CEBL Weekly Preview: Quarter-Mark Power Rankings

Plus de la moitié de la ligue a désormais disputé six matchs, ce qui signifie qu'un quart de la saison est officiellement terminé. Est-il trop tôt pour établir l’état des forces? Bien sûr. Est-ce qu’on va quand même le faire? Et comment! Les Bandits de Vancouver (5-2, différentiel de plus-56) Dans une ligue souvent marquée par le changement, les Bandits sont devenus une force constante sous la tutelle de l'entraîneur-chef Kyle Julius et d'une rotation régulière d’effectif. Cette année, c'est Jaelen House qui est dans la course pour le titre du joueur le plus utile. Il occupe la troisième place du classement des meilleurs marqueurs de la ligue avec 25,9 points par match et la première place avec 11,0 passes décisives. Tyrese Samuel, le joueur canadien de l'année actuel, domine le classement des joueurs locaux avec 20,1 points par match (minimum de trois matchs disputés). Bien sûr, Vancouver sait ce qu'est le succès en saison régulière. Le fait d'occuper la première place de ce classement ne les réconfortera pas, sachant que cette saison, c'est le championnat ou rien. Les Honey Badgers de Brampton (5-1, plus-27) Il y a deux façons de s'imposer dans la LECB : soit on est Vancouver, avec sa constance d'année en année, soit on est Brampton et on recommence à zéro. Les deux méthodes semblent fonctionner, même si les Bandits viennent de s'imposer et d'infliger aux Honey Badgers leur première défaite de la saison au CAA Centre. Pourtant, les nouveaux arrivants des Honey Badger sont nombreux dans les classements : Sean East II occupe la cinquième place au classement des meilleurs marqueurs, la deuxième pour les vols et la troisième pour les passes décisives par match ; Matthew Moncrieffe est deuxième aux rebonds ; et Cameron Tyson a réussi plus de tirs à trois points que n'importe qui d'autre. Les Shooting Stars de Scarborough (5-1, plus-10) Aucune équipe n'a disputé de matchs plus passionnants cette saison que les Shooting Stars, qui ont remporté quatre victoires consécutives dans des matchs avec des renversements de situations, avant qu'une défaite surprenante face au Mamba de Saskatoon ne mette fin à leur série d'invincibilité dimanche. Cette équipe remaniée des Shooting Stars a un peu de tout : Myles Powell est en tête du classement des meilleurs marqueurs de la ligue (28,2 points par match), Frank Mitchell est le meilleur dans les rebonds (10,6 par match) et Aamir Simms est en tête du classement interne pour le titre du joueur décisif de l'année, avec deux paniers victorieux au pointage cible en seulement quatre matchs. Les Sea Bears de Winnipeg (3-3, plus-32) Teddy Allen est de retour et fait ce que Teddy Allen sait faire : il marque 26,5 points et tente 19 tirs par match. Cela n'a toutefois pas toujours été synonyme de succès pour les Sea Bears. Par exemple, Winnipeg a dominé les River Lions, mais ils se sont également incliné face au Mamba. Il y a toutefois un atout de taille avec Xavier Moon, trois fois nommé joueur le plus utile, qui fera son retour dans la LECB cette saison avec Winnipeg. Le potentiel d'un duo d’ailiers Allen-Moon semble illimité. Nous verrons bien ce que l'avenir nous réserve cet été. Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (4-3, plus-14) Les BlackJacks ont en quelque sorte avancé tant bien que mal cette saison, s'inclinant à deux reprises face aux Honey Badgers, qui sont en tête de série, mais s'imposant sans difficulté contre d'autres équipes comme le Surge. Matthew Cleveland s'est révélé être un excellent partenaire à l’attaque pour le meneur vedette Javonte Smart, tandis qu'Alex Fudge, quant à lui, rend les plans offensifs des adversaires difficiles. Ottawa sera mis à l’épreuve lors de ses deux prochains matchs, notamment lors de la revanche de mardi soir contre les Bandits et lors d'un autre match contre les Sea Bears. Les River Lions de Niagara (2-3, moins-25) Victor