Former Indiana Standout Kopp Brings Winning Pedigree to Vancouver

The Calgary Surge announced today the signing of Calgary native Caelum Swanton-Rodger, bringing a hometown presence, size, defensive strength, and high-level collegiate experience to the club’s roster ahead of the upcoming season. Swanton-Rodger joins the Surge following a breakout 2024–25 campaign with the Monarchs, where he established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the Sun Belt Conference. The 6-foot-8 forward started 33 of 34 games and ranked second on his team in rebounding with 167 total boards (4.9 per game). He also finished second in the conference in both total blocks (61) and blocks per game (1.79), showcasing his elite rim protection. “Caelum is an impactful two-way player who really anchored things defensively at the collegiate level,” said Shane James, General Manager. “He competes at a high level, protects the rim, and rebounds the ball effectively. We’re thrilled to welcome him back to Canada and into the Surge family.” In addition to his defensive impact, Swanton-Rodger contributed offensively with 187 points (5.5 per game), 37 assists, and 11 steals while shooting an efficient 56.9 percent from the field. He recorded six double-digit scoring performances, highlighted by an 18-point, 10-rebound effort against Louisiana in the Sun Belt Championship. He also posted a career-best seven blocks in a dominant performance versus Texas State. “As a kid from Calgary it has always been a dream of mine to be able to play the game I love with my friends and family there to support me. With that said, I am incredibly proud and excited to announce that I will be coming home to join the Calgary Surge!” said Swanton-Rodger “ “Thanks to the support of my coaches, friends, family, and the city of Calgary, I’ve been able to turn this dream into reality. I can’t wait to put on a show for you.” A Calgary native, Swanton-Rodger developed locally through Edge School and UPlay Canada, earning recognition as one of the country’s top young prospects. He represented Canada at the national team level and was named MVP of the 2022 Genesis Classic. During his prep career, he averaged 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game, demonstrating his all-around impact on both ends of the floor. Swanton-Rodger’s signing not only reinforces the Surge’s commitment to developing Canadian talent, but also highlights the organization’s pride in elevating homegrown Calgary athletes while building a competitive roster for the upcoming season. ### About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club 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). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. 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 www.calgarysurge.ca .

The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that they have signed Hamilton-native and University of South Florida alum Joshua Omojafo. Omojafo is entering the CEBL for his first professional campaign after a highly successful four-year collegiate career at the University of South Florida, Robert Morris University, and Gannon University. Omojafo has been a winner through his whole career. As a starter with three different teams over the last three seasons, Omojafo has played a large part in bringing each one a conference championship. Most recently with the South Florida Bulls, he averaged 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds en route to an American Conference championship and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 (fifth time in program history), where they nearly upset Louisville in the first round. “Josh is a proven winner at the collegiate level,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “His toughness, along with his willingness to defend and rebound, will be a valuable asset to our team. More importantly, Josh is eager to learn and develop as a professional, and we’re looking forward to supporting him throughout that process. We’re excited to welcome him to the Honey Badger family.” Omojafo is a versatile scorer, but where he stands out the most is drawing fouls. In his senior season, he ranked fifth in the American Conference in free throws made (151), second as a junior in the Horizon League Conference (127) with Robert Morris, and first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) as a sophomore (244). “Josh brings a level of toughness, versatility, and competitive spirit that aligns with exactly who we want to be,” said Honey Badgers Head Coach Alex Cerda. “He impacts the game on both ends - defending multiple positions, playing with physicality, and consistently making winning plays. We’re excited about the edge, professionalism, and presence Josh Omojafo adds to our group and how he elevates the standard of our program every day.” Before transferring to Robert Morris University in 2024, Omojafo spent his first two seasons of college basketball in Division II with Gannon University. He quickly made his impact felt, ranking second in the conference in scoring as a sophomore while leading the Golden Knights to a PSAC championship. Individually as a sophomore, Omojafo also landed on the All-PSAC West Division First Team and NABC Division II All-America Team. Omojafo joins the Honey Badgers roster as the eighth addition ahead of the 2026 season, joining five other Canadians, 2025 CEBL MVP Finalist Sean East II, and 2025 CEBL Defensive Player of the Year Jameer Nelson Jr. ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca .

