Baker Named President of Edmonton Stingers

Michelle Biskup paced nervously along the sidelines of Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre. As Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad stepped to the free-throw line with the 2025 CEBL championship in his fingertips, Biskup couldn’t help but battle flashbacks from one year earlier, when Ahmad missed a shot to win it all. Some things were different: the locale, for one. The River Lions’ path to the Final (one much more fraught this time around), for two. And, of course, Biskup’s title, now president of the franchise. One thing, though, did not change. No matter what happened, Biskup could not control what happened on the court. At least not at this point. “I've gone through the highs, I've gone through the lows, but I just stay even keel until I know it's over,” said Biskup, who has now been with the River Lions for 10 years. Ahmad, of course, went on to make those free throws, clinching the River Lions’ second consecutive championship and matching the Edmonton Stingers as the only teams to win multiple titles, let alone go back-to-back. With the trophy, Biskup became the first female president to win a Canadian men’s professional sports title. Detroit Red Wings president Marguerite Norris (1954, 1955) and Los Angeles Lakers boss Jeanie Buss (2020) have also accomplished the feat in the U.S. “Michelle has been a CEBL all-star since day one and has shown incredible commitment, leadership, and perseverance throughout her career with the River Lions,” said CEBL commissioner and co-founder Mike Morreale. “To watch her help guide the team to back-to-back championships while also breaking new ground as the first female president to do so in Canadian men’s pro sports is nothing short of remarkable. She’s a trailblazer in every sense and has earned this tremendous recognition.” “It's a milestone to have my name stamped on history while also showing other young females in sports who are dreaming of having a career in sports that it's attainable,” Biskup said. “It's not something that can't be done because now they can see someone who's done it.” Biskup, the 35-year-old from Burlington, Ont., was a Day 1 staffer of the River Lions 10 years ago when she held the title of operations coordinator. The job only came about through a coincidental meeting with the River Lions owners, when Biskup pitched herself on a whim and suddenly found herself moving from her first job out of school in the entertainment department at Fallsview Casino to a professional basketball organization. Steadily since, she’s risen the ranks until being promoted to president in September. And in her first season atop the organization, she lifted it atop the CEBL. “We really put 12 months into it: into something that we can't control the outcome of as front-office staff. So to have that full-circle moment from last year where, yes, I was involved, I was still a very big part of it as VP, but then for everything that I put into this past year, building a new culture in our office, hiring new staff, making some big changes. It really was like, ‘OK, this made it all worthwhile,’” she said. “There's no greater feeling than winning at the end of the day. There's a reason why everyone wants to win. That's the best, ultimate feeling.” Biskup said the team is almost unrecognizable from when she first started a decade ago — especially when she looks at the Meridian Centre crowd and the River Lions fan base. But even more has changed since she took over as president. Biskup hired team captain Kimbal Mackenzie as community and brand ambassador in a CEBL first — an idea that was born late last off-season and one she hopes will truly take flight now. Meanwhile, she signed head coach Victor Raso to a three-year contract lining up with a three-year Meridian Centre lease, locking in two key aspects of the team. “Knowing that Vic's going to be here every year, or at least for the next three, we can depend on that, that we're going to have that returning group that helps us be successful on the court,” said Biskup, who credited the coach for maintaining season-to-season continuity in a league where that’s rare. “It helps us be successful off the court too, right? It's great for our sales staff to be able to call people and say, we're back-to-back champions or we have their favourite players returning. So that consistency is really big.” Raso has worked next to Biskup for the past eight years. “I've seen her go from doing absolutely everything to doing absolutely everything as the president,” he said. The coach described Biskup as “incredibly hard-working,” saying she’s created a culture of “doers” while keeping the atmosphere light and fun with plenty of laughs. He added that he’s always coordinated closely with Biskup, with whom he enjoys a strong two-way relationship of trust. “Michelle and I always talked about what we were doing on a day-to-day basis, but never from the perspective of she's my manager. So for her and I, it was a cool experience this year. She's always let me do my thing with the basketball and trusted me with decisions and budgets and everything,” he said. To Raso, Biskup is the “lifeblood” of the River Lions. “She can run a professional sport organization like with her eyes closed now. And I don't think people really understand how much actually goes into that,” he said. Now, Biskup’s next task is one that’s never been done before: win three straight championships. After last season’s motto was ‘Run It Back,’ Biskup said conversations are already underway about next year’s slogan, with the word dynasty being thrown around. “That's definitely the goal for us to make that next stamp on history is being the first team to do a three-peat,” she said. It’s a topic with which Biskup is now quite familiar. - CEBL -