Raso, l’ancien entraîneur-chef des River Lions et l’actuel conseiller principal, a récemment déclaré qu'on ne pouvait pas remporter de titre dès le début de la saison, mais qu'on pouvait très certainement le perdre. Il faut dire que, malgré les changements d’entraîneurs et le retour attendu de Khalil Ahmad, les River Lions n'ont pas encore perdu le championnat en ce début de saison. Les doubles champions en titre semblent plus confiants que jamais, même s'ils affichent une fiche inférieure à 50 %. Les Stingers d'Edmonton (3-3, moins-8) Les Stingers, une autre équipe qui tourne autour des 50 %, ont réalisé une solide saison jusqu'à présent sous l’accompagnement de leur entraîneur-chef, Jordan Baker, malgré d'importants changements survenus pendant l'intersaison. Dain Dainja a été une révélation, mais, même pendant qu’il est parti pour des entraînements pour la NBA, Edmonton a su trouver de bons remplaçants avec les vétérans Scottie Lindsey et Isaih Moore. Le Mamba de Saskatoon (2-4, moins-54) Si nous avions établi ce classement la semaine dernière, le Mamba aurait facilement occupé la dernière place après quatre défaites consécutives en début de saison, dont trois avec plus de dix points d'écart. Cependant, la nouvelle équipe de Saskatoon semble avoir trouvé quelque chose cette semaine, avec deux victoires consécutives contre les Sea Bears et les Shooting Stars. Le match décisif de samedi contre les Bandits devrait constituer un excellent test pour évaluer ce nouveau succès. L’Alliance de Montréal (2-4, moins-10) Allant dans une direction opposée, l'Alliance a enchaîné trois défaites consécutives après avoir remporté deux de ses trois premiers matchs en début de saison. Il n'en reste pas moins que le top de l'effectif est très prometteur, avec notamment deux anciens joueurs des Raptors, Javon Freeman-Liberty et Quincy Guerrier. Freeman-Liberty, en particulier, s'est très vite adapté à la LECB dès sa première saison, se plaçant en tête de l'équipe tant au niveau des points marqués que des passes décisives. Le Surge de Calgary (0-5, moins-42) Seule équipe à afficher un zéro d’un des deux côtés, le Surge cherche toujours sa première victoire de la saison. La tâche s'annonce difficile cette semaine avec deux matchs à l'extérieur sur la côte Est contre les River Lions et les Shooting Stars. Pourtant, les champions en titre de la Conférence de l’Ouest se sont montrés plus compétitifs lors des deux derniers matchs depuis que la vedette canadienne Rugzy Miller-Moore a rejoint l'équipe. Sa complicité en zone arrière avec Evan Gilyard semble avoir repris là où elle s'était arrêtée. Si l'on estime qu'il est sans doute trop tôt pour établir ce classement, le Surge pourrait bien en être la preuve par excellence. Horaire hebdomadaire (huit matchs) Match #30 – le mercredi 3 juin – CGY à NRL – 19 h (HE) / 17 h (HR) – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #31 –le mercredi 3 juin – EDM à BHB – 19 h 30 (HE) / 17 h 30 (HR) – Centre CAA (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #32 – le jeudi 4 juin – WPG à OTT – 19 h 30 (HE) / 18 h 30 (HAC) – L’aréna de la Place TD (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #33 – le vendredi 5 juin – BHB à NRL – 19 h (HE) – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #34 –le vendredi 5 juin – WPG à MTL – 19 h 30 (HE) / 18 h 30 (HAC) – l’Auditorium de Verdun (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #35 – le samedi 6 juin – CGY à SSS – 19 h (HE) / 17 h (HR) – Centre sportif panaméricain de Toronto (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #36 – le samedi 6 juin – SSK à VAN – 18 h (HP) / 19 h (HNC) / 21 h (HE) – Prospera Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #37 – le dimanche 7 juin – EDM à MTL – 16 h (HE) / 14 h (HR) – l’Auditorium de Verdun (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la LECB 2026, rendez-vous sur cebl.ca/games .

