The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced today that Jason Smith will be transitioning out of his role as President over the coming months. Smith helped establish the franchise and led the Sea Bears through its first three seasons. When Smith was first engaged to guide the due diligence process, finalize the franchise deal, and bring the Sea Bears to life, he committed to dedicating himself fully to the team for its crucial early years. With that three-year commitment coming to an end this fall, Smith will step back from day-to-day duties in order to rebalance his professional life, including devoting more time to his company, Smith Events, while maintaining a strong connection to the Sea Bears. Under a new agreement, Smith will remain with the organization in a consulting capacity, focusing on a variety of strategic projects and continuing to provide guidance and expertise as the team enters its next phase of growth. Team Owner and Chairman David Asper will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer as the Sea Bears restructure. “We’re all very fortunate that three years ago Jason agreed to set aside a very successful business and stable personal life and commit all his energy to launching the Sea Bears, which we knew would be all-encompassing and chaotic”, said David Asper. “He’s a co-founder of the team, always will be, and I look forward to continuing our relationship with big goals yet to achieve.” “It has been an honour to serve as President of the Sea Bears and to help create something so special for the city and province,” said Smith. “I look forward to supporting David and the team through this transition and into the next chapter, while also returning focus to Smith Events and other projects that allow me to contribute in new ways.” This transition sets the stage for the next phase of the Sea Bears’ growth, as the team continues to strengthen its place in the local and national professional sports landscape. ### About the Winnipeg Sea Bears: 
The Winnipeg Sea Bears are a professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), proudly representing Winnipeg and Manitoba on the national stage. Since their debut, the Sea Bears have become a community leader, delivering top-tier basketball and fan experiences while contributing to the growth of the sport across Canada.

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s largest professional sports league, announced today that the club has been acquired by Diamond Sports Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Global Sports Fund Management Group. The group is owned by Bandeli (Lee) Hagipantelis and Justin Pascoe, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer. Pascoe brings more than 20 years of executive experience in elite-level sports administration. He holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and has completed additional studies at Harvard University. Throughout his career, he has consistently elevated the profile of organizations across the sports, consumer products, automotive, and industrial sectors. In Australia, Pascoe has held senior leadership positions across multiple major sports, and he brings a global perspective through his work in private equity and the sports industry across North America and Europe. In addition to his role with Global Sports Fund Management Group, he also currently serves as Owner of the Newcastle Jets, an Australian soccer club competing in the A-League. Based in Newcastle, New South Wales, the club is currently preparing for the Final of the Australia Cup. "I feel incredibly privileged to be afforded the opportunity to help build a franchise that the entire community can be proud of,” said Pascoe. “This process has been nearly eight months in the making, and throughout that time, it’s become clear to me that the CEBL and the Ottawa BlackJacks represent a sleeping giant in the Canadian sports landscape.” Added Pascoe, “Our focus is on creating a basketball franchise that fosters authentic engagement across all stakeholders — fans, community members, government, and corporate partners alike. We believe that by bringing our global operating experience to the table, we can complement the hard-working and talented staff here and help elevate the organization to new heights. This goes beyond just the BlackJacks. It’s about collaborating with Mike and the CEBL to drive league-wide awareness, deliver unforgettable experiences for fans, and create a sustainable, thriving league that embraces a growth mindset — one that aims to position Canadian basketball as a force on the global stage." Diamond Sports Canada Inc. takes over ownership of the club from Canadian Basketball Ventures LP who had stewarded the team since their inception in 2020. They will serve as the first privately funded group with an ownership stake in the BlackJacks and the first international owners in CEBL history with their base of operations being located in New South Wales, Australia. “Justin Pascoe and the Diamond Sports Canada Inc. group bring valuable international perspective and a wealth of sports business experience and sophistication to the Ottawa BlackJacks,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner & Co-Founder of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. “Their ownership strengthens both the team and the league as we continue building a sustainable model for professional basketball in Canada. The group’s commitment to innovation, community engagement, and long-term growth perfectly aligns with the CEBL’s vision for what our teams represent, and we truly value the extension of our ownership table beyond Canada.” Transition of team operations will begin immediately, with the seventh season of Ottawa BlackJacks basketball set to kick off in May 2026 at The Arena at TD Place . ### About the Ottawa BlackJacks The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks showcase the best of basketball and entertainment in the nation’s capital. The Ottawa front office brings NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. Led by General Manager James Derouin and Head Coach Dave DeAveiro, Ottawa plays its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. For more information, visit theblackjacks.ca .

