Mike Morreale’s visionary leadership of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is rooted in his extensive experience as a professional athlete, head of a professional players’ union, broadcaster, community leader, and accomplished business executive. This breadth of experience, combined with his people-first core values, has enabled Morreale to rapidly establish a strong foundation for Canada’s only global team sports brand.

Under his leadership, the CEBL has quickly grown to 10 franchises across six provinces, making it Canada’s largest professional sports league. The league has positioned itself among the top professional basketball leagues worldwide— one of more than 200 globally. It is the premier FIBA league operating during the spring and summer months, attracting players with experience in the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, and leading NCAA and U SPORTS programs. The CEBL also boasts the highest percentage of Canadian athletes of any professional sports league in the country, with more than 70 per cent of its players being Canadian.

Morreale’s forward-thinking approach has made the CEBL one of the most innovative professional sports leagues in the world. It is the only FIBA league globally to use a Target Score ending (Elam Ending) to conclude games rather than a traditional game clock. The league also operates its own OTT platform, CEBL+, features a live DJ performing courtside during game action, and adopts FIBA rules to deliver a faster-paced and shorter game experience than the NBA or G League games.

A standout wide receiver during his 12-season Canadian Football League (CFL) career, Morreale played eight seasons with his hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats and four with the Toronto Argonauts. He was a member of Grey Cup–winning teams in 1996 and 1999, earning Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian honours in 1999. A McMaster University graduate, Morreale was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 1998 and received the Tom Pate Award in 2000 for outstanding sportsmanship and community contributions. He also served as a CFL Players’ Association player representative and vice-president of sales and marketing, before being elected the ninth president in CFLPA history in 2012.

A sought-after public speaker, Morreale has worked as a broadcaster for TSN, Sportsnet, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He launched his business career while still playing in the CFL, as a co-owner of the Philthy McNasty’s Restaurant Group. He later served as director of business development at the FCT group of companies, a leading provider of real estate technology in Canada. During his time as director of business development at AirSprint, a private aviation company, Morreale met CEBL founder Richard Petko.

Their conversations led to the formation of the CEBL, which was officially launched in May 2018 and began play in May 2019 with six original franchises. Under Morreale’s leadership, the CEBL became the only professional sports league in Canada to grow during the two years that COVID-19 severely impacted the sports industry. It was also the first pro league in Canada to return to play after the pandemic shutdown in March 2020. Morreale secured a multi-year partnership with CBC, bringing national television exposure beginning with the 2020 season, along with digital streaming that has expanded the league’s global reach.

Morreale’s long-term vision includes expanding to at least 16 franchises across the country. The league is at the forefront of developing all aspects of basketball in Canada—from grassroots programs to the professional level—fueling the continued rise of the country's fastest-growing sport.