Professional sports and live entertainment company, REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REAL) announced today that its Calgary Surge and Saskatoon Mamba properties of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) will headline the inaugural Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic at Takhini Arena in Whitehorse, Yukon on Friday, July 3, 2026, at 6:30pm YST (7:30pm MST; 9:30pm EST). The Canada Day Weekend event series running July 1st to July 4th is also being supported by the Government of Yukon and Air North, Yukon’s Airline, and is designed to create a historic and high-impact moment for Whitehorse, the Yukon, and the broader Canadian basketball landscape. The matchup between the 2019 CEBL Champion Saskatoon Mamba and the 2023 and 2025 Western Conference Champion Calgary Surge has been confirmed as the first regular season professional basketball game ever played in Canada’s Territories. “The Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic is exactly the kind of bold, landmark moment we want to create for Canadian basketball, Canadian companies, and our incredible Canadian fans,” said Ty Mazereeuw, President & CEO of the CEBL. “Our entire league is proud to help make history alongside REAL and the Yukon community.” Over its eight-season history, the CEBL has brought five neutral-site regular season games to communities and premier venues across the country, and REAL has been the driving force behind four of them with back-to-back events in Red Deer and unforgettable stops planned for Lethbridge, Alberta and now, Whitehorse, Yukon. REAL, the CEBL, and Sport Yukon have made a landmark commitment to bring this event series to Whitehorse for the next three years. “Events like the Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic show what is possible when Canadian sports and live events operators, orders of government, and commercial and non-profit stakeholders work together with a shared vision to build tourism, economic, and community-building value,” said Jason Ribeiro, Co-Chairman & President of REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. “We love Canada in our bones and could not pass up the opportunity to bring Canada’s pro basketball league and our two teams to the North. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the team at Sport Yukon for their assistance and guidance and to the members of our Host Committee who championed this sport tourism initiative from inception.” “Sport has a remarkable ability to connect people, strengthening communities through shared experiences and collective celebration,” said Jen Gehmair, Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture. “The REAL North Classic brings together tourism, culture, sport and community pride in a way that can create lasting value for Yukoners and visitors alike.” The multi-day activation will begin with mascot appearances during the Canada Day Parade and a 3x3 basketball tournament being planned and supported by local sports organizations, coaches, and businesses at Takhini Arena on July 1st. A Coaches Clinic will follow on July 2nd. On July 3rd, the day begins with player appearances across communities and ends with the first-ever professional basketball game in the territories at Takhini Arena in the evening, featuring local artists and performers and Indigenous storytelling moments. Finally, the event series concludes with a Youth Basketball Skills Camp presented by Snowline Gold on July 4th. “Snowline Gold is proud to contribute to a first-of-its-kind professional sporting experience here in the Yukon,” said Scott Berdahl, CEO of Snowline Gold. “Sport is such an important part of our community life in the Yukon and a foundation for a strong social fabric. We are grateful for the efforts of many different groups and individuals involved in making the REAL North Classic a reality, and we’re excited for this year’s event.” The Calgary Surge and the Saskatoon Mamba (previously Saskatchewan Rattlers) split their four matchups during the 2025 regular season 2-2 in what has become an incredibly competitive Western Conference. The Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic will be livestreamed nationally on CBC Gem, CBC Sports YouTube, and CEBL YouTube. “Sport Yukon is excited to see a major basketball showcase coming to Whitehorse,” said Stacy Lewis, President of Sport Yukon. “This kind of initiative supports participation, inspires young athletes, and strengthens the Yukon’s reputation as a destination for memorable sport tourism experiences.” All game tickets to this historic event include a limited-edition t-shirt and start at $38.50 plus applicable fees and taxes. Fans are encouraged to secure their seats early to ensure the best selection. For more information on all the event offerings and ticket options, visit REALNORTHCLASSIC.ca . Additional Quotes Benjamin Ryan – Chief Commercial Officer, Air North, Yukon’s Airline “At Air North, we believe some of the most meaningful community moments happen through sport. This event is about more than basketball. It's a chance to recognize the coaches, volunteers, parents, and supporters who work behind the scenes every day to create opportunities for young people across the Yukon. It's also an opportunity for current and future players to witness a professional basketball