Vingt étudiants-athlètes de U SPORTS ont signé avec des clubs de la LECB, représentant trois conférences et quatorze établissements postsecondaires

Twenty U SPORTS student-athletes have been signed to CEBL clubs representing three conferences and fourteen post-secondary institutions

The Calgary Surge are excited to announce the return of fan favourite and three-time CEBL All-Canadian Sean “Rugzy” Miller-Moore for his fourth season with the team. Miller-Moore continues to establish himself as one of Canada’s premier basketball talents, bringing elite athleticism, scoring ability, and veteran experience back to the Surge lineup. His return follows an impressive international season with ALM Évreux in France, where he averaged 17.4 points per game during the 2025–26 season, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most dynamic Canadian professionals competing abroad. “Rugzy has been a key part of our team since day one,” said Shane James, General Manager of the Calgary Surge. “His energy, passion, and love for the game light up the court, and his connection with our fans is something special. We couldn’t be more excited to have him back for another season.” A native of Brampton, Ontario, Miller-Moore first made his mark at Thornlea Secondary School before continuing his development at Moberly Area Community College, Oregon State University, and Grand Canyon University. During the 2025 CEBL season, Miller-Moore delivered another standout season for Calgary, averaging 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 24 regular season and playoff games, helping lead the Surge to their third straight Championship Weekend appearance (2023–2025), and establishing himself as one of the faces of the franchise. “Being part of the growth in Calgary from day one means a lot. The standard has always been winning and with our fans behind us every night, it’s only right we bring a championship home.I want to be a part of that” said Miller-Moore. Now entering his fourth season, Miller-Moore returns with valuable international experience, continued growth, and a clear focus on bringing a championship to Calgary. Fans are in for another season of high-flying highlights and unmatched energy from Miller-Moore. Don’t miss the action—single-game tickets for the Calgary Surge’s “ OVERDRIVE ” season are now available to the general public. Visit calgarysurge.ca/single-game-tickets for more details. ### About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club 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). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. 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 www.calgarysurge.ca .

Edmonton, AB- The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the re-signing of American forward Nick Hornsby. Having started for the Stingers in every game over the past two seasons, Hornsby has racked up more rebounds, assists, and minutes than any other Stingers player in that span, and ranks second in scoring. “I’m very excited to be back in Edmonton for another summer,” said Hornsby. “I can’t wait to get back in front of the best fans in the CEBL and get some wins!” During the 2025 season, the 6’7” forward averaged 12.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Across the league, he ranked 1st in total rebounds and 3rd in total assists, making him the only player in the CEBL to rank in the top 10 in both categories. Hornsby posted 5 double-doubles including a season high 15 rebounds paired with 16 points on July 11th vs Scarborough while narrowly missing posting multiple triple-doubles on multiple occasions. Back for his fourth CEBL campaign in Edmonton, Hornsby made an immediate impact putting up a career high 22 points in only his third game with the Stingers in 2023, the first of his 44 double-digit scoring efforts over the next three seasons. "Nick is a huge part of the Edmonton Stingers organization and we are very glad to have him back for his fourth season with the team. His impact extends far beyond the box score, and his leadership role has grown year over year. He and his family are wonderful ambassadors for both the club and the city, and I am proud to welcome our captain back for another summer” said Head Coach and General Manager Jordan Baker. The long-time pro competed for Hangtuah Jakarta in the Indonesian Basketball League after the 2025 CEBL season, averaging 23.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 14 games for the club. It was his most recent of his nine professional seasons, having played five seasons in the German ProA and ProB leagues and two in the Israel Basketball Premier League. Prior to turning professional, the Irvine, CA native played four seasons for Sacramento State, tallying 659 NCAA Division I points in 89 games. He graduated from the program ranked third in all-time rebounds. Hornsby will be finishing his season with Hangtuah Jakarta in Indonesia before returning to the Stingers in June. The Stingers will return to the Edmonton EXPO Centre on May 9th to host the Calgary Surge in their home opener. Tickets are available for as low as $20 per seat and can be purchased online or by contacting the Stingers head office via email ([email protected]) or phone (1-87STINGERS). ### About the Edmonton Stingers The Edmonton Stingers play a 24-game season from May to September in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, the top professional league in Canada with 10 teams in major markets across the country. Our core value as an organization is to offer affordable, family-friendly fun at our games and be a positive force in our community all year long.

The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has signed 6-foot-9 forward Dominic Parolin to its roster for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Hailing from Coquitlam, B.C., this marks Parolin’s first professional basketball contract after recently completing a six-year NCAA DI career with stints at Boise State University and Lehigh University. After redshirting during the 2024-25 season, Parolin appeared in 32 games for the Boise State Broncos in 2025-26 where he suited up in 32 games with averages of 5.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.5 blocks in 17.0 minutes per game. Prior to Boise State, Parolin played four seasons with the Lehigh Mountain Hawks where he was named Third Team All-Patriot League in 2024. “We are all excited about working with Dominic. He has had a tremendous college career and has a very high ceiling as a professional player,” said Bandits head coach and general manager, Kyle Julius. “Dominic plays with big time toughness, has great size and a versatile game as a power forward. Being a B.C. kid, we are thrilled that he is back home playing for us in front of friends and family.” An alumnus of Centennial Secondary in Coquitlam, B.C., Parolin captained the Centaurs’ senior boys team to a fifth-place finish at the 2020 BC 4A Boys Basketball Provincial Championship, while also earning First Team All-Star honours at the tournament. The Bandits open the 2026 CEBL season on Thursday, May 14 on the road in Saskatoon before coming home for its Home Opener against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. ### 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.