The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that the club has partnered with the Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Found ation and Little Legends Foundation to support the refurbishment of an outdoor basketball court at Grays Park in South Vancouver. The refr eshed court will be unveiled this fall as part of an official launch event in collaboration between the Vancouver Bandits, Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation and Little Legends Foundation. The court refurbishment project is part of the Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects program that enhances outdoor basketball courts across British Columbia, including most recently a court refurbishment in partnership with City of Pitt Meadows in September of 2024. “Building a world class basketball court in this community has been a long time dream. Thanks to our partners at the Vancouver Bandits, Bandits Community Foundation and Vancouver Park Board for coming together to make this project happen - there are a number of incredible donors we are going to announce in the coming weeks,” said Little Legends Foundation founder Spensir Sangara. “Grays Park was the perfect place for Court Projects, the basketball culture here is strong and connected. The legacy goes beyond the refurbishment where, with Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation, we are going to host free youth camps and The Legendary Tournament at Grays Park starting in 2026.” The partnership was sparked in 2023 when Sangara expressed interest in building a basketball court for the South Vancouver community. Around the same time, the Bandits Community Foundation had completed a similar project in Pitt Meadows with the City of Pitt Meadows, creating a natural alignment between the two organizations. “Basketball has the power to bring people together, and this project is about more than just a court - it is about creating a safe, vibrant space where young people and families can connect, play, and grow,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We are proud to work through Court Projects with our partners in the Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation, and Little Legends Foundation to invest in South Vancouver and to use sport as a tool for building resilience, unity, and positive change in the community.” The court refurbishment at Grays Park, located at 4850 St. Catherines Street in Vancouver, includes upgrades to the basketball hoops, playing area resurfacing and seating areas. Grays Park was identified as one of Vancouver’s most active outdoor basketball spaces, and community feedback strongly supported the refurbishment. "It has been amazing to see the local community come together with the Vancouver Bandits to upgrade this beloved neighbourhood court," says Vancouver Park Board Chair Laura Christensen. "Strategic partnerships like this allow us to deliver so much public benefit for our residents.  ###

(CEBL Championship Final) The mountain had only been scaled once before. But after the most grueling season in CEBL history, the Niagara River Lions reached the summit once again. The River Lions captured the 2025 CEBL title on Sunday, beating the Calgary Surge 79-73 at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre. Niagara joins the 2020-2021 Edmonton Stingers as the only teams ever to go back-to-back. They are also the only franchises in league history to claim multiple titles. “It feels incredible. It really does,” head coach Victor Raso said. “It’s as special of a moment as I ever had as a coach. This one, for these guys, it just cemented them. I’m really happy for them.” Khalil Ahmad was named Finals MVP after scoring 16 points, including the game-winner, while adding nine rebounds. When the clocks stopped for Target Score Time, a River Lions lead that was once 16 had been cut to three points at 70-67. Clutch as ever, Khalil Ahmad opened the proceedings with a three-pointer. After Sean Miller-Moore made a free throw at the other end, Elijah Lufile deposited a putback to move Niagara within four points of the win. Calgary then went to the line on two straight possessions around an Ahmad miss, but made just two of four attempts. Niagara moved within any bucket of the title when Nathan Cayo cashed a pair from the charity stripe himself. On the following play, Evan Gilyard II breathed some life into the Surge with a three-pointer. It turned out to be their last gasp. While the Surge earned a defensive stop, a turnover sent Ahmad streaking back the other way, where he drew a foul in the corner that sent him to the line. Attempt No. 1: splash. Attempt No. 2: ballgame. Champions. “Redemption,” said Ahmad, who missed a free throw in the same situation in last year’s Final. “I thought about exactly that, [when] I made the first one, missed the second. I was like, ‘Oof, I can’t do that again.’” The clutch free throws pushed Ahmad to his second straight Finals MVP and marked his fifth straight playoff game scoring the Target Score Time winner. He knocked down the game-winning three in Friday’s East Final against the Scarborough Shooting Stars, too. After the game, Raso had high praise for his star player, who will need to make room on his trophy case next to a number of other accolades. “He’s the greatest player to ever play in this league and he’s just a phenomenal person, so he won’t say all the things that I say, but that’s the truth,” Raso said. Captain Kimbal Mackenzie echoed Raso’s sentiment. “[It’s] getting a little bit ridiculous at this point, quite frankly,” Mackenzie joked. “When he hit that shot against Scarborough, I was like, ‘How many times is this guy gonna do this?’ He just has a knack for when those moments get big, just playing off his instincts.” The game itself proved to be a defensive grind — the lowest-scoring final in league history. No player on either team reached 20 points, and the clubs combined to make just 27.5 per cent of their three-point shots while neither reached 40 per cent overall from the field. For the River Lions, it came down to simple effort in their own end. “These guys cared a lot. There was no in-between moments that we lost. These guys were thoughtful on every defensive possession and we just kinda forced them to play to their weaknesses instead of playing to their strengths,” Raso said. Nathan Cayo was second on the River Lions with 14 points, while Ahmed Hill added 13 points and six rebounds off the bench while posting a team-high plus-16 rating. Meanwhile, the star Surge guard duo of Jameer Nelson Jr. and Gilyard II struggled mightily, combining for 16 points on just seven-for-32 shooting. “We didn’t make enough plays, but we’re a team. I’ve said it all year long,” head coach Kaleb Canales said. Canada’s Sean Miller-Moore led the way for the Surge with 19 points, while Greg Brown broke a pair of championship record with 17 rebounds and five blocks. Miller-Moore, the league’s all-time leading Canadian scorer, came up just short at his third Championship Weekend. “Every loss is a heartbreak. Even when we lose in the regular season, it’s a heartbreak. So of course this was the last game and the last time I’m gonna be with this particular group, so it hurt more, but we were a good team all season and we just came up short today,” Miller-Moore said. For Niagara, By Raso’s own admission, this season — the longest in CEBL history, with 24 games per team — was more difficult than last, as a roster featuring multiple returning players struggled at times to find motivation during the summer-long grind. Around mid-season, however, the River Lions ripped off a seven-game winning streak to clinch the Eastern Conference. And the team found its motivation. “I read a lot about teams who repeated and it all rang true,” Raso said. “It’s not gonna be like the first time. It’s gonna be hard. There’s gonna be ups and downs. You’re gonna have to find a new why. You have to shed last year.” For some, that “why” was obvious. Ahmed Hill has scored more points than anyone in league history but was still searching for his first championship. Guillaume Boucard was a River Lion two years ago, but missed last year’s title run, and sought his first title, too. Hill and Boucard were both part of the Montreal Alliance squad that fell to the River Lions in the semifinals last season. “It’s amazing,” said Hill, who added that it’s his first title at any level. “I’ve always been a player to want to score and get all the accolades, but this is one thing I always missed.” Added Boucard: “It doesn’t even feel real right now. It’s just full circle. … It’s been something that I’ve been chasing for a long time. It’s something that we always want every summer in Niagara.” Elijah Lufile wanted to win for himself to become the first player to ever three-peat; he also wanted to win for brother Meshack, a teammate who had never won before. “That’s something we can tell our kids,” Lufile said. “We just stayed true to ourselves and our identity is guys giving 100 per cent effort.” Captain Kimbal Mackenzie was a leader on last year’s team, but didn’t play much. This year, he was a relied-upon starter. And for all his league accolades, Khalil Ahmad still felt like he didn’t get the love he deserved. “I mean, sheesh. Can’t put any words on it,” Ahmad said. Raso said all the parts came together to make a roster that was underrated by some throughout the season. Now, they’re champions. “It took a while for this team to gel and find their rhythm. We have Ahmed Hill coming off the bench. He’s the leading scorer in CEBL history. That’s what bothers me when people talk about us this year the way they did,” Raso said. “This was a really, really good basketball team and when it mattered, we were awesome.” In the early going, Calgary made its presence known, racing to an 11-3 lead that was punctuated by a monstrous alley-oop jam from Brown III. But last year’s winners showed their championship mettle immediately, responding with a 13-0 run of their own to go in front. They never relinquished that lead. Through one quarter, Niagara led 21-20. Then, it turned the defence up a notch en route to a 42-36 halftime advantage as Calgary made just three of 19 three-point attempts. But momentum followed Calgary into the locker room after Nelson Jr. drained a halfcourt buzzer-beater. Still, the River Lions weren’t fazed, opening the third frame with an Ahmad three and stretching their lead to 16 after back-to-back Hill triples. Niagara took a 63-51 lead into the final quarter of the season before it ultimately prevailed. Basketball royalty was among the 7,129 total attendance for the Final, as longtime Canadian coach Steve Konchalski and Nick Elam, who created Target Score endings, both witnessed the championship game. Meanwhile, the parents of Chad Posthumus — a CEBL lifer and Winnipeg native who tragically died in November at age 33 — were on hand to present the championship trophy. Now, for the second straight year, that trophy will make a home in St. Catharines, Ont. “We fought through so much adversity,” Ahmad said. “We deserved this win.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2702972 - CEBL -