experience right here at home, inspiring them to pursue their own goals both on and off the court. We're proud to support an event that celebrates community, creates connections, and helps inspire the next generation.” Caroline Anderson- Executive Director of Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIA) "As the voice of Yukon’s tourism industry, representing the hundreds of businesses that contribute to our economy through tourism, TIA Yukon is proud to support the REAL North Classic and our partnership with Sport Yukon. Events like this create new reasons for people to visit the territory, generating economic activity for local businesses while raising Yukon’s profile on a national stage. The REAL North Classic demonstrates how sport and tourism can work together to attract future visitors, events, and investment to the Yukon." REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc., the Calgary Surge & Saskatoon Mamba REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REAL) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that owns and operates the Calgary Surge and Saskatoon Mamba Professional Basketball Clubs and REAL Studios. The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating as the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Over three seasons, the Surge have made three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single-game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit calgarysurge.ca . The Saskatoon Mamba (previously Saskatchewan Rattlers) tipped off their inaugural season at SaskTel Centre in May 2019 and went on to win the inaugural Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) championship. The team has restored over 100 basketball nets across the city to make basketball more accessible to youth. REAL acquired and re-launched the franchise in February 2026. For more information, visit saskatoonmamba.ca . Both teams are active members of their communities and have participated in hundreds of events (and counting) across several cities that connect the organizations with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. About the Canadian Elite Basketball League The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide. The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL’s ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball’s cultural footprint across Canada. The CEBL is where elite performance meets homegrown talent. In 2025, 17 players with NBA experience hit the court, while nearly 70% of the league’s roster was Canadian. Running from May through August, the CEBL’s season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement. About the Government of Yukon The Government of Yukon is the territorial government responsible for delivering public programs and services, managing territorial affairs, and supporting the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Yukoners. About Snowline Gold Snowline Gold is a Yukon-founded mineral exploration and development company advancing the Valley gold deposit on its Rogue Project in eastern Yukon. With a focus on environmental stewardship, responsible development and strong local partnerships, the company is committed to delivering long-term economic and community benefits in the North.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears today announced the club has signed forward Trevon Scott for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League season. Scott (6-8, 225, University of Cincinnati; born: November 25, 1996, in Townsend, Georgia) returns to Winnipeg following a standout 2025–26 season split across three leagues. Scott suited up for the NBA G League's Long Island Nets, averaging 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists, while also appearing with the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, averaging 8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists and logging time with the CEBL's Calgary Surge, where he averaged 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game. A proven contributor in Winnipeg, Scott averaged 13 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists with the Sea Bears during the 2024-25 CEBL season while simultaneously suiting up for the Long Island Nets in the G League. Scott has established himself as one of the most versatile big men in the CEBL, with previous appearances for the Calgary Surge and a consistent ability to impact games on both ends of the floor. Over his professional career, Scott has suited up for the Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Long Island Nets, Greensboro Swarm, Osceola Magic, San Diego Clippers, Cleveland Charge, Salt Lake City Stars, and Fos Provence Basket in France's LNB Pro A. He is a four-year standout at the University of Cincinnati, where he was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year, AAC Most Improved Player and earned the league's Sportsmanship Award. "I'm excited to be back here, and to play in front of those fans. I'm amped to team up with a few of my guys I've played with before," said Scott. "When I got there last summer, me and Mike Raimbault connected with each other fast, so it's always good to play for a coach you have good chemistry with. And I can't forget about my teammate now coach Alex Campbell, the chemistry is there so it makes everything easier."

