Pandi et les BlackJacks infligent une cinquième défaite consécutive à Montréal

Les River Lions s’imposent avec autorité lors de la Journée scolaire à Niagara. Khalil Ahmad a mené les River Lions de Niagara avec 21 points dans une victoire de 93-82 contre l’Alliance de Montréal, vendredi après-midi, au Meridian Centre de St. Catharines, en Ontario. Les champions en titre renforcent leur avance au sommet de la Conférence de l’Est en portant leur fiche à sept victoires et trois défaites, tandis que l’Alliance encaisse une quatrième défaite consécutive et tombe à quatre gains contre quatre revers. Le joueur du match Eddie Ekiyor a affirmé que les cris des centaines d’élèves présents ont donné un bon coup d’énergie aux River Lions pour le match de 11h. « Je le sentais ce matin. Tout le monde pensait qu’on allait être fatigués, mais pas moi. Ça m’a donné un boost, et vous l’avez vu avec notre équipe aujourd’hui. On a joué avec intensité », a confié Ekiyor au journaliste J.J. Evason après le match. Les River Lions menaient 84-70 lorsque la période du pointage cible a été déclenchée. Mais c’est Montréal qui a attaqué fort en début de séquence finale, réduisant l’écart à seulement huit points. C’est alors que les River Lions ont remis le ballon dans les mains du « Clutch King », Khalil Ahmad. Après un temps mort demandé par l’entraîneur-chef Victor Raso, Ahmad a attaqué le panier, provoquant une faute et réussissant ses deux lancers francs. Sur la possession suivante, il s’est élevé depuis l’aile pour réussir un tir de trois points victorieux. Raso s’est dit impressionné par la prestation de ses joueurs. « C’est la première fois qu’on joue avec l’intensité requise pour remporter un championnat. C’est aussi la première fois qu’on dispute un match complet du début à la fin, surtout en défensive », a-t-il souligné. Opposé à son ancienne équipe pour la première fois, le meilleur marqueur de l’histoire de la LECB, Ahmed Hill, a connu une première demie dominante avec 14 points pour donner le ton à l’attaque de Niagara. Hill, un joueur de 29 ans originaire de Fort Valley, en Géorgie, en est à sa cinquième saison dans la LECB après deux passages avec les Nighthawks de Guelph et l’Alliance. Il connaissait un début de saison difficile selon ses standards, avec une moyenne de seulement 10,4 points à ses neuf premiers matchs comme River Lion. Mais tout a changé durant les vingt premières minutes du match de vendredi. Même s’il n’a pas marqué en deuxième demie, il a tout de même terminé la rencontre avec 14 points, quatre rebonds, deux passes décisives et un différentiel de +16, le meilleur de son équipe. « C’est juste une question d’être agressif. On m’en parlait depuis quelques matchs, alors je suis sorti avec l’intention de donner le ton », a expliqué Hill. Raso a souligné avoir vu de bons signes de la part de Hill, même si les tirs n’entraient plus en fin de match. « Ce soir, on a vu le Ahmed Hill que je m’attends à voir pour le reste de la saison. Son rythme et son agressivité étaient incroyables… Ce que j’aime chez lui, c’est que même s’il n’a pas rentré ses tirs ce soir, il a quand même été très bon », a mentionné Victor Raso. Ahmad, le meilleur marqueur de l’équipe cette saison, a également récolté cinq passes décisives et quatre rebonds, en plus de réussir neuf de ses onze lancers francs. Eddie Ekiyor a offert un bon coup de main en sortie de banc avec 10 points et six rebonds, tout en affichant un parfait trois-en-trois au tir et sur la ligne de lancer franc. Le meneur canadien Jahvon Blair a ajouté 18 points et quatre rebonds. « On a parfois montré qu’on pouvait être excellents offensivement, excellents défensivement, puis d’autres fois, l’inverse. Mais aujourd’hui, notre intensité défensive n’a jamais été mise en doute. On a joué avec cœur », a ajouté Raso. Du côté de l’Alliance, la pente est glissante après un départ canon de quatre victoires en autant de matchs. L’entraîneur-chef Jermaine Small a reconnu que son équipe n’était peut-être pas prête pour un match aussi tôt dans la journée. « Ils ont été plus physiques en première demie. J’ai trouvé qu’on s’était bien repris en deuxième, mais bon… c’était un match à 11 h, et on avait joué mercredi. Eux étaient en attente, pas de match cette semaine, donc ils avaient un peu plus de jus que nous », a-t-il expliqué. Le petit meneur Tavion Dunn-Martin a égalé Ahmad au sommet des pointeurs du match avec 21 points, en plus d’ajouter quatre rebonds et quatre passes décisives pour l’Alliance. Le Canadien Malcolm