How the CEBL is Developing Talent off the Court
May 10, 2024
Josh Kozelj
Much like CEBL players Canadian broadcasters were honing their skills in the offseason
Mitch Peacock never realized he needed to become a sports broadcaster.
In the 1970s and 80s, as a child growing up in Castlegar, B.C, a town situated in the foothills of the Kootenay Rockies in the southeastern corner of the province, Peacock and his childhood friends would frequently meet up for a game of some kind
after school.
Before he called five Olympic Games and covered a pair of World Cups, Peacock was the voice of their games. Naturally, in the middle of a scrimmage, surrounded by mountains and streetlights, he called the action play-by-play.
His voice rose following a turning point — any big play.
“I was always known for talking a lot,” he said. “But I didn’t put the two and two together. My friends did.”
After graduating from the University of Alberta in 1989 with a degree in recreation administration, Peacock went to work in social services and helped kids who dropped out of school find a career.
For almost five years, he hosted workshops that taught kids how to identify their skill set and find something they were passionate about. Because, he told them, if you can mold those two aspects together, work will take on a different meaning.
But after half a decade, even though he enjoyed working with youth, Peacock realized he wasn’t listening to his own advice.
“I spent a lot of my free time reading about sports, watching sports and playing sports,” he said.
“I started to wonder how I could get into the sports world?”
***
The question is a common one for hundreds, if not thousands, of Canadians across the country.
Over
four million Canadian youth played in at least one organized sport in 2023, or roughly 67 per cent of the total population of people between the ages of three and 17 in the country.
Although a select few of those athletes will continue playing competitive sports in university — including a
record number of Canadians who played in the men’s and women’s NCAA March Madness tournament last year — many will have to look for other opportunities to stay connected to sports in their adult life.
“I liked the life of being a hockey player with a schedule and travel,” Peacock,
a former junior and university goalie, said.
“If I could find a way to work in broadcasting, broadcast hockey games, travel around with a team, it would be a combination of my interests.”
After leaving his career in social work, he started picking up gigs: calling radio for an Alberta junior hockey team, then the ECHL and WHL (and the East Coast Hockey League). He’s since become the English voice on the world feed of the Swedish Hockey League.
Peacock quickly became a jack of all trades broadcaster. Alongside his hockey duties, he built a relationship with the CBC to cover a variety of sports across five separate Olympic Games between 2014 and 2022.
“In Sochi, for example, I did all the freestyle skiing events,” he said.
“For Rio, my main assignments were women’s rugby sevens and men’s field hockey… For 2018 [PyeongChang], I was asked to do all the short track speed skating.”
Peacock, genuinely, gets excited at the prospect of covering a new sport. As a kid who grew up in a small town, sports were accessible, he said. There was no specialization at a young age and he gravitated to many different sports.
“It was just a world that made sense to me,” he said.
But even though he has called various sports as a broadcaster for nearly three decades, there was one sport that he never had the chance to call.
***
When the CEBL was founded in 2017, the league included a mission statement to “develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees,”
according to its website.
On the court, the league has seen fourteen players sign NBA contracts following a CEBL season, numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year, and there are currently six players on either a Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) or Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) roster.
But off the court, Peacock and other broadcasters across the country have also used the league to sharpen their basketball play-by-play and colour commentating skills.
“I had no experience and was shocked when these guys were giving me an opportunity,” said Dhanung Bulsara when the CEBL asked him to become a regional and national sideline reporter in 2021.
“But they saw something in me.”
Alongside Bulsara, former CEBL broadcaster Amy Audibert, who got her big break as a league sideline reporter in 2020, went on to
work for the Raptors and now serves as an analyst for the Miami Heat.
Matt Bonomi, who started calling basketball play-by-play in 2022 during the Basketball Champions League Americas, impressed the CEBL and has since become a regular broadcaster for multiple southern Ontario games.
Prior to sideline reporting, Bulsara, 37, created digital content for the Guelph Nighthawks. As part of the reporting gig, Bulsara also started hosting a show,
CEBL Weekly, that recapped the latest scores and highlights from across the league.
The front-facing television exposure gave him the confidence to be in front of a camera, and last spring, land an in-game host position with the Toronto Blue Jays.
“It’s always nice when you don’t have the experience but somebody sees potential in you,” Bulsara said. “They want to prepare everyone to get to that next level.”
Similar to Bulsara, Peacock, who joined the Calgary Surge in their inaugural CEBL campaign last summer, said he was drawn to the league because of its focus on allowing players and off-court personnel to grow and showcase their talents for other opportunities.