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the team has signed Marko Maletic for the 2026 Season. The 6 '6 forward originally from London, ON will join the BlackJacks after playing four seasons in the NCAA and most recently competing with the Keila Coolbet in the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League. In the 2025-26 season with Keila Coolbet, Maletic averaged 13 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2 assists. Throughout his college career, Maletic played at four schools and averaged 14.2 points throughout the four years. He started at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming, which plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). In his first season in 2020-21, Maletic averaged 12.4 points and 2.8 rebounds. Maletic then transferred to Long Island University in the NCAA for the 2022-23 season. There, he averaged 16 points and three rebounds per game. In the 2023-24 season, Maletic played at the University of Toledo, in Ohio. There, he averaged 2.3 points. In Maletic’s last college season, he played at Western Illinois University. He averaged 16.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He received many accolades in his last year of college, including All-OVC Second Team, OVC Player of the Week, and three OVC new-comer of the week awards. Born March 27, 2001, the 25 year old played his high school years at Saunders Secondary School in London, ON. ### About the Ottawa BlackJacks The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks are a professional men’s basketball team competing out of The Arena at TD Place. The club is committed to excellence on-and-off the court and aims to inspire community pride, foster grassroots development and deliver an unparalleled fan experience. For more information, visit theblackjacks.ca.

The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that former Brooklyn Nets G League guard Dre Davis II has signed with the club for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Originally from Indianapolis, IN, Davis began his first professional season with the Brooklyn Nets’ NBA Summer League season before joining the club’s NBA G League affiliate, Long Island Nets, where he averaged 7.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 37 games played. Following the conclusion of the Nets’ season, Davis signed for a brief stint with Venezuelan club Piratas de La Guaira. Davis played his collegiate basketball at Louisville and Seton Hall before finishing his senior season at Ole Miss. During his senior year in 2024-25, he appeared and started in all 34 games for the Rebels while averaging 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Davis will wear number 34 with the Bandits. ### About the Vancouver Bandits: The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (LEC), while also being committed to growing the game of basketball by fostering meaningful community connections through youth programming, events, and partnerships.

Quoi qu'il en soit, aucun changement n’était nécessaire autour des River Lions de Niagara après avoir remporté leur deuxième championnat consécutif la saison dernière. Il s'agissait d'une organisation qui était au sommet de sa forme derrière un joueur vedette, Khalil Ahmad, et l'entraîneur-chef et directeur général le plus gagnant de la ligue, Victor Raso. Si les River Lions avaient fait la même chose cette saison, tout le monde les aurait compris. Au lieu de cela, en février, ils ont annoncé un changement massif, Raso prendrait un rôle de conseiller et le capitaine de l'équipe, Kimbal Mackenzie, prendrait la relève en tant qu'entraîneur et directeur général. « Je veux que Kimbal fasse avancer les choses en tant qu'entraîneur-chef et je veux que Khalil et [Nathan] Cayo soient indiscutables et incontestables. C'est ce qu'ils sont. Ce sont les meilleurs joueurs de l'histoire ayant joué dans cette ligue. Ils ont bâti la plus grande dynastie de cette ligue à partir de rien », a déclaré Raso. « Et pour prouver cela sur le plan organisationnel, à quel point ce serait cool si nous remportions notre troisième championnat consécutif et que nous le faisions avec l'un de nos joueurs les plus importants prenant les commandes pour la troisième année? » Raso, qui est également entraîneur au Ridley College, a d'abord présenté l'idée de passer les rênes des River Lions à Mackenzie en janvier. L'équilibre entre les deux emplois devenait de plus en plus difficile, donc l'entraîneur, qui a deux titres de champion, a approché la présidente Michelle Biskup au sujet de la possibilité de se diriger vers autre chose. Ils ont discuté des différentes voies possibles, mais ont finalement déterminé que Mackenzie était le choix le plus sensé. « Je ne pense pas que ça aurait pu mieux se passer d'un point de vue organisationnel où nous avons quelqu'un à l'interne, quelqu'un qui a toutes les relations, quelqu'un pour qui les gars veulent revenir et jouer », a déclaré Raso. Mackenzie a été pris par surprise par l’idée. Il