CEBL all-time leader in games played and minutes played closes chapter on playing career

Please join us in welcoming Susan Jones Bouk to the Canadian Elite Basketball League as Head of People & Culture. Susan brings over 30 years of experience across industries including sports, technology, financial services, consumer packaged goods, and retail. Most recently, she served as Chief People Officer & Head of Office Operations at the CFL, where she led strategies to attract, develop, engage, and retain top talent in support of the league’s growth. She has held senior roles with organizations such as Pillsbury International, Winners – TJX, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and 3Macs – Raymond James, and has consulted for clients including Manulife Financial, Merrill Lynch, and Molson. Susan brings deep expertise in talent acquisition, leadership development, organization design, employee relations, and compensation management, and is known for her practical, business-first approach to people and culture. Welcome to the CEBL team, Susan!

Suite à l'échéance du contrat de Jo-Annie Charbonneau à la fin de la saison 2025, l'Alliance de Montréal annonce qu'elle quittera l'organisation à la fin septembre pour poursuivre de nouvelles opportunités dans le domaine du sport. Jo-Annie a contribué de manière significative au développement de l'Alliance, notamment lors de l'organisation du premier match professionnel de basketball 5x5 en plein air de l'histoire canadienne et durant la transition vers la nouvelle propriété. L'organisation remercie Jo-Annie pour son dévouement et lui souhaite le meilleur dans ses projets futurs. L'Alliance procédera à des changements dans sa structure de direction. Les détails seront communiqués prochainement. Nous demeurons engagés envers nos partisans, nos partenaires et la communauté montréalaise alors que nous continuons à bâtir une organisation de basketball professionnel de premier plan. ###

Following the conclusion of Jo-Annie Charbonneau's contract at the end of the 2025 season, the Montréal Alliance announces that she will leave the organization at the end of September to pursue new opportunities in the sports industry. Jo-Annie contributed significantly to the Alliance's development, notably organizing Canada's first-ever professional 5x5 outdoor basketball game and leading through the ownership transition. The organization thanks Jo-Annie for her dedication and wishes her the best in her future endeavors. The Alliance will proceed with changes to its leadership structure. Details will be communicated shortly. We remain committed to our fans, partners, and the Montréal community as we continue building a premier professional basketball organization. ###

Please join us in welcoming Krish Goswami to the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Krish joins as Coordinator, Commercial Strategy, bringing experience from some of Canada’s leading sports and entertainment organizations, including Wasserman, MLSE, XMC, and most recently, the City of Brampton. He has worked across experiential activations, partnership development, and sponsorship consulting, and is passionate about building strong, meaningful relationships in the sports industry. Welcome to the CEBL team, Krish!

