them their next jobs and that's our job.” East II said Ambrose-Hylton was already aboard when he was first approached after a G League game about joining the Honey Badgers. It was only later that Nelson Jr. — who he has played with and against since college — also made the move. None of them knew at the time, of course, that they would be playing for Cuban-owned team. For Whitley, however, that was just a natural progression of the rapidly rising Honey Badgers. “There's a loyalty aspect there that goes a long way with Mark,” Whitley said. “Mark, at the end of the day, is a basketball junkie. He loves the game and he wants to see it grow on a world stage and he knows a ton about Canada. He's been up here a bunch of times with myself and my friends, he thinks Toronto and the GTA is a world-class city, so I think it was a very easy decision for him.” Even still, it was among the first things East II mentioned when asked about his new digs. “I like the city. It's pretty big. Nice apartments. Everything's nice. Nice facilities. Great arena. Great everything, man. Just got Mark Cuban on ownership. Everything's great. High energy. Just got to get it rolling towards the season,” he said. Whitley said the biggest lesson he learned over decades with Cuban in Dallas was that the fan experience is most important. In the CEBL, he said, that manifests itself in target time, when the action increases in excitement instead of turning into a foul-fest. But he also knows the ultimate fan experience ends in a win. “We want to be a franchise that our community is proud of on and off the court. And so that's my mindset,” Whitley said. “It's affordable entertainment. These are incredibly talented basketball players. The competition this year is going to be the best it's ever been in CEBL history, in my opinion. And we can't wait to get started.”

The Winnipeg Sea Bears today announced the club has signed point guard Trey McGowens for the upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League season. McGowens (6-3, 190, University of Pittsburgh; born: May 15, 2000, in Pendleton, South Carolina) arrives in Winnipeg following a 2025–26 season with the NBA G League’s Austin Spurs, where he averaged 6.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. McGowens also competed in the EuroCup with the Trefl Sopot in Poland. In 2023–24, McGowens split time between three NBA G League teams; the Long Island Nets, College Park Skyhawks and Raptors 905, and made his first CEBL appearance with the Edmonton Stingers, where he led the team in scoring at 15.7 points per game while adding 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals. With the College Park Skyhawks in that same season, he averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals across seven games. McGowens has also represented the United States on the international stage and was named MVP of the 2023 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup in Lublin, Poland, leading Team USA to a gold medal in the country’s first-ever U23 World Cup title. McGowens finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 54 points and starred in the gold-medal final with 10 points in a 21–3 victory over Israel. The point guard played four collegiate seasons across the University of Pittsburgh (2018-19) and the University of Nebraska. As a freshman at Pittsburgh, he set the freshman single-game records for points (33), steals (7) and free throws (18), and was named ACC Rookie of the Week in both December 2018 and January 2019. After transferring to Nebraska, he averaged 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game in 2020–21, ranking among the Big Ten leaders in scoring, assists and steals. The Sea Bears home opener is this Saturday, May 16 against the Saskatoon Mamba. Don't miss out, the first 5,000 fans through the doors get a free pair of Sea Bears Summer sunglasses. Get your tickets today.