venait de jouer un rôle important au sein de l'équipe gagnante du championnat et il pensait qu'il lui restait encore quelques années en tant que joueur. Parallèlement, il avait également commencé à planifier sa transition après sa carrière d’athlète. En effet, il a pris en charge l'équipe féminine du Niagara College en tant qu'entraîneur pour la saison 2024-2025 et il est devenu l’ambassadeur communautaire des River Lions l'an dernier. Le jeune homme de 29 ans, originaire d'Oakville, en Ontario, a pris le temps d'y réfléchir avec sa famille, compte tenu de l'engagement accru que nécessiteraient ces nouveaux postes. « En fin de compte, c'est une carrière que je veux faire pendant de très nombreuses années. C'était donc une occasion sur laquelle j'ai sauté et je suis content de l'avoir fait », a-t-il déclaré. Maintenant vient la partie difficile : une saison complète de la LECB sur la ligne de côté tout en gérant les joueurs, les rotations, les pratiques et les fonctions de directeur général. Mackenzie fera ses débuts en tant qu'entraîneur à domicile avec les River Lions lorsqu'ils accueilleront les Bandits de Vancouver, vendredi. Mackenzie et Raso se parlent tous les jours. « Parfois avec des questions plus importantes, parfois avec les questions les plus simples, comme : “Hé, quand j'envoie une déclaration d’effectif par courriel, ça ressemble à quoi?” Vic a donc été incroyable pour ce qui est d'être toujours là quand j'ai besoin de lui et de m'aider en cours de route », a déclaré Mackenzie. Peut-être fidèle à sa nature d'entraîneur, Raso a dit qu'il aimait ce rôle. « C'était la bonne décision de me retirer. C'est certain. Je n'ai aucun sentiment de regret à ce sujet. Et j’en profite vraiment. Kimbal est exactement ce que je croyais qu'il était. Je veux dire, il valait son pesant d'or en tant que joueur et je n'ai jamais été en mesure de le compenser à prix d’or en tant que joueur parce qu'il y avait les Khalil de ce monde. Mais son rôle était absolument inestimable. C'est simplement un excellent communicateur. Il a tellement une bonne énergie en lui », a déclaré Raso. La plus grande crainte de Raso était que Mackenzie essaierait d'imiter son propre style de trop près et de ne pas être fidèle à lui-même dans le processus. Après tout, la méthode de Raso est reconnue et efficace, mais cela ne s'est pas produit. « Il croit en la façon dont nous l'avons fait et, par conséquent, il a été lui-même avec ses propres ajustements et ses propres choses sur lesquelles il avait une perspective différente en tant que joueur », a déclaré Raso. Mackenzie affirme que les plus grands changements sont survenus dans son style offensif, où il a essayé de donner à ses joueurs plus de créativité et de liberté. Les principes fondamentaux sont restés les mêmes. « Les choses que nous avons faites avec Vic ont fonctionné. J'ai vu ça directement en tant que joueur. Il avait tendance à garder les choses assez simples, mais les attentes étaient là pour ce qui est de l'exécution. Donc je pense que j'ai clairement pris ça, et ensuite j'ai juste essayé de donner ma propre touche aux choses », a-t-il dit. Mackenzie sera également aidé par beaucoup de familiarités, comme Ahmad, Cayo, Elijah Lufile, Curtis Hollis et d'autres joueurs retournant aux River Lions. « Ils adorent tous Kimbal », a déclaré Raso. « Je veux dire, c'est un gars difficile à ne pas aimer. Ils le respectent. Garder la continuité est extrêmement important et ça semblait logique. » Bien sûr, le retour du noyau du championnat pourrait mettre une cible sur le dos des River Lions. Mais cette pression n'existe plus à l'interne. Pas comme ce l’était la saison dernière. « Je pense que si nous étions exactement dans la même situation de copier-coller, l'environnement serait très différent. L'esprit autour de cette équipe est très nouveau et énergique », a déclaré Raso. « Nous avons quelque chose à prouver parce que nous avons presque l'impression que, même si le reste du monde sait que nous voulons un troisième titre consécutif, nous avons fait un changement interne tellement important qu'il y a une nouvelle énergie. » Pourtant, tout comme les deux saisons précédentes, Mackenzie a l'intention de remporter un trophée à la fin de celle-ci. Que signifie gagner pour le nouvel entraîneur des River Lions? « Enfin, tout », a-t-il dit. « En tant que joueur, en tant qu'entraîneur, la raison ultime pour laquelle je le fais est de gagner. »