Duvivier a contribué avec 12 points grâce à quatre tirs de trois points, tandis que Quincy Guerrier a signé un doublé avec 11 points et 11 rebonds. Selon Small, l’Alliance commence à attirer davantage l’attention des autres équipes après son excellent début de saison. « Je pense qu’au départ, personne ne savait à quoi s’attendre de nous, et maintenant, tout le monde nous attaque avec son meilleur jeu. C’est comme ça… Je ne suis pas inquiet. Chaque match est un processus, chaque possession aussi », a-t-il souligné. L’ailier de l’Alliance Michael Diggins Jr. a quitté la rencontre pendant la période du pointage cible, semblant ressentir une douleur au bras. Les River Lions ont rapidement pris les devants 25-13 après le premier quart. Montréal est revenu à seulement trois points au deuxième quart, mais Niagara a repris le contrôle pour rentrer au vestiaire avec une avance de 51-36. Niagara a ensuite creusé l’écart à 74-55 en fin de troisième quart. Même si l’Alliance a semé un léger doute durant la période du pointage cible, les River Lions ont tout de même eu le dernier mot. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600603 Prochain match pour les deux équipes Les deux équipes seront de retour en action dimanche : les River Lions de Niagara rendront visite aux Shooting Stars de Scarborough, tandis que l’Alliance de Montréal retrouvera ses partisans en accueillant les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan. À venir dans la LECB Pour la deuxième fois dans l’histoire de la LECB, les 10 équipes seront en action le même jour, ce dimanche. L’affrontement entre les River Lions de Niagara et les Shooting Stars de Scarborough ouvrira le bal à 14 h (HE), tandis que le duel entre les Sea Bears de Winnipeg et les Stingers d’Edmonton clôturera cette journée pancanadienne à 18 h (HE). Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le site cebl.ca/games .  - LECB –

The River Lions earned a statement win on School Day in Niagara. Khalil Ahmad led Niagara with 21 points in a 93-82 victory over the Montreal Alliance in a Friday matinee at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont. Defending champion Niagara padded its lead atop the Eastern Conference by moving to 7-3 on the season, while the Alliance fell to 4-4 with their fourth straight loss. Player of the Game Eddie Ekiyor said the hundreds of screaming students provided a jolt to the River Lions for the 11 a.m. ET start. “I knew it this morning. Everyone thinks they’re gonna be tired — not me. (It) turns the energy up and you saw it with our team today. We played hard,” Ekiyor told sideline reporter J.J. Evason after the game. The River Lions led 84-70 when the clock was stopped for Target Score Time. But it was Montreal who began the closing stage of the game firing on all cylinders as the Alliance cut their deficit to just eight points. That’s when the River Lions put the ball in the hands of the ‘Clutch King’ Khalil Ahmad. After a timeout from head coach Victor Raso, Ahmad drove and drew two free throws, making both. During the next time down the court, Ahmad rose up from the wing for a game-winning three-pointer. Raso said he was impressed by his team’s performance. “I thought it was the first time that we played with an intensity level that is required to win a championship. That's the first time we put a game together start to finish, especially on the defensive end,” he said. Facing his former team for the first time, CEBL all-time leading scorer Ahmed Hill enjoyed a breakout first half with 14 points to pace Niagara. Hill, the 29-year-old from Fort Valley, Ga., is competing in his fifth CEBL season after spending two years apiece with the Guelph Nighthawks and Alliance. He had struggled by his standards during his first nine games as a River Lion, averaging just 10.4 points. But that all changed during the first 20 minutes of Friday’s game. He went scoreless in the second half but finished with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and a team-high plus-16. “Just me being aggressive. They talked about it the past a couple of games, so, you know, I just come out, try and set the tone,” Hill said. Raso said he saw positive signs from Hill despite the lack of shot-making down the stretch. “We saw the Ahmed Hill tonight that I expect to see the rest (of the season). His pace and his aggressiveness were awesome. … What I love about him is that he didn't make shots tonight, but he was still really good,” Raso said. Ahmad, the team’s leading scorer for the