(Preview: CEBL Championship Final) The motto in Niagara all season? Run it back. Now, the River Lions are just one win away — but standing opposite them is a thriving Calgary Surge team that’s won seven straight games to get to the Final. The championship game begins Sunday at 6 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre with live coverage on TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+ and NLSE. A victory for the River Lions would make them the second team ever to go back-to-back, and also the second franchise to win multiple titles, joining the 2020-2021 Edmonton Stingers. The Surge, meanwhile, are searching for their first title in their third straight trip to Championship Weekend. Niagara head coach Victor Raso said this team feels different than last year’s despite having multiple returning players. “It’s just been a very, very different season. It doesn’t matter how you do it; it just matters that you do it. And these guys got a chance to win a back-to-back championship, which is pretty cool,” he said. Raso’s River Lions finished the regular season at 14-10, going on a mid-season seven-game winning streak to clinch the East before losing their last five in a row. But when the level ramped up a notch in the East final against the Scarborough Shooting Stars, that middle-of-the-season squad showed up once more. And yet again, it was Khalil Ahmad who delivered the game-winner in a 93-91 win. Now, it’s onto the Surge. “The big thing is I know that it’s just about basketball,” Raso said. “They don’t need me to care. They care enough about this. This is why this program has been successful is because we’ve created a culture where these guys actually care about each other and winning.” Alongside Ahmad, Elijah Lufile dominated against the Shooting Stars, scoring eight points to go with 15 rebounds — a franchise playoff record — and four huge free throws down the stretch. But both will face tougher tasks in Calgary, which allowed the fewest points per game in the regular season (87.2) and collected the most steals per game (10.3). The Surge come into this Final as battle-tested as can be after winning a Battle of Alberta play-in game, beating the top-seeded Vancouver Bandits in the West semi and ousting the Winnipeg Sea Bears on their home court in front of 9,000-plus screaming fans. Calgary had the second-best regular-season record at 17-7. "Our championship poise down the stretch was big. We’ve coached that a lot this season and I just love our group,” head coach Kaleb Canales said. Calgary got through those playoff matchups on the strength of defence — a strength all season. Both Defensive Player of the Year nominees came from the Surge, in the form of guard Jameer Nelson Jr. and big man Greg Brown III. Nelson Jr. ultimately took home the trophy, but it was clear that Calgary’s defence was the product of a team effort. “Yeah, we’re the No. 1 defensive team but we always feel like we can play way better defence. That’s what we love about our team. It’s just like endless trying,” forward Sean Miller-Moore said. Miller-Moore, the league’s all-time Canadian leading scorer who is still searching for his first title, added that the Surge have plenty of fuel within them, which makes them tough to handle especially coming out of halftime. “We’re all leaders on the court. There’s nothing they can tell us that will motivate us. We’re already motivated. We know what we need to do. We know that we’re the best defending team,” he said. Given the internal motivation and the connectiveness, Raso said the Surge remind him of his own team. “They’re incredibly together. Their chemistry is really good. You can tell they like each other, they like playing basketball for each other. … They just move the ball really well. There’s a lot of togetherness, they try defensively,” Raso said. Both teams also have longtime CEBLers looking for their first title in Miller-Moore and River Lions guard Ahmed Hill, the league’s all-time leading scorer. They’re each lined with top-end stars, clutch role players and depth across the floor. Just one, however, will leave Sunday’s game with the coveted championship trophy. 2025 CEBL Playoff Schedule CW25 – CEBL Championship Final – Sunday, Aug. 24 – CGY vs. NRL – 6 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games

When the whistle blew for Target Score Time in Niagara’s contentious semifinal victory against Scarborough, Elijah Lufile went to the free-throw line for two crucial attempts. Lufile had made just 58.3 per cent of his attempts from the stripe during the season — and everyone in the building knew these pressure shots could essentially be coin flips. Before the first, the big man walked to the base of the net, put his head against the blue padding and lingered there for a few moments. He proceeded to make both — and then two more a few minutes later to put the River Lions within three points of victory. “I was locking in. I was also extremely tired. I think right before that I had asked Vic [Raso] for a sub and I was just trying to really gather my thoughts and clear my head at the same time, because that’s what you want. You’re not thinking. You’re just form shooting, repetition and muscle