The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced today that Jason Smith will be transitioning out of his role as President over the coming months. Smith helped establish the franchise and led the Sea Bears through its first three seasons. When Smith was first engaged to guide the due diligence process, finalize the franchise deal, and bring the Sea Bears to life, he committed to dedicating himself fully to the team for its crucial early years. With that three-year commitment coming to an end this fall, Smith will step back from day-to-day duties in order to rebalance his professional life, including devoting more time to his company, Smith Events, while maintaining a strong connection to the Sea Bears. Under a new agreement, Smith will remain with the organization in a consulting capacity, focusing on a variety of strategic projects and continuing to provide guidance and expertise as the team enters its next phase of growth. Team Owner and Chairman David Asper will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer as the Sea Bears restructure. “We’re all very fortunate that three years ago Jason agreed to set aside a very successful business and stable personal life and commit all his energy to launching the Sea Bears, which we knew would be all-encompassing and chaotic”, said David Asper. “He’s a co-founder of the team, always will be, and I look forward to continuing our relationship with big goals yet to achieve.” “It has been an honour to serve as President of the Sea Bears and to help create something so special for the city and province,” said Smith. “I look forward to supporting David and the team through this transition and into the next chapter, while also returning focus to Smith Events and other projects that allow me to contribute in new ways.” This transition sets the stage for the next phase of the Sea Bears’ growth, as the team continues to strengthen its place in the local and national professional sports landscape. ### About the Winnipeg Sea Bears: 
The Winnipeg Sea Bears are a professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), proudly representing Winnipeg and Manitoba on the national stage. Since their debut, the Sea Bears have become a community leader, delivering top-tier basketball and fan experiences while contributing to the growth of the sport across Canada.

Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), la plus grande ligue professionnelle de sport au Canada, ont annoncé aujourd’hui que le club a été acquis par Diamond Sports Canada Inc., une filiale de Global Sports Fund Management Group. Le groupe est détenu par Bandeli (Lee) Hagipantelis et Justin Pascoe, qui occupe également le poste de directeur général. Pascoe cumule plus de 20 ans d’expérience en gestion exécutive dans l’administration du sport de haut niveau. Il est titulaire d’un MBA de la Melbourne Business School et a également suivi des études complémentaires à l’Université Harvard. Tout au long de sa carrière, il a constamment contribué à rehausser le profil d’organisations dans les secteurs du sport, des produits de consommation, de l’automobile et de l’industrie. En Australie, Pascoe a occupé des postes de direction dans plusieurs disciplines sportives majeures et apporte une perspective internationale grâce à son travail dans le capital-investissement et l’industrie du sport en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. En plus de son rôle au sein de Global Sports Fund Management Group, il est également propriétaire des Newcastle Jets, un club de soccer australien évoluant dans l’A-League. Basé à Newcastle, en Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, le club se prépare actuellement pour la finale de l’Australia Cup. « Je me sens extrêmement privilégié d’avoir l’opportunité de contribuer à la construction d’une franchise dont toute la communauté pourra être fière », a déclaré Pascoe. « Ce processus a duré près de huit mois, et au fil du temps, il m’est devenu évident que la LECB et les BlackJacks d’Ottawa représentent un géant endormi dans le paysage sportif canadien. » Pascoe a ajouté : « Notre objectif est de créer une franchise de basketball qui favorise un engagement authentique de la part de tous les intervenants — les partisans, la communauté, les instances gouvernementales et les partenaires corporatifs. Nous croyons que notre expérience opérationnelle à l’échelle mondiale peut venir appuyer le travail acharné et le talent du personnel en place, et contribuer à faire passer l’organisation à un niveau supérieur. Cela dépasse les BlackJacks. Il s’agit de collaborer avec Mike et la LECB pour accroître la notoriété de la ligue, offrir des expériences inoubliables aux partisans et bâtir une ligue durable et florissante, animée par une volonté de croissance — avec pour ambition de positionner le basketball canadien comme une force sur la scène mondiale. » Diamond Sports Canada Inc. prend la relève de Canadian Basketball Ventures LP, qui dirigeait l’équipe depuis sa création en 2020. Il s’agit du premier groupe entièrement financé par des capitaux privés à détenir une participation dans les BlackJacks, ainsi que des premiers propriétaires internationaux de l’histoire de la LECB, leur siège étant situé en Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, en Australie. « Justin Pascoe et le groupe Diamond Sports Canada Inc. apportent une perspective internationale précieuse ainsi qu’une grande expertise et une sophistication remarquables dans le domaine des affaires sportives aux BlackJacks d’Ottawa », a déclaré Mike Morreale, commissaire et cofondateur de la Ligue canadienne élite de basketball (LECB). « Leur acquisition renforce à la fois l’équipe et la ligue, alors que nous continuons à bâtir un modèle durable pour le basketball professionnel au Canada. L’engagement du groupe envers l’innovation, l’implication communautaire et la croissance à long terme s’aligne parfaitement avec la vision de la LECB quant à ce que nos équipes représentent. Nous apprécions sincèrement l’élargissement de notre table de propriétaires au-delà des frontières canadiennes. » La transition des opérations de l’équipe commencera immédiatement, alors que la septième saison de basketball des BlackJacks d’Ottawa débutera en mai 2026 à l’Aréna de la Place TD . ### À propos des BlackJacks d'Ottawa Première franchise d'expansion de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), les BlackJacks d'Ottawa présentent le meilleur du basket-ball et du divertissement dans la capitale nationale. Le bureau de direction d'Ottawa apporte à la franchise son expérience de la NBA, de la NBA G League, de l'équipe nationale, de la NCAA et des grandes ligues professionnelles internationales. Dirigée par le directeur général James Derouin et l'entraîneur-chef Dave DeAveiro, l'équipe d'Ottawa joue ses matchs à domicile dans l'aréna de classe mondiale de la Place TD, dans le parc Lansdowne. Pour plus d'informations, visitez le site theblackjacks.ca .

