The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday the signing of forward Grant Shephard for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A product of Kelowna, Shephard returns to the Bandits for a fourth season after previously spending time with the organization in 2019 as a Developmental Player, as well as during the 2023 and 2025 campaigns. Most recently, the 6-foot-10 forward played the 2025-26 overseas season with CSB Corona Brasov in Romania. His three-year professional career includes stints in Portugal, Estonia and Sweden. During the 2025 CEBL season, Shephard played in six games for Vancouver, averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds on .833 shooting from the field. This will be Shephard’s fourth stint with the Bandits and fifth overall in the CEBL; his time with the club includes an appearance in the club’s first-ever game on May 9. 2019. Shephard began his collegiate career at the University of British Columbia before finishing at Carleton University, where he captured back-to-back U SPORTS national championships in 2022 and 2023.  He also earned two medals with Canada Basketball at both the junior and senior level, including gold at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup and silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Prior to completing his high school basketball at the prestigious Montverde Academy in Florida, Shephard attended Kelowna Secondary. Shephard helped guide the Owls to a B.C. AAAA provincial championship in 2016 while he took home MVP honours as a junior. The Bandits will bring CEBL basketball to the Okanagan for their next home game on Saturday, June 6. This neutral-site matchup against the Saskatoon Mamba at Prospera Place is part of the inaugural Kelowna HOOPFEST, hosted in partnership with the City of Kelowna. Fans can secure tickets and learn more about Kelowna HOOPFEST by visiting https://www.thebandits.ca/kelowna-hoopfest . Bandits Single Game Tickets and additional 2026 ticket options can be purchased here . All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app, the CBC Gem app and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Marquee games will air nationally on CBC TV. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced the signing of experienced guard, Stanley Davis Jr. The 6-foot-5 guard from Chester, Pennsylvania brings five years of professional experience across Europe, most recently competing with TFT Skopje where he averaged 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 30 minutes per game. Davis Jr. is known by his signature nickname Bazz. “I’m grateful for the opportunity the Edmonton Stingers have given me to be able to play in the rising and respected CEBL. I love to compete and playing against some of Canada’s best talent will not only be fun but also a learning experience on and off the court. I’m excited to connect and learn with Coach Baker and bring value to his vision.” said Davis Jr. Prior to the 2026 season, Davis Jr. also played professionally in Portugal, Bosnia, Georgia, and the United Kingdom, consistently producing offensively while impacting the game on both ends of the floor. Across 49 professional games overseas, he has averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field. “Stanley is a player the Stingers faithful can get excited about! He is a dynamic playmaker who excels in transition and who can score in a variety of ways. He is an experienced professional who will be joining the CEBL for the first time this summer and looking to make a name for himself in Edmonton!” says Head Coach and President, Jordan Baker. Prior to his professional career, Davis Jr spent 4 years in the NCAA playing with Morgan State from 2016-2020. In his senior year, he averaged 13.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over 30 games played. Bazz is set to make his debut with the team on Sunday May 31st when the Stingers take on their Western Conference rivals, the Calgary Surge, on the road.

The Montreal Alliance of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today the signing of Montreal native Anthony Maxwell. The 6-foot-1 guard joins the Alliance after competing at the NCAA Division I, junior college, and U SPORTS levels, bringing speed, shot creation, and offensive versatility to Montreal’s backcourt. “Anthony is a player who competes hard on the defensive end and fits the identity we want to build as a team,” said Co-Owner and General Manager Joel Anthony. “Being from Montreal, he understands the pride that comes with representing this city, and we’re excited to see him continue to grow within our organization.” Maxwell most recently played for the Concordia Stingers during the 2025-26 season, where he emerged as an impactful offensive contributor in the RSEQ conference. Appearing in 23 games, he averaged 7.7 points and 4.3 rebounds while showcasing his ability to contribute offensively in both starting and reserve roles. Throughout the season, Maxwell delivered several strong performances, including 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting against Ottawa, 15 points against Laval, and 10 points and seven rebounds in a victory over Carleton. Known for his quickness, shifty handle, and ability to get to his spots in the mid-range area, Maxwell consistently provided offensive production for the Stingers. Prior to joining Concordia, Maxwell competed at UMass Lowell during the 2023-24 NCAA Division I season before continuing his collegiate career at Gulf Coast State College in 2024-25. Across each stop, he continued to develop as an offensive-minded guard capable of creating off the dribble and attacking opposing defenses. A native of Lachine, Maxwell developed through Montreal’s basketball scene, including time with Brookwood Elite Basketball, a program that has also helped develop current Alliance players Quincy Guerrier and Keeshawn Barthelemy. He later attended Montreal-based Dynastie Prep, where he averaged 22 points and four assists during his senior high school season, establishing himself as one of the promising young guards to emerge from the city’s basketball community. Maxwell now joins the Alliance as the organization continues its 2026 CEBL campaign. -REPMTL - About the Montreal Alliance The Montreal Alliance is a professional basketball team competing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s premier summer basketball league. The organization is committed to delivering high-level basketball and an engaging experience for fans in Montreal and across Quebec.

