TAZÉ MOORE, KOBY McEWEN HIGHLIGHT WINNERS AT 2024 CEBL AWARDS

August 8, 2024

Kyle Julius named Coach of the Year as three Bandits honoured at awards show in Montréal

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced the winners of the 2024 CEBL Awards and the All-CEBL Teams at an event at Le Centre Sheraton Montréal on Wednesday evening. The Vancouver Bandits had three winners, including guard Tazé Moore who took home top honours as Most Valuable Player, while guard Koby McEwen was named Canadian Player of the Year and Kyle Julius earned Coach of the Year honours.


The full list of award winners is as follows:


2024 CEBL Award Winners

Most Valuable Player: Tazé Moore (Vancouver Bandits)

Canadian Player of the Year: Koby McEwen (Vancouver Bandits)

Coach of the Year: Kyle Julius (Vancouver Bandits)

Sixth Man of the Year: Aaryn Rai (Niagara River Lions)

Developmental Player of the Year: Simon Hildebrandt (Winnipeg Sea Bears)

Defensive Player of the Year: Lloyd Pandi (Ottawa BlackJacks)

Clutch Player of the Year (Co-Winners): Tevin Brown (Ottawa), Stefan Smith (Calgary Surge)

Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award: Vernon Bovell


All CEBL award winners will receive a customized ring from Jostens, the official Supplier of Awards and Rings of the CEBL, and a special gift on behalf of the league’s partner at Foot Locker.


In his first CEBL season, Moore made major contributions in numerous stat categories for the Bandits, finishing first in league average in assists (7.3), third in rebounds (8.1), fourth in steals (1.6) and 10th in points (17.6). His 124 total assists were the second-most in a single season in CEBL history and he became the first player to record two triple-doubles in the same regular season. The 6-foot-5 guard’s first triple-double on June 13 was the first in Bandits’ history and part of a historic night that saw Moore score a franchise-record 35 points, while adding 16 rebounds and 11 assists in a win over Winnipeg.


McEwen led the CEBL in three-pointers made per game (tie-3.4), was second in total three-pointers made (54), fifth in three-point percentage (44.3), and ranked fourth among Canadians in total points (295), all of which were career highs. The Toronto native’s career season for the Bandits also included personal bests in average points per game (18.4), field goals made (5.9), free throw percentage (88.3), offensive rebounds (1.2), rebounds (tie-4.8), steals (1.2) and blocked shots (0.5).


Julius was named CEBL Coach of the Year after leading Vancouver to its best record in franchise history (14-6) and a first-place overall finish for the first time. The Bandits went near-perfect at home (9-1) and posted a league-best plus-177 overall point differential, nearly 50 points better than the next closest team.


Rai appeared in all 20 games for the River Lions in 2024, averaging 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24.2 minutes per game, and was tied for third in the league with three Target Score Winners. Despite primarily coming off the bench for Niagara, the 6-foot-6 forward ranked in the top three or four in numerous major stat categories for the team.


Hildebrandt took home the Developmental Player of the Year award (formerly named U SPORTS Player of the Year) for the second consecutive season. He appeared in all 20 games for the Sea Bears in 2024, averaging 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. The Winnipeg native broke out for 19 points, seven rebounds and five three-pointers on July 20 against rival Saskatchewan.


Pandi set a single-season CEBL record with 44 steals in 2024 for the BlackJacks, good enough for 2.3 steals per game – a half steal ahead of the next closest eligible player. The Ottawa native also averaged 3.8 defensive rebounds, 5.7 total rebounds, and nearly a block per game (0.7) this season, while contributing on the offensive end with averages of 11.9 points and 2.8 assists in 19 games. He is a previous two-time winner of the U SPORTS Player of the Year award (now named Developmental Player of the Year) in 2020 and 2021.


For the first time in league history, there was co-winners of the Clutch Player of the Year award presented annually to the player with the most Target Score Winners. Ottawa’s Tevin Brown and Calgary’s Stefan Smith shared the league lead in Target Score Winners with four apiece this season.


Bovell took home the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award, presented to the official who best embodies the CEBL’s goal of development of the sport of basketball in Canada by both maintaining a high level of performance and personal improvement, while also elevating their teammates and the league as a whole. The official must foster a work environment that promotes communication, good sportsmanship and celebrates the differences that make up the mosaic of the sport of basketball.


