Canadian Guard Signs First Pro Contract with Rattlers

The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that the club has signed 6-foot-two guard Elisha Ampofo for the 2025 season. 

The Milton, Ontario product joined the Winnipeg Sea Bears during the 2024 season for CEBL Training Camp, and continued to train with the team during the season. Ampofo will make his professional debut with the Rattlers after four seasons playing with the University of Brandon Bobcats. 

“Elisha is a very talented scorer and we are very excited about the potential he brings as a young basketball player,” said General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, Barry Rawlyk. “Last season he was not really given an opportunity to display his skill set, and so we have brought him to the Rattlers with the idea that if he can unleash some of his potential, he can be a real asset to the team.”

During his four-year university career, Ampofo has played with the Brandon Bobcats averaging 7.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 24.5 minutes while shooting 43.5 per cent from the field. 

During the 2023-24 season he averaged career highs in all stat categories with 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 34.0 minutes while shooting 48.5 per cent from the field and 47.6 from behind the arc. On November 11th 2023 he tied a career-high 32 points with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 42 minutes while shooting five for six from behind the arc. 

While with the Bobcats, he earned back-to-back Brandon Men’s Basketball James O. Dollings Inspiration Awards in 2022 and 2023. Ampofo will reunite with former Bobcats teammate, Anthony Tsegakele. 

“I’m really excited to join the Rattlers organization. The Front Office believes in me and that’s all I can ask for as a player,” said Ampofo. “It’s an amazing opportunity for me as I begin my professional career and I want to do everything I can to impact winning on both sides of the ball. I look forward to competing and bringing lots of energy to the snake pit.”

Ampofo will join the Rattlers for the 2025 season to play alongside Shane Osayande, Elijah Ifejeh, Dondre Reddick, Grant Anticevich, Deon Ejim, Anthony Tsegakele, Jaden Bediako, Cody John, Jamir Chaplin, Nate Pierre-Louis, Isaac Simon, Declan Peterson, and Easton Thimm. Canadian Elite Basketball League free agency will continue leading up to the announcement of the full training camp roster prior to the Saskatchewan Rattlers home opener on May 15, 2025 at SaskTel Centre. 

The full 2025 Rattlers 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. Season tickets starting at $235 in the bronze. 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.