Whenever the Edmonton Stingers and Calgary Surge square off, there’s always a little extra on the line between the Alberta rivals. But on Sunday, the stakes will be even higher. The Surge will host the Stingers at Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer, AB, the site of last year’s memorable showdown, where Edmonton came out on top. This time around, both teams enter hungry for a much-needed win. Edmonton (1-3) and Calgary (0-3) each enter the week sitting on three losses and already at least two games back of the West-leading Vancouver Bandits and Winnipeg Sea Bears. Worse yet for the Surge, there’s still a goose egg in the win column. Their closest opportunity came in the season opener when they got within a possession of the Ottawa BlackJacks in Target Score Time but wound up falling 93-88. Since then, Calgary lost by double-digits to each of the Brampton Honey Badgers and Bandits. Still, there is some reason for optimism within the Surge, who reached the CEBL Finals last year. Point guard Evan Gilyard II has picked up right where he left off last season, putting up 23.7 points per game and connecting on 38.5 per cent of his three-point shot attempts while also dishing 6.7 assists per contest. Canadian Olumide Adelodun is also off to a strong start in his second CEBL season, more than doubling his scoring average to 16.7 points per game and continuing to hit three-pointers at a high rate. Moreover, fellow Canadian Rugzy Miller-Moore has yet to make his season debut, and he’ll add another fierce scoring threat once he returns. North of Red Deer, meanwhile, the Stingers continue searching for their identity after key losses in Sean East II and Keon Ambrose-Hylton this off-season. Central to that has been newcomer Dain Dainja, who is registering a team-leading 23.8 points and nine rebounds per game despite not even attempting a three-pointer. Both marks are good for fifth leaguewide. The Stingers are also just four points away from having a completely different outlook after their 101-99 home loss to the defending-champion Niagara River Lions on Sunday marked their second two-point defeat of the season. Edmonton also has a dominant win over the Bandits on their resumé as their lone victory. But before long, more of those tight, late games must swing their way. No better time for that to start than Sunday against their provincial rivals in Red Deer. Early numbers to know 3.2 — Teddy Allen’s league-leading steals-per-game mark. The Sea Bears star scorer’s 16 swipes through four games are already the second-most of his five-year CEBL career. 17 —Bandits guard Jaelen House set a single-game CEBL assists record in a win over the Stingers in which he also had 32 points and seven rebounds. 19-0 — the Target Score Time comeback run put on by the Scarborough Shooting Stars in a stunning win over the Saskatoon Mamba. 42.5% — the Mamba’s three-point percentage for the season despite sitting last in the West at 0-4. Perhaps they need to lean even further into the deep ball. 100% — Gilyard II’s free-throw percentage on 15 tries, the last player in the league not to miss from the stripe (minimum 10 attempts). Weekly schedule (Nine games) Game #20 – Tuesday, May 26 – NRL at MTL – 7:30 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS.ca, CEBL+) Game #21 – Thursday, May 28 – MTL at BHB – 11 a.m. ET – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #22 – Thursday, May 28 – SSS at CGY – 7:30 p.m. MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #23 – Friday, May 29 – VAN at NRL – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #24 – Friday, May 29 – WPG at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST / 8:30 p.m. CDT / 9:30 p.m. ET – SaskTel Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #25 – Saturday, May 30 – VAN at BHB – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #26 – Sunday, May 31 – OTT at MTL – 4 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS.ca, CEBL+) Game #27 – Sunday, May 31 – EDM at CGY – 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET – Marchant Crane Centrium (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #28 – Sunday, May 31 – SSS at SSK – 4 p.m. CST / 6 p.m. ET – SaskTel Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .  ###