The Niagara River Lions announced today the re-signing of 6’4 American guard Khalil Ahmad for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Widely regarded as the most decorated player in CEBL history, Ahmad returns to Niagara following back-to-back championship runs for his fifth season with the team after playing an instrumental role in the team's success averaging 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals during the 2025 campaign. Ahmad most recently competed in Israel with Maccabi Rishon Lezion of the Israel Basketball Super League (Israel BSL), where he continued to showcase his elite scoring ability and two-way impact, putting up an average performance of 15.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 21 games. “We are ecstatic about Khalil being back for season 5. He is the best player and closer in the league, and I’m excited to coach him” said Head Coach and General Manager, Kimbal Mackenzie, “On top of his elite basketball ability, we are excited to have Khalil around because of what he brings to our culture. “Lil” (Khalil) is super competitive, and his win first mentality rubs off on those around him.” Since joining the River Lions in 2022, Ahmad has amassed an unmatched list of accolades including CEBL Player of the Year (2022), Defensive Player of the Year (2023), two-time Clutch Player of the Year (2022, 2023), three-time First Team All-CEBL selection (2022-2024), Scoring Champion (2022), Steals Leader (2023) and Finals MVP (2024). In 2025 Ahmad added another chapter to his legacy, leading the River Lions to a second consecutive championship while earning his second straight Finals MVP, while also being named to the Second All-CEBL Team. Dubbed “The Lion King” or “Mr. Clutch,” Ahmad scored the game-winning shot in 2024 to secure the franchise’s first championship, and followed it up in 2025 with his fifth consecutive playoff game-winner to clinch the team’s second. In addition to the CEBL, Ahmad has built an impressive international resume with stops in Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, and Italy, including a championship with BC Oostende in the BNXT League. A product of Cal State Fullerton, Ahmad averaged 15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.6 steals during his collegiate career. His accolades include Big West Freshman of the Year (2016), two-time All-Big West Second Team (2018, 2019), and multiple Player of the Week honours. Ahmad is ready to return to Niagara and continue building on what has become one of the most storied careers in league history. “I'm excited to be back in Niagara for a fifth year with the team. Niagara feels like a second home to me and I can't wait to chase a third ring with the best team in the league” said Ahmad. ### 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. For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on IG, FB, TikTok, & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X.

Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB) ont annoncé jeudi avoir signé l’ailier Alex Fudge en vue de la saison 2026. Fudge, un ailier de six pieds neuf originaire de Jacksonville, en Floride, se joint à Ottawa alors qu’il évolue présentement dans la NBA G League avec le Skyforce de Sioux Falls. En 26 matchs cette saison, le joueur de 22 ans maintient des moyennes de 6,9 points, 3,3 rebonds et 0,7 passe, tout en affichant un taux d’efficacité de 58,1 % au tir. « Alex amène une étincelle à notre équipe. Il est très polyvalent et peut influencer le match de plusieurs façons. Il va être important pour nos partisans avec ses dunks spectaculaires et sa capacité à provoquer des arrêts en défensive », a déclaré l’entraîneur-chef des BlackJacks, Justin Mazzulla. Fudge a amorcé sa carrière professionnelle après ne pas avoir été repêché lors du repêchage de la NBA en 2024. Lors de la saison 2024–2025, il a évolué avec les Lakers de South Bay dans la NBA G League, disputant neuf matchs et affichant des moyennes de 3,0 points et 2,8 rebonds. Il a également vu beaucoup de temps de jeu dans la G League lors de la saison 2023–2024 avec les Legends du Texas et South Bay, combinant des moyennes de 8,0 points, 4,4 rebonds et 1,2 bloc en 27 matchs, démontrant sa présence défensive et sa capacité à protéger le panier. Au niveau universitaire, Fudge a porté les couleurs des Gators de la Floride lors de la saison 2023–2024, disputant 33 matchs et maintenant des moyennes de 5,6 points et 4,3 rebonds tout en affichant un pourcentage de réussite de plus de 60 % au tir. Il a amorcé son parcours dans la NCAA avec les Tigers de LSU en 2022–2023, prenant part à 32 matchs et affichant des moyennes de 3,3 points et 3,2 rebonds à sa saison recrue dans la Southeastern Conference. Fudge était une recrue quatre étoiles à sa sortie de l’école secondaire Robert E. Lee à Jacksonville, reconnu pour son athlétisme, ses instincts défensifs et sa capacité à finir près du panier. Les BlackJacks amorceront leur saison 2026 en mai au TD Place. ###