Any way you slice it, there was no need for change around the Niagara River Lions after winning their second straight championship last season. This was an organization firing on all cylinders behind a star player in Khalil Ahmad and the league’s winningest head coach and general manager in Victor Raso. If the River Lions had simply run it back for this season, no one would have blamed them. Instead, in February, they announced a massive change, Raso would be moving into an advisory role, and team captain Kimbal Mackenzie would take over as coach and GM. “I want Kimbal to get this done as a head coach and I want Khalil and [Nathan] Cayo to be, inarguable and undebatable. This is who they are. They are the greatest players to ever play in this league. They built the greatest dynasty in this league from scratch,” Raso said. “And to prove that organizationally, how cool would this be if we won our third championship in a row and we did it with one of our most important players taking the helm for the third year?” Raso, who also coaches at Ridley College, first brought the idea of transitioning River Lions leadership to Mackenzie in January. Balancing the two jobs had become increasingly challenging, so the two-time champion coach approached president Michelle Biskup about the possibility of moving on. They discussed different potential pathways, but ultimately determined that Mackenzie made the most sense. “I don't think it could have gone better from an organizational perspective where we have somebody in-house, someone who has all the relationships, someone who the guys want to come back and play for,” Raso said. The idea caught Mackenzie by surprise. He had just played an important role on the championship-winning squad, and figured he had a few more years left in him as a player. At the same time, he had also begun planning for his post-playing career, taking over the Niagara College women’s team as coach for the 2024-25 season and serving as the River Lions’ brand and community ambassador last year. The 29-year-old from Oakville, Ont., took some time to think it over with his family, considering the increased commitment the new positions would require. “Ultimately, this is a career that I want to do for many, many years. So it was an opportunity that I jumped at and glad I did,” he said. Now comes the hard part: a full CEBL season on the sidelines, juggling players, rotations, practices and GM duties all at once. Mackenzie will make his home coaching debut when the River Lions host the Vancouver Bandits on Friday. Mackenzie and Raso speak daily. “Sometimes with bigger questions, sometimes with the simplest questions like, ‘Hey, when I'm emailing a roster declaration, what does it have to look like?’ So Vic has been amazing in terms of always being there when I need him, helping me along the way,” Mackenzie said. Perhaps true to his coaching nature, Raso said he’s enjoyed the role. “It was the right decision to step away. It definitely was. I don't have feelings of regret about it at all. And I'm really enjoying it. Kimbal is exactly who I thought he was. I mean, he was worth his weight in gold as a player. And I was never able to compensate him with the gold as a player because there was the Khalils of the world. But his role was absolutely invaluable. He's just such an excellent communicator. He has such a great energy about him,” Raso said. Raso’s greatest fear was that Mackenzie would try to emulate his own style too closely and stray from being true to himself in the process. After all, Raso’s method is proven and effective. But that hasn’t played out. “He believes in the way we did it and therefore he's been himself with his own tweaks and his own things that he had a different perspective on things as a player,” Raso said. Mackenzie said the greatest changes have come in his offensive style, where he’s tried to allow his players more creativity and freedom. The core principles have remained. “The things that we did with Vic worked. I've seen that firsthand as a player. He tended to keep things fairly simple, but the expectations were there in terms of executing it. So I think I've definitely taken that, and then I've just been trying to put my own spin on things,” he said. Mackenzie will also be helped by heaps of familiarity in the form of Ahmad, Cayo, Elijah Lufile, Curtis Hollis and more returning to the River Lions. “They all love Kimbal,” Raso said. “I mean, he's a hard guy not to love. They respect him. To keep the continuity is incredibly important and it just seemed to make sense.” Of course, the return of the championship core could put a target on the River Lions’ backs. But that pressure is no longer there internally. Not like it was last season. “I think if we were in the exact same rinse-and-repeat situation, the vibe would be very different. The vibe around this team is very much new and energized,” Raso said. “We have something to prove because it almost feels like while the rest of the world knows that we're going for a three-peat, we've made such a significant internal change that there's new energy.” Still, just like the previous two seasons, Mackenzie intends to be lifting a trophy at the end of it. What does winning mean to the new River Lions coach? “I mean, everything,” he said. “As a player, as a coach, the ultimate reason that I do it is to win.” After opening the season at 2–2, the River Lions return home Friday night to tip off their home slate against Vancouver, a familiar opponent in a rematch of the 2024 Championship Final. Tickets are available at riverlions.ca/tickets .