“I thought it’s one of those energetic, enthusiastic new projects,” he said. “A lot of what they do is development, whether that’s the athletes on the floor, coaches, medical staff or front office personnel.”
Despite not having any basketball play-by-play experience, Peacock was confident his skills would translate to the game. But he needed help understanding the technical aspects of the sport like the rules or strategies in certain moments.
So, prior to the season, Peacock and his broadcast partner, Jamaine Cummings, hopped on a video call once per week to call a CEBL game from the 2022 season. Peacock leaned on Cummings to break down the nuances of the game, and the sessions helped the two gain familiarity with one another.
“I had too much respect for the game, for the audience, to just kind of wing it,” Peacock said.
By the end of the season, Peacock’s play-by-play work did not go unnoticed. He built a demo reel and connected with a broadcast group who asked if he was interested in calling some more hoops.
“They said, ‘We see you got some experience in the CEBL, would you be interested in doing some European basketball?” said Peacock, who now is in the midst of a regular schedule of German BBL games and who has also done Turkish BSL contests.
The CEBL is a place where people — players and broadcasters — can grow, perform and demonstrate their talents, Peacock added.
Last month, for example, Peacock was calling a BBL game remotely from his home office in Calgary when one player jumped off his screen.
Thomas Kennedy, a four-year CEBL veteran who played for the Scarborough Shooting Stars last season, was on the court, playing for a team based in Bonn, Germany.
As Kennedy started knocking down open shots and gaining steam on the court, Peacock gently raised his voice, eager to meet the moment.
“Thomas Kennedy was absolutely rocking it,” Peacock said.
“And here I am, referencing his CEBL resume on an international broadcast of the BBL.”
The Vancouver Bandits announced today that the reigning Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Most Valuable Player Mitch Creek has re-signed with the club for the 2026 CEBL season. The 6-foot-5 forward and fan favourite returns to the Bandits after a stellar 2025 campaign in which he was named Most Valuable Player and an All-CEBL First Team Selection. Creek had one of the most statistically productive stretches of his career during the 2025 CEBL season. Starting in all 20 regular season games, he averaged a team-high 24.4 points per game along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 34.4 minutes.Creek made his CEBL debut during the 2024 season and currently ranks second on the Bandits’ all-time leading scorers list (643 points). Creek appeared in five NBA regular season games during the 2018-19 season, splitting time between the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves averaging 4.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game on 50 per cent shooting from the field across both clubs. A veteran of 15 professional seasons, Creek was a mainstay and all-star in his home country’s National Basketball League (NBL), logging 338 games and served as captain for both the Adelaide 36ers and South East Melbourne Phoenix. Most recently, Creek competed for Romanian club U-BT Cluj-Napoca during the 2025-26 season where he captained the team to a Romanian League championship and received All-EuroCup Second Team honours. A native of Horsham, Australia, Creek is a major basketball figure in his home country and has been instrumental to the success of the national team, known as the Boomers, and was recently named to Australia’s roster for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers taking place in July. Creek will step away from the Bandits’ roster to join the Australian national team in advance of its FIBA World Cup Qualifier games on July 3 and 6 against Guam and the Philippines, respectively. He will rejoin the Bandits at the conclusion of his international duties. 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. ### About the Vancouver Bandits: The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (LEC), while also being committed to growing the game of basketball by fostering meaningful community connections through youth programming, events, and partnerships.
The Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Saturday that they have re-signed Khalil Miller for his second season in Scarborough. The 6'8 Scarborough native averaged 5.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 53% shooting from the field for the Shooting Stars last year. Despite playing 15 minutes a game, his rebounding numbers were in the 76th percentile in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and his 1.3 blocks anchored the paint for Scarborough, accounting for 19% of all the Shooting Stars blocks. With only 0.5 turnovers a game and strong finishing around the rim (70% field goal percentage in the paint), Miller proved he can provide impact to the floor without needing the ball or plays run for him. You would often see him finishing off a play with a dunk, bringing down an offensive rebound (1.5 per game) or setting screens to free up others. During the 2025 CEBL Eastern Conference Semifinal, Miller put up 19 points and 17 rebounds on 87% shooting to punch the Shooting Stars ticket to Championship Weekend. 17 rebounds in a game is a Shooting Stars single game record. Overseas Professional Career Miller recently averaged 14.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 2.1 steals for Lokomotiv Plovdiv in 2025-26, a professional club in Bulgaria. He averaged 10.1 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game on 64% shooting for Allianz Swans Gmunden in the Austrian Bundesliga in 2024-25. He averaged 16.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.2 blocks for EN Baskets Schwelm in the German Pro B North league in 2023-24. Canadian Post Secondary Career Miller played three years at Seneca College and his senior season at McMaster University, with career averages of 12.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals. He was the recipient of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 with McMaster.