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s largest professional sports league, announced today that the club has been acquired by Diamond Sports Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Global Sports Fund Management Group. The group is owned by Bandeli (Lee) Hagipantelis and Justin Pascoe, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer. Pascoe brings more than 20 years of executive experience in elite-level sports administration. He holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and has completed additional studies at Harvard University. Throughout his career, he has consistently elevated the profile of organizations across the sports, consumer products, automotive, and industrial sectors. In Australia, Pascoe has held senior leadership positions across multiple major sports, and he brings a global perspective through his work in private equity and the sports industry across North America and Europe. In addition to his role with Global Sports Fund Management Group, he also currently serves as Owner of the Newcastle Jets, an Australian soccer club competing in the A-League. Based in Newcastle, New South Wales, the club is currently preparing for the Final of the Australia Cup. "I feel incredibly privileged to be afforded the opportunity to help build a franchise that the entire community can be proud of,” said Pascoe. “This process has been nearly eight months in the making, and throughout that time, it’s become clear to me that the CEBL and the Ottawa BlackJacks represent a sleeping giant in the Canadian sports landscape.” Added Pascoe, “Our focus is on creating a basketball franchise that fosters authentic engagement across all stakeholders — fans, community members, government, and corporate partners alike. We believe that by bringing our global operating experience to the table, we can complement the hard-working and talented staff here and help elevate the organization to new heights. This goes beyond just the BlackJacks. It’s about collaborating with Mike and the CEBL to drive league-wide awareness, deliver unforgettable experiences for fans, and create a sustainable, thriving league that embraces a growth mindset — one that aims to position Canadian basketball as a force on the global stage." Diamond Sports Canada Inc. takes over ownership of the club from Canadian Basketball Ventures LP who had stewarded the team since their inception in 2020. They will serve as the first privately funded group with an ownership stake in the BlackJacks and the first international owners in CEBL history with their base of operations being located in New South Wales, Australia. “Justin Pascoe and the Diamond Sports Canada Inc. group bring valuable international perspective and a wealth of sports business experience and sophistication to the Ottawa BlackJacks,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner & Co-Founder of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. “Their ownership strengthens both the team and the league as we continue building a sustainable model for professional basketball in Canada. The group’s commitment to innovation, community engagement, and long-term growth perfectly aligns with the CEBL’s vision for what our teams represent, and we truly value the extension of our ownership table beyond Canada.” Transition of team operations will begin immediately, with the seventh season of Ottawa BlackJacks basketball set to kick off in May 2026 at The Arena at TD Place . ### About the Ottawa BlackJacks The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks showcase the best of basketball and entertainment in the nation’s capital. The Ottawa front office brings NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. Led by General Manager James Derouin and Head Coach Dave DeAveiro, Ottawa plays its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. For more information, visit theblackjacks.ca .