season, also had five assists and four rebounds while making nine of 11 attempts from the free-throw line. Ekiyor provided a boost off the bench with 10 points and six rebounds on perfect three-for-three shooting from the field and from the stripe. Canadian point guard Jahvon Blair put up 18 points and four rebounds. “We've showed glimpses of being awesome offensively, awesome defensively, and then the other side of it. And today, our intensity was never questioned on the defensive side. We played really hard,” Raso said. Meanwhile, the Alliance are headed in the wrong direction after their blistering 4-0 start to the season. Head coach Jermaine Small said his team may not have been ready for the early start. “They were more physical in the first half. I thought we were better in the second half, and I just thought, 11 a.m. game and we just played Wednesday. I thought ... because they were waiting, we didn't have a game this week, they just had a bit more gas than us,” he said. Diminutive guard Tavion Dunn-Martin matched Ahmad with a game-high 21 points for the Alliance to go with four rebounds and four assists. Canadian Malcolm Duvivier contributed 12 points on the strength of four three-pointers and Quincy Guerrier posted an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. Small said teams are starting to target the Alliance after their early hot streak. “I think at the beginning, no one knew what to expect from us, and now everyone's throwing their best shot at us. So it's one of those things. … I’m not worried. It's just, every game's a process, every possession is a process,” Small said. Alliance forward Michael Diggins Jr., left the game during Target Score Time, appearing to favour his arm. The River Lions raced out to a 25-13 lead after the first quarter. Montreal got within three points during the second frame, but Niagara bounced back to take an 51-36 advantage into halftime. Niagara then extended its lead to 74-55 heading into the fourth quarter. But while the Alliance provided a slight scare in Target Score Time, the River Lions emerged victorious. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600603 Up Next Both teams are back in action Sunday when Niagara visits the Scarborough Shooting Stars while Montreal returns home to host the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Next CEBL Action For the second time in CEBL history, all 10 teams will play on the same day on Sunday, with Niagara-Scarborough at 2 p.m. ET and Winnipeg-Edmonton at 6 p.m. ET bookending the coast-to-coast action. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .  - CEBL –

The Brampton, ON guard has played 49 career CEBL games between Saskatchewan, Montreal, and Edmonton since 2021

Les BlackJacks d'Ottawa de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), la plus grande ligue sportive professionnelle du Canada, ont annoncé aujourd'hui que l'équipe a signé l'arrière Javonte Smart pour un contrat le reste de la saison 2025. Il est prévu qu’il fasse ses débuts ce soir alors qu’Ottawa affronte les Shooting Stars de Scarborough à 19 h 30. Originaire de Baton Rouge, en Louisiane, il se joint à l’équipe après avoir passé toute la saison 2024-2025 avec le Magic d’Osceola de la NBA G League, où il a maintenu une moyenne de 14,1 points par match. Il s’est classé troisième de son équipe au chapitre des passes décisives (3,8) en 44 matchs de saison régulière et de séries éliminatoires, aidant le club à atteindre la finale de la G League en 2025. « Nous sommes très heureux d’accueillir Javonte au sein des BlackJacks d’Ottawa, a déclaré le directeur général James Derouin. Sa capacité éprouvée à marquer des points à un niveau élite, combinée à sa précieuse expérience dans la NBA et la G League, fait de lui un atout majeur pour notre formation. Son talent pour livrer la marchandise dans les moments décisifs sera un véritable atout pour nous dans la suite de la saison. » L’Américain de 6 pi 4 po a également représenté son pays lors de quatre matchs de qualification pour l’AmeriCup cette année, où il a maintenu une moyenne de 18,3 points par match lors de la deuxième fenêtre du tournoi, menant ainsi son équipe à l’attaque. Cette performance a été soulignée par une prestation de 21 points — un sommet du match — le 25 novembre dans une victoire de 97-74 contre les Bahamas. Ce tournoi constitue la plus récente expérience internationale de sa carrière, lui qui avait déjà remporté une médaille d’or avec les États-Unis lors du Championnat FIBA Amériques