Burns (6-7, 220 lbs, Youngstown State University; born: May 16, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana) arrives in Winnipeg after back-to-back productive seasons overseas. In the 2025–26 campaign with Maccabi Rishon Lezion in the Israeli Premier League, Burns averaged 13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, highlighted by a season-high 28 points and 6 rebounds against Ness Ziona. Prior to his time in Israel, Burns spent the 2024–25 season with Sigal Prishtina in the Kosovo Basketball Superliga, where he was one of the league's most dominant big men, averaging 16.2 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. In one standout performance, he put up 24 points, 17 rebounds and 4 assists for a game-high efficiency rating of 34. Before turning professional, Burns built a decorated college career spanning three programs. At Youngstown State in 2023–24, he was one of the Horizon League's top frontcourt players, starting all 32 games and averaging 13.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists, earning All-Horizon League Second Team and Horizon League All-Defensive Team honours. He previously played two seasons at Murray State (2021–23) and began his college career at Southern University (2019–21). "We are excited to add D.J. Burns to our roster, he has proven he can produce at a high level internationally and throughout his college career, and what stood out to us was his motor, rebounding ability and defensive presence," said Head Coach and General Manager Mike Raimbault. "He brings toughness, and a team-first mentality that will fit well with our group and the style we want to play in Winnipeg. ###
Avant le début de la saison, l'entraîneur-chef des Stingers d'Edmonton, Jordan Baker, avait un dernier souhait à adresser à ses anciens joueurs, Sean East II et Keon Ambrose-Hylton, qui ont tous deux signé à Brampton lors du marché des agents libres. « Peut-être qu'ils pourront désormais gagner contre certaines équipes de l'Ouest autres que les Singers d'Edmonton et nous donner ainsi l'occasion d'améliorer notre position en vue des séries éliminatoires », a déclaré Baker. En tant qu'entraîneur des Stingers et tout au long de son parcours au sein de la LECB, Baker a pu constater de ses propres yeux le déséquilibre entre les conférences. Rien que la saison dernière, les trois meilleures équipes de la ligue, selon leurs résultats en saison régulière, provenaient toutes de la Conférence de l’Ouest. Eh bien, il s'avère que le duo continue de prêter attention à leur ancien entraîneur. Les Honey Badgers, qui occupent la tête du classement avec une fiche de 7-1, sont à 3-1 contre les équipes de l'Ouest, même si l'une de ces victoires a été remportée contre les Stingers. Dans l'ensemble, la Conférence de l’Est entame la semaine avec une fiche de 13-6 face à ses adversaires de l’Ouest, ce qui marque un revirement spectaculaire par rapport à la saison dernière. Les Stingers de Baker occupent quant à eux la troisième place dans l’ouest avec une fiche de 3-4, malgré un bilan de 1-2 face à l’Est. Ils auront l'occasion de revenir à 50 % des deux côtés samedi, lors de leur seul match de la semaine, où ils recevront les Shooting Stars de Scarborough, qui talonnent les Honey Badgers avec une fiche de 5-1, dont quatre victoires et une défaite face à l'Ouest. Les Shooting Stars ont pu compter sur leurs pivots pour prendre un excellent départ en début de saison. En effet, ils mènent la ligue en matière de rebonds (43,5 par match), de rebonds offensifs (12,8 par match) et de tirs tentés (78,8 par match). Edmonton, qui se situe dans le milieu du classement dans ces catégories, devra s'appuyer sur sa défense, classée deuxième, pour contenir Myles Powell, meilleur marqueur de la ligue, et Scarborough, même si ceux-ci obtiennent un avantage en termes de possession de balle. Quant à East II et Ambrose-Hylton, à Brampton, ils devront relever une paire de défis de la Conférence de l'Est alors qu'ils cherchent à solidifier leur statut d'équipe à battre. Tout d'abord, un voyage à Montréal mercredi dans le cadre du deuxième programme de trois matchs consécutifs de la saison, où ils affronteront l'Alliance, qui a perdu quatre de ses cinq derniers matchs et occupe la dernière place de la Conférence de l’Est avec une fiche de 3-5. Ensuite, les Honey Badgers rentrent chez eux pour accueillir les River Lions de Niagara, champions en titre, qui ont débuté la saison sur une note cahoteuse (3-4) et doivent se battre dès le début de la saison pour conserver leur chance de participer aux séries éliminatoires. Alors que les River Lions attendent des renforts, les Honey Badgers ont l'occasion de creuser l'écart au classement avant que l'été ne batte véritablement son plein. East II a joué un rôle essentiel dans le retour de Brampton, menant l'équipe avec 23,9 points et