The 2024 All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian Teams were also revealed at the CEBL Awards:


All CEBL First Team
: Tazé Moore (Vancouver Bandits), Justin Wright-Foreman (Winnipeg Sea Bears), Cat Barber (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Khalil Ahmad (Niagara River Lions), Nick Ward (Vancouver Bandits)


All CEBL Second Team
: Jahvon Blair (Niagara River Lions), Koby McEwen (Vancouver Bandits), Teddy Allen (Saskatchewan Rattlers), Jalen Harris (Saskatchewan Rattlers), Chris Smith (Montréal Alliance)


CEBL All-Canadian Team
: Jahvon Blair (Niagara River Lions), Koby McEwen (Vancouver Bandits), Sean Miller-Moore (Calgary Surge), Mathieu Kamba (Calgary Surge), Brody Clarke (Edmonton Stingers)


Award nominees, winners and All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian Teams are determined by votes cast by the league’s head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and internal media personnel. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team.


The CEBL Awards was the first official event of 2024 Championship Weekend (CW24), which is being held in Montréal, QC between August 7-11. The Conference Final doubleheader is set for Friday, August 9 at Verdun Auditorium, kicking off with the West’s Calgary Surge and Vancouver Bandits at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the East’s Montréal Alliance and Niagara River Lions at 8 p.m. ET. The winners then square off Sunday, August 11 at 6 p.m. ET in the CEBL Championship Final at Verdun Auditorium. For full details on the CEBL’s playoff format and 2024 matchups, please visit
https://www.cebl.ca/playoffs.


The Championship Final halftime show will be performed by multi-platinum and award-winning recording artist Fefe Dobson, while Montréal-based award-winning rapper, FouKi, and Laval-based award-winning French rapper, Shreez, will perform at the Conference Finals. Ticket and event information is available at
cebl.ca/cw24.


All CW24 games will be televised live on TSN and RDS in Canada, NLSE in the United States, and available to stream on CEBL+ Powered By BetVictor, TSN+ and Courtside 1891 for subscribers outside North America.


- CEBL -


About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Sixteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on InstagramTwitterTikTokLinkedInFacebook & YouTube.