U16 en 2015 à Bahia Blanca, en Argentine. Âgé de 26 ans, il rejoint Deng Adel parmi les joueurs actuels des BlackJacks ayant une expérience dans la NBA, ayant disputé un total de 18 matchs au cours des saisons 2021-2022 et 2023-2024 avec les 76ers de Philadelphie, le Heat de Miami et les Bucks de Milwaukee. En plus de son passage à Osceola, sa carrière l’a également mené à évoluer avec Sioux Falls, Birmingham et Delaware dans la NBA G League, où il a maintenu une moyenne de 16,3 points par match, menant Sioux Falls au chapitre des points marqués durant la saison 2021-2022. Il a disputé un total de 25 matchs dans la NBA Summer League, prenant part au tournoi chaque année depuis 2021, à la suite d’une brillante carrière universitaire de trois saisons à Louisiana State. Celle-ci s’est conclue par une sélection au sein de la deuxième équipe d’étoiles de la SEC (choix des entraîneurs) en 2021. Cette même saison, il a mené les Tigers au chapitre des minutes jouées, des passes décisives et des interceptions par match, tout en se classant troisième meilleur marqueur de l’équipe derrière ses coéquipiers actuels des Nets de Brooklyn, Cam Thomas et Trendon Watford. Diplômé de l’école secondaire Scotlandville à Baton Rouge, il a été nommé à trois reprises Joueur de l’année Gatorade de la Louisiane ainsi que Joueur par excellence de la classe 5A à trois occasions, terminant sa carrière au secondaire avec un total impressionnant de 3 306 points. Il est actuellement possible d'acheter des forfaits de billets flexibles en visitant le site theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/tickets . ###  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 .

Louisiana guard has played 18 career NBA games with Miami, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia

Despite a new location, the Battle of Alberta maintained the same intensity on Thursday (June 19). Edmonton weathered a late comeback from Calgary at Westerner Park Centrium in Red Deer to secure a 98-95 victory in the second matchup between the provincial rivals this season. The Stingers led by 13 heading into Target Score Time, 16 in the fourth and as much as 17 in the game, but the Surge climbed back to tie the game at 95 with a target of 97. Both teams had game-winning looks in a wild finish that featured turnovers, jump balls and back-and-forth basketball. A transition slam from Edmonton’s Chris Smith ended the contest and made up for a missed free throw to win the game earlier in Target Time. Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker said the win showed resilience. “Obviously, credit to Calgary – they came out of the gates hot and they finished the game on a run,” Baker said. “For us to be able to hold them off at the end there is a testament to the guys we got in our locker room.” The Stingers evened the season series with Calgary and did so without star player Sean East II for the majority of the contest. East II was ejected early in the second quarter with 11 points after picking up his second unsportsmanlike foul. However, Scottie Lindsey and the Edmonton offence stepped up in his absence. “I think guys played the rest of the way with a little chip on their shoulder,” Baker said. “They wanted to prove that we're more than just Sean East and his supporting cast.” Lindsey dropped a game-high 28 points to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks to pace the Edmonton attack. “The team needs me to be aggressive all the time. Obviously with Sean going out, that's over 20 points a game that we're missing. But I think the team needs me to be aggressive either way,” Lindsey said. The Stingers’ unselfishness was a good match for the stellar Surge defence, with 25 assists on the team’s 37 field goals. Nick Hornsby contributed an all-around effort and flirted with a triple-double for Edmonton, tallying 17 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Smith and Keon Ambrose-Hylton reached double figures as well, chipping in 11 points apiece. Meanwhile, Jameer Nelson Jr. netted a team-high 23 points for Calgary, including some clutch shooting in Target Score Time. He was effective defensively as well with four steals and seven rebounds. Nelson Jr. said the presence of new acquisition, the NBA-experienced Jamorko Pickett, helped spur the Target Score Time run. Sean Miller-Moore added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists for Calgary, while Greg Brown III scored 19 before he fouled out. Overall, the Surge struggled offensively for much of