huit passes décisives par match. Juste derrière lui, on retrouve le tireur d'élite Cam Tyson, qui réussit 51,1 % de ses tirs à trois points, avec une moyenne de 20,1 points par match. Une dernière chose à surveiller lors des deux matchs des Honey Badgers de cette semaine : Tyson n'est plus qu'à 10 tirs à trois points du record de la franchise sur une saison (oui, déjà) et, avec une moyenne de 5,8 par match, il est certainement dans la bonne voie pour battre le record de la ligue, qui s'élève à 70. Le record est actuellement détenu conjointement par Justin Wright-Foreman, de Saskatoon, et Teddy Allen, de Winnipeg, tous deux établis lors de la saison 2023. Il devra toutefois réaliser deux excellentes performances face à des adversaires de la Conférence de l’Est pour y parvenir — ce qui s'avère être un véritable défi cette saison, compte tenu du changement de dynamique entre les équipes de la côte est et de la côte ouest. Horaire hebdomadaire (11 matchs) Match #38 – Le mercredi 10 juin – SSS à NRL – 19 h (HE) – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #39 – Le mercredi 10 juin – BHB à MTL – 19 h 30 (HE) – Auditorium de Verdun (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Match #40 – Le mercredi 10 juin – SSK à CGY – 19 h 30 (HR) / 21 h 30 (HE) – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #41 – Le vendredi 12 juin – CGY à WPG – 19 h (HAC) / 18 h (HR) / 20 h (HE) – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #42 – Le samedi 13 juin – MTL à NRL – 19 h (HE) – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #43 – Le samedi 13 juin – OTT à VAN – 18 h (HP) / 21 h (HE) – Envision Financial Court au Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #44 – Le samedi 13 juin – SSS à EDM – 19 h (HR) / 21 h (HE) – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #45 – Le dimanche 14 juin – WPG à CGY – 16 h (HR) / 17 h (HAC) / 18 h (HE) – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #46 – Le lundi 15 juin – NRL à BHB – 19 h 30 (HE) – Centre CAA (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #47 – Le lundi 15 juin – OTT à SSK – 19 h 30 (HNC) / 21 h 30 (HE) – Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #48 – Le lundi 15 juin – SSS à VAN – 19 h (HP) / 22 h (HE) – Envision Financial Court au Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la LECB 2026, rendez-vous sur cebl.ca/games .
Edmonton Stingers head coach Jordan Baker had one parting wish for former players Sean East II and Keon Ambrose-Hylton, who both signed in Brampton in free agency, prior to the season. “Maybe they can now beat some teams in the West not named the Edmonton Singers and get us an opportunity to improve our playoff footing,” Baker said. As Stingers coach and throughout his time in the CEBL, Baker has borne first-hand witness to conference imbalance — just last season, the top three teams in the league by regular-season record each hailed from the West. Well, it turns out the duo is still paying attention to their ex-coach. The Honey Badgers, who lead the league at 7-1, are 3-1 against the West — though one of those wins did come over the Stingers. Overall, the Eastern Conference holds a 13-6 record against Western opponents entering this week, marking a dramatic turnaround from last season. Baker’s Stingers, meanwhile, sit third in the West at 3-4 despite a 1-2 record against the East. They’ll have a chance to get to .500 on both accounts Saturday in their lone game of the week when they host the Scarborough Shooting Stars, who are hot on the Honey Badgers’ heels at 5-1, including a 4-1 mark against the West. The Shooting Stars have leaned on their big men to propel their fast start to the season as they lead the league in rebounding (43.5 per game), offensive rebounding (12.8 per game) and field-goal attempts (78.8 per game). Edmonton, which sits middle of the pack in those categories, will have to use its second-ranked defence to stifle the league’s scoring leader Myles Powell and Scarborough even if it hoovers up a possession advantage. As for East II and Ambrose-Hylton over in Brampton, they’ll face a pair of Eastern Conference challenges as they look to cement their status as the team to beat. First up is a trip to Montreal on Wednesday as part of the league’s second tripleheader of the season, where they’ll meet an Alliance squad that’s dropped four of its past five games and sits last in the East at 3-5. Then, the Honey Badgers return home to host the reigning champion Niagara River Lions, whose uneven start has them at 3-4 and fighting to stay in a playoff spot in the early going. While the River Lions await reinforcements, the Honey Badgers have an opportunity to create separation in the standings before the summer truly hits full swing. East II has been a key part of Brampton’s resurgence, leading the team with 23.9 points and eight assists