The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday the signing of forward Grant Shephard for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A product of Kelowna, Shephard returns to the Bandits for a fourth season after previously spending time with the organization in 2019 as a Developmental Player, as well as during the 2023 and 2025 campaigns. Most recently, the 6-foot-10 forward played the 2025-26 overseas season with CSB Corona Brasov in Romania. His three-year professional career includes stints in Portugal, Estonia and Sweden. During the 2025 CEBL season, Shephard played in six games for Vancouver, averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds on .833 shooting from the field. This will be Shephard’s fourth stint with the Bandits and fifth overall in the CEBL; his time with the club includes an appearance in the club’s first-ever game on May 9. 2019. Shephard began his collegiate career at the University of British Columbia before finishing at Carleton University, where he captured back-to-back U SPORTS national championships in 2022 and 2023.  He also earned two medals with Canada Basketball at both the junior and senior level, including gold at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup and silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Prior to completing his high school basketball at the prestigious Montverde Academy in Florida, Shephard attended Kelowna Secondary. Shephard helped guide the Owls to a B.C. AAAA provincial championship in 2016 while he took home MVP honours as a junior. The Bandits will bring CEBL basketball to the Okanagan for their next home game on Saturday, June 6. This neutral-site matchup against the Saskatoon Mamba at Prospera Place is part of the inaugural Kelowna HOOPFEST, hosted in partnership with the City of Kelowna. Fans can secure tickets and learn more about Kelowna HOOPFEST by visiting https://www.thebandits.ca/kelowna-hoopfest . Bandits Single Game Tickets and additional 2026 ticket options can be purchased here . All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app, the CBC Gem app and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Marquee games will air nationally on CBC TV. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced the signing of experienced guard, Stanley Davis Jr. The 6-foot-5 guard from Chester, Pennsylvania brings five years of professional experience across Europe, most recently competing with TFT Skopje where he averaged 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 30 minutes per game. Davis Jr. is known by his signature nickname Bazz. “I’m grateful for the opportunity the Edmonton Stingers have given me to be able to play in the rising and respected CEBL. I love to compete and playing against some of Canada’s best talent will not only be fun but also a learning experience on and off the court. I’m excited to connect and learn with Coach Baker and bring value to his vision.” said Davis Jr. Prior to the 2026 season, Davis Jr. also played professionally in Portugal, Bosnia, Georgia, and the United Kingdom, consistently producing offensively while impacting the game on both ends of the floor. Across 49 professional games overseas, he has averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field. “Stanley is a player the Stingers faithful can get excited about! He is a dynamic playmaker who excels in transition and who can score in a variety of ways. He is an experienced professional who will be joining the CEBL for the first time this summer and looking to make a name for himself in Edmonton!” says Head Coach and President, Jordan Baker. Prior to his professional career, Davis Jr spent 4 years in the NCAA playing with Morgan State from 2016-2020. In his senior year, he averaged 13.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over 30 games played. Bazz is set to make his debut with the team on Sunday May 31st when the Stingers take on their Western Conference rivals, the Calgary Surge, on the road.