the game. Calgary finished at 37 per cent from the field and 25 per cent from three. Surge head coach Kaleb Canales said the team didn’t make enough plays down the stretch. “We had an opportunity – about five to seven opportunities – to finish the game, and we just came up short tonight,” Canales said. To open the game, Nelson Jr. scored seven of Calgary’s first nine points before Brown III got in on the action with seven straight points as well. The Surge went on an 11-0 run but East II led the Stingers on a run of their own to reclaim a lead. The provincial rivals exchanged blows for the remainder of the quarter and were knotted at 24 to start the second. After a scorching 11-point first quarter, East II picked up his second unsportsmanlike foul of the game to end his day. The game remained close for the bulk of the second quarter, with the Surge and Stingers trading leads. Back-to-back inside finishes from Kevin Bercy towards the end of the frame extended Edmonton’s lead to 50-46 at halftime. The Stingers built on their advantage in the early stages of the third by getting to the rim, free throw line, and connecting from long range. Catch-and-shoot threes from Lindsey and Hornsby helped Edmonton to lead by as much as 17. Brown III got the shooter’s bounce on the three in the closing seconds of the quarter to cut the deficit to 12, but Hornsby beat the buzzer with a floater to take a 77-63 lead into the fourth. Miller-Moore helped trim the Stingers’ lead to 10, but Ambrose-Hylton went to work inside for Edmonton. The big man from Toronto had three consecutive finishes in the paint, including two and-ones and a poster dunk. After an Olumide Adelodun three for Calgary, Edmonton led 88-75 entering the final stretch. Calgary scored the opening five points of Target Score Time and continued on a 20-7 run to tie the game, highlighted by back-to-back mid-range jumpers from Nelson Jr. With both teams one bucket away from victory, chaos ensued. A wild scramble saw turnovers and game-winning looks for both squads before Smith was fouled in transition. He made one of two at the free throw line before another sequence with a combined six attempts at victory, two turnovers and two jump balls. Smith finally iced the game with a transition dunk coming on an assist from former Calgary Surge guard Mason Bourcier. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600600 Up next for both teams Calgary and Edmonton are both back in action on Sunday (June 22) with the Surge hosting the Bandits and the Stingers hosting the Sea Bears. Next CEBL action The other eight CEBL teams are all in action on Friday (June 20), with the Alliance facing the River Lions, the BlackJacks visiting the Shooting Stars, the Rattlers heading to Brampton, and the Sea Bears on the road in Vancouver. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The American forward averaged 16.8 points and 9.7 rebounds in six games with Saskatchewan last summer

Copeland returns to Vancouver after averaging 15.0 points and 3.3 assists in 22 games with the Bandits last season

T he Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) are pleased to announce that they will be celebrating the career achievements and community initiatives of Michael Linklater on July 5 when the team hosts the Ottawa BlackJacks at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, proudly presented by Sheron Lau of Research Capital Group. In collaboration with the Province of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Rattlers declare July 5 as “Michael Linklater Day” in Saskatchewan. Linklater is a leader for indigenous youth, basketball, and community in Saskatchewan; his work has expanded world-wide, and he continues to develop and foster community through Sohkisiwin Solutions . As the co-founder of Sohkisiwin Solutions, they bridge the gap between non-Indigenous and Indigenous groups. “This is unbelievable! I am truly humbled and extremely grateful by this incredible recognition,” said Michael Linklater. “I give thanks to my grandparents, Maria and late Walter Linklater for inspiring me to always help others through their lifetime of supporting those in need. I am grateful to my children for continuously making me a better person. I want to share this recognition with the entire community who work tirelessly to make this world a better place. Thank you!” Linklater is a Nehiyaw (Cree) father, descending from the Thunderchild First Nation, located in Treaty 6 Territory. He won the first ever National