David Asper, owner and Chair of the Winnipeg Sea Bears, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rhéanne Marcoux as team President, effective June 1, 2026. Marcoux has been serving as Chief Brand and Experience Officer since January 2026, and prior to that, worked closely with the Sea Bears as an external consultant and staff mentor. Asper will remain as Chair of the Sea Bears and, as a co-owner of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, will continue as the team’s Director on the League Board, where he currently serves on its Executive Committee. “Rhéanne is a proven success in professional sports in Winnipeg, and her impact with the Bombers is truly national – for both the team and the CFL itself,” said Asper. “Since joining the Sea Bears, she has fundamentally transformed how this organization operates, from implementing new systems and processes to establishing long-term team culture across the organization. This appointment is the natural next step, and I’m looking forward to having our fans and our entire organization benefit from her leadership.” Over an 11-year tenure with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Marcoux rose from the marketing department to Vice President, Marketing and Communications for the 112th Grey Cup, where she led the brand strategy, content creation, fan engagement, and communications apparatus for one of the CFL’s most iconic franchises. Her work culminated in overseeing the marketing and communications efforts for the 2026 Grey Cup Festival, a national tentpole event that showcased Winnipeg on the country’s biggest stage. Prior to her time with the Blue Bombers, Marcoux built a diverse career across broadcast journalism with Radio Canada, sports marketing with True North Sports and Entertainment, and as founder of her own creative agency. She holds a degree in communications and is an alumna of Red River College and the University of Winnipeg. A content strategist, design specialist, multimedia expert, and brand builder, Marcoux is known for her ability to create emotional connections between fans and the brands they love. Her approach goes beyond traditional advertising – it’s rooted in storytelling, creative ambition, and a deep understanding of what turns casual fans into lifelong ones. Since arriving at the Sea Bears in January 2026, Marcoux has implemented a new CRM, launched a marketing automation system, introduced project management infrastructure, and led a brand and culture reset across the organization. As President, she will oversee all business operations, brand strategy, revenue, marketing, ticketing, partnerships, fan experience, and community engagement. “When I came on board, I saw an organization with incredible potential and a fan base that was ready for more,” said Marcoux. “Over the past several months, we’ve been building new foundations – new systems, new processes and a new way of working together. There’s a lot of building left to do, but we are so fortunate to have a fantastic staff and I’m excited to continue to grow the Sea Bears organization together.”

The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’5 American guard Donald Carey for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Carey will join the team for this Friday’s game versus the Winnipeg Sea Bears . Carey joins the River Lions after a 2025-26 campaign which saw him feature for the Leicester Riders of the SLB and Rayos de Hermosillo of the Mexican CIBACOPA . He led both teams in assists and steals, combining for averages of 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on the season. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland native started his collegiate career with the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers . Carey found his stride midway into the season winning NEC Rookie of the Week with averages of 12.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 60% from the field and 63% from three. Carey spent his sophomore season at Siena University before transferring to Georgetown University . In Carey’s second season with the Hoyas he averaged college career highs of 13.5 points, 1.5 steals, and 33.8 minutes per game in addition to being awarded the Big East Sportsmanship Award. Carey spent his final season of college in his home state with the University of Maryland , where, in his lone year with the Terrapins , he started 33 games, averaging 7.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. After college Carey started his professional career with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League , where he played for 2 seasons. In Carey’s second season he earned a bigger role in the rotation as a key contributor off the bench, averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. After Carey’s stint in the G League he headed overseas to the Otago Nuggets of the NZ NBL where he blossomed into a starring role, leading the nuggets with 22.4 points, 5.6 Assists, 1.5 Steals, and 35.6 minutes per game. ### 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.