October 9, 2025
Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB) ont annoncé aujourd’hui la nomination de Jason Winters à titre de nouveau président du club. Winters se joint aux BlackJacks après avoir occupé le poste de directeur général de Myers Kanata Nissan depuis 2019. Chef d’entreprise très respecté au sein de la communauté ottavienne, lui et sa famille ont également possédé et exploité plusieurs franchises Booster Juice dans la région de la capitale. Détenteur d’abonnements de saison des BlackJacks de longue date, Winters apporte une profonde passion pour le basketball ainsi qu’un solide bilan en matière de partenariats authentiques et de création de valeur tangible pour les parties prenantes. « En tant que détenteur d’abonnement saisonnier et fier partisan des BlackJacks, il a été incroyable de voir l’évolution de l’équipe et la notoriété croissante de la LECB au Canada », a déclaré Winters. « Assumer le rôle de président pour diriger cette équipe et servir notre communauté est un honneur pour ma famille et moi. Je suis enthousiaste et déterminé à bâtir sur les bases solides que les BlackJacks ont déjà établies, avec intégrité, passion et un profond respect pour nos partisans et la communauté d’Ottawa. » Dans son nouveau rôle de président, Jason guidera les BlackJacks vers une ère nouvelle et prometteuse — en renforçant les liens avec la communauté et en accroissant l’impact du club, tant sur le terrain qu’en dehors, alors que l’équipe continue d’élargir sa présence au sein de la LECB et dans toute la région d’Ottawa. « Nous sommes fiers et honorés d’accueillir Jason dans ce rôle de leadership », a déclaré Justin Pascoe, PDG de Diamond Sports Canada. « En tant que membre de longue date de la communauté d’Ottawa, il apporte une vaste expérience professionnelle, une réputation d’excellence et de solides valeurs familiales qui lui ont valu le respect généralisé dans toute la région. » « Le leadership, l'intégrité et la passion de toujours de Jason pour le basketball font de lui la personne idéale pour guider les BlackJacks vers une nouvelle étape prometteuse », a poursuivi Pascoe. « Il incarne les valeurs que nous souhaitons voir représenter par ce club et entretient un véritable lien avec nos partisans et notre communauté. Ensemble, nous ferons des BlackJacks une équipe dont nos partisans, nos commanditaires et notre ville pourront être fiers, tant sur le terrain qu’en dehors. » Diplômé du Collège Algonquin des arts appliqués et de la technologie, Winters vit dans le quartier Old Ottawa South avec sa famille : Sherry, Archer, Zoe et Nevaeah. Les forfaits d’abonnement pour la saison 2026 sont maintenant disponibles en ligne à l’adresse theblackjacks.ca/season-seat-memberships . ###
October 9, 2025
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today the appointment of Jason Winters as the club’s new president. Winters joins the BlackJacks having served as the general manager of Myers Kanata Nissan since 2019. A highly respected business leader in the Ottawa community. He and his family have also owned and operated multiple Booster Juice franchises across the Capital Region. A long-time BlackJacks season ticket holder, Winters brings a deep passion for basketball along with a proven track record of building authentic partnerships and delivering meaningful value to stakeholders. “As someone who has been in the stands as a proud season ticket holder and fan of the BlackJacks, it has been incredible to watch the growth and awareness of the team and the CEBL in Canada,” said Winters. “Stepping into the role of President to lead this team and serve our community is something that my family and I are honoured to do. I am excited and committed to building on the foundation the BlackJacks have already established with integrity, passion and a deep respect for our fans and the Ottawa community.” In his new role as President, Jason will lead the BlackJacks into an exciting new era - strengthening community ties and enhancing the club’s impact both on and off the court as the team continues to grow its presence in the CEBL and across the Ottawa region. “We are proud and privileged to welcome Jason into this leadership role,” said Justin Pascoe, CEO of Diamond Sports Canada. “As a long-standing member of the Ottawa community, he brings a wealth of professional experience, a reputation for excellence and strong family values that have earned him widespread respect throughout the region.” “Jason’s leadership, integrity and lifelong passion for basketball make him the ideal person to guide the BlackJacks into an exciting new chapter,” continued Pascoe. “He embodies the values we want this club to stand for and has a true connection to our fans and community. Together, we will make the BlackJacks a team that our fans, sponsors and city can be proud of on and off the court” A graduate of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology, Winters lives in Old Ottawa South with his family, Sherry, Archer, Zoe and Nevaeah. Season seat packages for the 2026 campaign are now available online at theblackjacks.ca/season-seat-memberships . ###
October 6, 2025
Please join us in welcoming Amanda Chau to the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Amanda joins as Director, Corporate Partnerships, bringing over a decade of experience in partnerships and marketing. Most recently, she was with True North Sports + Entertainment, where she supported the Winnipeg Jets and national partners with business planning, relationship development, and sponsorship strategy. Her background also includes account and project management at Direct Focus Marketing Agency, where she worked across brand strategies, events, and sponsorship opportunities, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the diverse needs of dynamic clients and brands. Welcome to the CEBL team, Amanda!
September 25, 2025