memory,” Lufile said. He added that this Championship Weekend means even more to him with brother Meshack on his side. On a personal level, he could become the first player ever with three titles. He played for the Shooting Stars in 2023 where he won his first championship after collecting seven offensive rebounds in a semifinal win over the River Lions. He then signed with Niagara that off-season and won yet again. “Knowing that this could be a historical thing for me potentially winning three in a row, I was just locked in. That’s really what it was. I was just locked in. And I’m really doing this for my brother as well. He’s on my team, he’s never won a ring before, get him to win a ring and also the other guys who are just coming in as well,” Lufile said. Lufile, the Milton, Ont., native, also hauled in a River Lions playoff record 15 rebounds in the win over the Shooting Stars. From the sidelines, Raso said he didn’t waver even as one of the worst free-throw shooters on his team — at least statistically — stepped in for some of the biggest of the game. “There was something about him that gave me confidence last night, just the way he was standing over the ball. That was humongous. Outside of Khalil’s shot, his [free throws] were massive. Massive.” Ahmad, who now has more playoff Target Score Winners than anyone in league history, had just one word to describe Lufile’s heroics. “Clutch.” Miller-Moore, Hill take aim at first title Between them, Calgary’s Sean Miller-Moore and Niagara’s Ahmed Hill have suited up in 194 CEBL games. Miller-Moore has scored more points than any Canadian; Hill’s scored more points than anyone, period. Yet neither has ever won a title. That will change Sunday, when Miller-Moore’s Surge clash with Hill’s River Lions at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre. “It’d be amazing,” Hill said. “Like they say, I already got accolades, but I don’t have a ring, so that’s something I want really bad. I’ve never won a championship before. So to do it with these guys, it would be amazing.” To be clear, when the 30-year-old Hill says he’s never won a championship before, he doesn’t just mean the CEBL. Hill said he’s never won a season-long championship in his career, dating back to at least high school. In the CEBL, he’s bounced around three teams in search of that elusive ring — now, with the defending champions, he’s one win away. Standing in his way, however, is Miller-Moore, who’s been in the Surge organization for five years since it was located in Guelph. He wasn’t willing to look ahead after the team’s semifinal win over Calgary, though. “It’s a great feeling, but it doesn’t mean anything unless you win. So we’re excited for the opportunity to get there. Obviously it’s my second time there, so extremely excited.” Teammate Evan Gilyard II said part of his motivation was getting Miller-Moore that long-awaited win. “It’d be great to win this championship for us, the city and Rugzy. … We gotta get him one.” Posthumus legacy lives on It’s hard to miss. Hanging from the roof on the south end of Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre, there is a lone Sea Bears banner. ‘Posthumus, 33.’ The teal-coloured sign memorializes Chad Posthumus, the Winnipeg native and longtime CEBLer who died tragically in November at age 33 after suffering a brain aneurysm. On the court across from the banner, another logo is imprinted: ’33 Forever.’ As Championship Weekend takes place in Winnipeg, it’s clear that Posthumus won’t soon be forgotten. Sea Bears head coach and general manager Mike Taylor, who spent Posthumus’ final two seasons with him in his hometown, said the connection between player, city and league was undeniable. “My last phone call with Chad, I remember sitting at my son's baseball practice in Florida, and it was a conversation about how great Championship Weekend is going to be, how special it's going to be here in Winnipeg,” Taylor recalled in a press conference on Wednesday. “So it's a difficult thing to think about. We loved him, and he was such a big part of our organization and city. And I really believe he's with us now in spirit.” Posthumus still sits 13th all-time in games played in CEBL history, having suited up for 81 contests. He appeared in the inaugural 2019 season, where he won the championship as a member of the Saskatchewan Rattlers, and he also spent two seasons with the Ottawa BlackJacks in 2021 and 2022. In many ways, the CEBL was created for players like Posthumus, a basketball lifer who was finally given the opportunity to play professionally at home. It’s fitting, then, that he’s watching over as a champion will be crowned in his hometown on Sunday. - CEBL -

Due to gusting winds and the chance of rain, the Kal Tire CW25 3x3 Tournament Powered by Peg City has moved to its backup indoor location today. Duckworth Centre – University of Winnipeg 400 Spence St, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2R6The tournament is still open to the public, and with some games delayed yesterday, today’s schedule will be packed as they work to complete the tournament. Special Note: Slam Dunk Contest – 2:00 pm Matt Loewen Legacy Shootout – 2:30 pm Both also moved to Duckworth a nd open to the public. Weather is looking better for tomorrow, and the playoffs are expected to return to the Play Now Street Festival. The rest of the festival is currently scheduled to continue as planned at the main site on Graham at True North Square. ###