It’s early days in this CEBL season as teams go through the learning process of discovering who they are and what they might become. But squint closely enough, and the tiniest signs of which teams might emerge as contenders are beginning to show. In fact, you don’t even have to squint all that much to notice Brampton’s 2-0 record and plus-24 point differential. On the west coast, Vancouver’s 124-point opening-game outburst also put opponents on notice. Interestingly, both of those squads will get a unique test in the form of a rematch as we enter the second full week of action. The Honey Badgers will meet the Ottawa BlackJacks in the nation’s capital after Javonte Smart and company gave Brampton a scare on its home court. Meanwhile, the Bandits will get another shot at the Edmonton Stingers — this time at home — after a 13-point loss on Saturday. Let’s dive a little deeper into those two marquee games… Honey Badgers (2-0) vs. BlackJacks (2-1) — Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET, The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Sean East II has come as advertised in his first year with the Honey Badgers. The MVP runner-up last season, East II has scored 47 points, tallied 24 assists and 14 rebounds while shooting 50 per cent from three-point range through two games — exactly why General Manager Jermaine Anderson brought him in. But East II hasn’t done it alone, getting help from Matthew Moncrieffe’s 21 combined rebounds and Cameron Tyson’s incredible outburst of eight three-pointers in the 91-86 win over Ottawa. The BlackJacks, on the other side, might be pointing at that very shooting as a reason for optimism. Ottawa shot just 25 per cent from beyond the arc compared to Brampton’s 48 per cent, with Tyson hitting half of his attempts alone. If the BlackJacks can close that gap at all, it could make all the difference. Ottawa appears to have carried some momentum from the end of last season, when it found a winning mix led by Javonte Smart only to be undone by playoff absences. Smart, in particular, has picked up where he left off, putting up 71 points and 28 assists through three games, including wins over Calgary Surge and defending-champion Niagara River Lions. However, for Ottawa to avoid fighting uphill like it did last season, an early win over the Honey Badgers would be crucial in keeping the standings close and the head-to-head tiebreaker in play. Lose, and the separation becomes significant already. For Brampton, which entered the season with big expectations, it’s a chance to prove all the hype was warranted. Stingers (1-1) vs. Bandits (1-1) — Friday, 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET, Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) On paper, Vancouver might just be the best team in the West. Of course, the games aren’t played on paper, and the Stingers have proven they might be a force too despite losing East II along with Keon Ambrose-Hylton to the Honey Badgers in the off-season. Which means there’s plenty at stake in this rematch in terms of both perception — Edmonton would surely gain lots of confidence from another victory here — and the reality of the standings. After losing MVP Mitch Creek in the off-season, the Bandits might have stumbled onto an immediate replacement in Jaelen House, who leads the league with 60 points despite starting just one of two games. House, a 25-year-old American, is second in shot attempts only behind noted gunner Teddy Allen, though he also has 14 assists. Elsewhere, cemented CEBL stars Tevian Jones and Tyrese Samuel have also enjoyed strong starts, with both shooting over 59 per cent from the floor. Edmonton, meanwhile, has been led by the wonderfully named Dain Dainja, who erupted for a 25-point, 14-rebound effort in the win over the Bandits. Preventing Dainja from having that kind of night again will be among the keys for the Bandits in the home opener. And whichever team emerges victorious in this game will present itself as the top challenger to the West-leading Winnipeg Sea Bears. Weekly schedule (8 games) Game #12 – Thursday, May 21 – SSK at SSS – 11 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CST – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #13 – Thursday, May 21 – BHB at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #14 – Friday, May 22 – NRL at WPG – 8 p.m. CDT / 9 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #15 – Friday, May 22 – EDM at VAN – 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT / 10 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #16 – Saturday, May 23 – MTL at OTT – 7 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #17 – Sunday, May 24 – NRL at EDM – 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #18 – Sunday, May 24 – CGY at VAN – 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #19 – Monday, May 25 – WPG at BHB – 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CDT – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games . ###