Championship for both the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Rattlers in the inaugural season of the CEBL. He played for the Canadian National team at the FIBA 3X3 World Cup. Michael is the Recipient of numerous awards which include; Inductee into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame and the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, Indspire Laureate, the National Tom Longboat Award, Canadian Sport Award for Inclusion, and the Saskatchewan CBC Future 40 under 40. Outside of basketball, he is the Founder of the International Campaign Boys with Braids. Michael was invited by Dr. Jill Biden to attend the first ever Reception at the White House that celebrated Native American Heritage month. He is the Co-chair of the Early Learning Equal Start Campaign, which aims to raise $20M for early childhood education. He also serves as a member of the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame selection committee, Toronto Raptors Indigenous advisory circle, also served on the FIBA 3X3 Commission. Linklater is a professional speaker with over 24 years of experience. Most recently, Linklater appeared as an analyst during the 2024 Paris Olympics for 3x3 Basketball where he appeared alongside numerous indigenous voices during the Summer Olympics. As contestants of Amazing Race Canada, Linklater and his son, Amari, competed across Canada representing Thunderchild First Nation. “Thrilled to share in honouring Michael Linklater and all of his accomplishments,” said Rattlers President, Lee Genier. “He is truly a great inspiration to us all. We very much look forward to celebrating Michael Linklater Day.” The Rattlers look to celebrate Michael Linklater’s career and the work that he continues to do for the community for “Michael Linklater Night” on Saturday July 5 at SaskTel Centre which will feature appearances from his colleagues, peers, and community members. The event will happen about a week after the Rattlers “First Nations Night” presented by Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation on Thursday June 26 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Rattlers have hosted an indigenous celebration night every season since their inaugural season in 2019. Tickets for “First Nations Night” on June 26 and “Michael Linklater Night” on July 5 are available now through Ticketmaster starting at $20 for single game tickets, with additional group pricing discounts available through bulk purchases. Premium seat options are available including VIP tables, Luxury Suites, and the Rattlers Courtside Lounge. All tickets options can also be purchased through the Rattlers Front Office in Downtown Saskatoon (306) 244-2181, Saskatchewan Rattlers website , or via Ticketmaster . For more seating options, and partnership opportunities; fans can contact a member of the Rattlers Front Office . The 2025 schedule has been released, which features a new 24-game slate. The 2025 CEBL Playoffs are scheduled to begin Thursday, August 14 with the Conference Play-In games, followed by the Conference Semifinals on Saturday, August 16. The winners will advance to CW25 to join the Winnipeg Sea Bears (host team) and the top-ranked team from the Eastern Conference who are automatically seeded into the Conference Finals. The full playoff schedule with tipoff times will be announced at a later date. General public and returning season ticket members can claim their seats for the entire Rattlers 2025 season by using Account Manager . All tickets can also be purchased through the Rattlers Front Office (306) 244-2181, Saskatchewan Rattlers website , or via Ticketmaster . Flex Ticket Bundles can be purchased online or at the Rattlers Front Office , which features a minimum of four-tickets in any section with a bonus gift card to Moxies. Single game tickets are available now via Ticketmaster . For more seating options, suites, and group rates; fans can contact an account executive . ### About the Saskatchewan Rattlers The Saskatchewan Rattlers are Saskatchewan’s professional basketball team, one of the six original teams in the CEBL – the Rattlers won the 2019 inaugural season championship. Playing out of SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – the Rattlers offer an entertainment-focused environment surrounded by some of the world’s top professional athletes. The Rattlers are a community-first organization and take pride in their ability to bring communities together while making sport more accessible to the province.