MONTREAL, ON - The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday, that it will be engaging Montreal’s passionate basketball fan base to help name the team and select the team colours of the potential expansion franchise for the 2022 CEBL season. It’s a step toward the official launch of a franchise later this year. All fans are able to take part in this public brainstorm via this link. They will be invited to submit their responses to help identify a preferred team name, colours, and team mascot.
“Montreal has a sports culture that is deeply grounded in the many unique qualities that make Montreal one of the world’s great cities, and a professional basketball franchise located there must reflect that,” said Mike Morreale , Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the CEBL. “We want to ensure that the name of a new team will reflect the pride Montrealers have in their community and the passion they have for their sports teams.”
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its 2020 rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA and U SPORTS programs. It uses FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules, and player and referee standards set by its partner, Canada Basketball. The CEBL became the first professional basketball league in the world to use the Elam Ending in FIBA competition when it incorporated the innovative conclusion into all of its games during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series .
Launched in 2019 with teams in
Edmonton
,
Hamilton
,
Guelph
, St. Catharines (
Niagara
), Abbotsford (
Fraser Valley
), and
Saskatchewan
(Saskatoon), and adding a franchise in
Ottawa
for the 2020 season, the CEBL is already recognized as one of the top professional basketball leagues in the world. The CEBL is set to begin its third season, June 24, 2021.
More information about the CEBL can be found at
CEBL.ca
, as well as on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube (@cebleague).
Media Contact
Annie Larouche
Director, Montreal Operations
CEBL