Joignez-vous à nous pour souhaiter la bienvenue à Jean Couvrette, qui se joint à la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball à titre de directeur principal, partenariats corporatifs. Jean apporte plus de 30 ans d'expérience dans le développement de partenariats, le marketing sportif et la gestion d’équipes de ventes. Il a occupé des postes clés au sein d'organisations telles que le Grand Prix de Formule 1 du Canada, Professional Sports Management, SPORTSQUÉBEC et les Alouettes de Montréal, où il a constamment obtenu d'excellents résultats en matière de commandites et de ventes. Plus récemment, il a agi à titre de consultant pour des organisations de premier plan, dont Soccer Québec, la Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes, les Carabins de l’Université de Montréal, Ironman Mont-Tremblant et Golf Québec. Bienvenue dans l’équipe de la LECB, Jean!
September 25, 2025
Please join us in welcoming Jean Couvrette to the Canadian Elite Basketball League as Sr. Director, Corporate Partnerships. Jean brings over 30 years of experience in partnership development, sports marketing, and team leadership. He has held key roles with organizations including the Formula One Grand Prix du Canada, Professional Sports Management, SPORTSQUÉBEC, and the Montreal Alouettes, where he consistently delivered strong results in sponsorship and sales. Most recently, he has worked as a consultant with leading organizations such as Soccer Québec, Québec Cycling Federation, Université de Montréal Carabins, Ironman Mont-Tremblant, and Golf Québec. Welcome to the CEBL team, Jean!
September 23, 2025
Please join us in welcoming Sam Bougha to the Canadian Elite Basketball League as Director, Corporate Partnerships. Sam is a sponsorship marketing professional with experience across the brand, property, and agency sides of the industry. He has led national partnerships, managed multimillion-dollar portfolios, and delivered creative, results-driven campaigns for organizations including Deloitte Canada, the Canada Games Council, and Envision Sports & Entertainment. He brings a strong foundation in sales and client management from roles with Peloton, TD Insurance, and Ricoh Canada, and is passionate about building partnerships rooted in relationships and focused on long-term value for fans, brands, and the property. Sam also gained hands-on experience with the Hamilton Honey Badgers earlier in his career, making this a full-circle moment as he joins the league office. Welcome to the CEBL team, Sam!
By Myles Dichter September 18, 2025
Michelle Biskup paced nervously along the sidelines of Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre. As Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad stepped to the free-throw line with the 2025 CEBL championship in his fingertips, Biskup couldn’t help but battle flashbacks from one year earlier, when Ahmad missed a shot to win it all. Some things were different: the locale, for one. The River Lions’ path to the Final (one much more fraught this time around), for two. And, of course, Biskup’s title, now president of the franchise. One thing, though, did not change. No matter what happened, Biskup could not control what happened on the court. At least not at this point. “I've gone through the highs, I've gone through the lows, but I just stay even keel until I know it's over,” said Biskup, who has now been with the River Lions for 10 years. Ahmad, of course, went on to make those free throws, clinching the River Lions’ second consecutive championship and matching the Edmonton Stingers as the only teams to win multiple titles, let alone go back-to-back. With the trophy, Biskup became the first female president to win a Canadian men’s professional sports title. Detroit Red Wings president Marguerite Norris (1954, 1955) and Los Angeles Lakers boss Jeanie Buss (2020) have also accomplished the feat in the U.S. “Michelle has been a CEBL all-star since day one and has shown incredible commitment, leadership, and perseverance throughout her career with the River Lions,” said CEBL commissioner and co-founder Mike Morreale. “To watch her help guide the team to back-to-back championships while also breaking new ground as the first female president to do so in Canadian men’s pro sports is nothing short of remarkable. She’s a trailblazer in every sense and has earned this tremendous recognition.” “It's a milestone to have my name stamped on history while also showing other young females in sports who are dreaming of having a career in sports that it's attainable,” Biskup said. “It's not something that can't be done because now they can see someone who's done it.” Biskup, the 35-year-old from Burlington, Ont., was a Day 1 staffer of the River Lions 10 years ago when she held the title of operations coordinator. The job only came about through a coincidental meeting with the River Lions owners, when Biskup pitched herself on a whim and suddenly found herself moving from her first job out of school in the entertainment department at Fallsview Casino to a professional basketball organization. Steadily since, she’s risen the ranks until being promoted to president in September. And in her first season atop the organization, she lifted it atop the CEBL. “We really put 12 months into it: into something that we can't control the outcome of as front-office staff. So to have that full-circle moment from last year where, yes, I was involved, I was still a very big part of it as VP, but then for everything that I put into this past year, building a new culture in our office, hiring new staff, making some big changes. It really was like, ‘OK, this made it all worthwhile,’” she said. “There's no greater feeling than winning at the end of the day. There's a reason why everyone wants to win. That's the best, ultimate feeling.” Biskup said the team is almost unrecognizable from when she first started a decade ago — especially when she looks at the Meridian Centre crowd and the River Lions fan base. But even more has changed since she took over as president. Biskup hired team captain Kimbal Mackenzie as community and brand ambassador in a CEBL first — an idea that was born late last off-season and one she hopes will truly take flight now. Meanwhile, she signed head coach Victor Raso to a three-year contract lining up with a three-year Meridian Centre lease, locking in two key aspects of the team. “Knowing that Vic's going to be here every year, or at least for the next three, we can depend on that, that we're going to have that returning group that helps us be successful on the court,” said Biskup, who credited the coach for maintaining season-to-season continuity in a league where that’s rare. “It helps us be successful off the court too, right? It's great for our sales staff to be able to call people and say, we're back-to-back champions or we have their favourite players returning. So that consistency is really big.” Raso has worked next to Biskup for the past eight years. “I've seen her go from doing absolutely everything to doing absolutely everything as the president,” he said. The coach described Biskup as “incredibly hard-working,” saying she’s created a culture of “doers” while keeping the atmosphere light and fun with plenty of laughs. He added that he’s always coordinated closely with Biskup, with whom he enjoys a strong two-way relationship of trust. “Michelle and I always talked about what we were doing on a day-to-day basis, but never from the perspective of she's my manager. So for her and I, it was a cool experience this year. She's always let me do my thing with the basketball and trusted me with decisions and budgets and everything,” he said. To Raso, Biskup is the “lifeblood” of the River Lions. “She can run a professional sport organization like with her eyes closed now. And I don't think people really understand how much actually goes into that,” he said. Now, Biskup’s next task is one that’s never been done before: win three straight championships. After last season’s motto was ‘Run It Back,’ Biskup said conversations are already underway about next year’s slogan, with the word dynasty being thrown around. “That's definitely the goal for us to make that next stamp on history is being the first team to do a three-peat,” she said. It’s a topic with which Biskup is now quite familiar. - CEBL -
September 18, 2025
Stingers Entertainment Group LP (SEG), owner of the Edmonton Stingers and co-owner of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, announced Thursday that Jordan Baker has assumed the role of President of the organization. Baker will continue to be Head Coach and General Manager of the Stingers. He has also become a part owner of SEG. “I am both excited and humbled to become the leader of not just our team but our whole business,” said Baker. “Edmonton has been such a huge part of my life and to be able to advance my basketball and business career right here at home means the world to me. Our fan support has grown tremendously over the past three seasons and I am determined to continue to widen our impact across the city in the years to come.” Baker has been front and center with the Stingers from day one. First, as a standout forward on the floor from 2019-2022. His accolades as a player include two CEBL Championships and the 2020 CEBL Canadian Player of the Year award. He retired in 2022 as the franchise all-time leader in total points and rebounds, the latter a title which he still holds. Baker took on the role of Head Coach in 2023 and added the General Manager title in 2024. Following the 2024 season, Baker was promoted to full-time Head Coach and General Manager and took on the role of Vice President of Basketball Operations and Community Engagement - where he launched the Stingers flagship community program the Basketball Bridge presented by Sterling Homes. “It is not unusual for individuals who have been star athletes to become great coaches and general managers”, said James Burns, Managing Partner of SEG LP. “But to also rise to head the entire business operations as well as basketball is almost unheard of. Jordan is a uniquely talented basketball expert and business executive and we are very fortunate he has chosen to sign on with the Stingers for the long term”. Jordan Baker has been at the apex of basketball in Edmonton since a young age, playing for the Harry Ainlay Titans and later the University of Alberta Golden Bears, where he remains the all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists, and steals across 98 games played. He received his Master of Coaching from the U of A, and later spent four years as an assistant coach, accumulating a 78-21 record. This fall, Baker was inducted into the University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. Hailing from a prevalent basketball family deeply rooted in the Edmonton community, Baker is the son of Doug and Trix Baker. Doug was a Golden Bear from 1974-1977, where he was a three-time team MVP and Canada West All-Star. He retired with five program records, including scoring average and single season scoring average. Trix was also a standout player at the U of A, being named an All-Canadian with the Pandas in 3 seasons. After her standout playing career, she would head coach multiple CCAA and CIS programs, including U of A. Both Trix and Doug are also members of the U of A Sports Wall of Fame. Baker will begin his role as President immediately as the team prepares for their eighth season tipping off in spring 2026. During the Stingers offseason, Baker and the Stingers will remain an active force in the community with their Basketball Bridge program, offering accessible, youth-focused basketball programming year-round. ### 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.
September 18, 2025
CEBL all-time leader in games played and minutes played closes chapter on playing career
September 18, 2025
Please join us in welcoming Susan Jones Bouk to the Canadian Elite Basketball League as Head of People & Culture. Susan brings over 30 years of experience across industries including sports, technology, financial services, consumer packaged goods, and retail. Most recently, she served as Chief People Officer & Head of Office Operations at the CFL, where she led strategies to attract, develop, engage, and retain top talent in support of the league’s growth. She has held senior roles with organizations such as Pillsbury International, Winners – TJX, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and 3Macs – Raymond James, and has consulted for clients including Manulife Financial, Merrill Lynch, and Molson. Susan brings deep expertise in talent acquisition, leadership development, organization design, employee relations, and compensation management, and is known for her practical, business-first approach to people and culture. Welcome to the CEBL team, Susan!