per game. Just behind him is sharpshooter Cam Tyson, who’s connecting on a whopping 51.1 per cent of his three-point attempts, at 20.1 points per game. One more thing to watch over the Honey Badgers’ two-game week: Tyson is just 10 three-pointers away from the franchise’s single-season record — yes, already — and with an average of 5.8 per game, he is certainly on pace to challenge the league’s record of 70, currently shared by Saskatoon's Justin Wright-Foreman and Winnipeg's Teddy Allen, both set during the 2023 season. He’ll need a pair of big games against Eastern Conference opponents to do it, though — and that’s proving to be quite the challenge this season amid a coastal power shift. Weekly schedule (11 games) Game #38 – Wednesday, June 10 – SSS at NRL – 7 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #39 – Wednesday, June 10 – BHB at MTL – 7:30 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Game #40 – Wednesday, June 10 – SSK at CGY – 7:30 p.m. MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #41 – Friday, June 12 – CGY at WPG – 7 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #42 – Saturday, June 13 – MTL at NRL – 7 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #43 – Saturday, June 13 – OTT at VAN – 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #44 – Saturday, June 13 – SSS at EDM – 7 p.m. MT / 9 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #45 – Sunday, June 14 – WPG at CGY – 4 p.m. MT / 5 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #46 – Monday, June 15 – NRL at BHB – 7:30 p.m. ET – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #47 – Monday, June 15 – OTT at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST / 9:30 p.m. ET – Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #48 – Monday, June 15 – SSS at VAN – 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .
June 8 — The Calgary Surge have relieved Head Coach Perry Huang of his duties. The organization thanks Perry for his leadership and contributions and wishes him and his family the very best moving forward. “Our organization remains focused on competing at the highest level and experiencing the success we’re accustomed to,” said Team President, Dylan Howe. “We believe the change in direction allows us to move forward in pursuit of those goals.” Information regarding coaching responsibilities will be communicated at a later date. About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REAL) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that owns and operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club and REAL Studios. The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating as the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have made three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single-game attendance record, and have sent over 6,500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca . About the CEBL The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide. In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media.
La compagnie spécialisée dans le sport professionnel et le divertissement en direct, REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REAL), a annoncé aujourd'hui que le Surge de Calgary et le Mamba de Saskatoon de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB) seront les têtes d'affiche de la première Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic à l’aréna Takhini de Whitehorse, au Yukon, le vendredi 3 juillet 2026, à 18 h 30 HNY (19 h 30 (HR), 21 h 30 (HE)). La série d'événements de la fin de semaine de la fête du Canada, qui se déroulera du 1er au 4 juillet, est également appuyée par le gouvernement du Yukon et Air North, la compagnie aérienne du Yukon. Elle vise à créer un moment historique et un impact important pour Whitehorse, le Yukon et l'ensemble du paysage du basketball canadien. Le match entre le champion de 2019 de la LECB, le Mamba de Saskatoon, et le champion de la Conférence de l'Ouest de 2023 et 2025, le Surge de Calgary, a été confirmé comme étant le premier match de basketball professionnel de saison régulière disputé dans les territoires du Canada. « La Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic est exactement le genre de moment marquant et audacieux que nous voulons créer pour le basketball canadien, les entreprises canadiennes et nos incroyables partisans canadiens », a déclaré Ty Mazereeuw, président et chef de la direction de la LECB. « Toute notre ligue est fière de contribuer à écrire l'histoire aux côtés de REAL et de la communauté du Yukon. » Au cours de son historique de huit saisons, la LECB a organisé cinq matchs de saison régulière sur des sites neutres dans des centres sportifs de premier plan à travers le pays. REAL a été le moteur de quatre d'entre eux avec des événements consécutifs à Red Deer et des arrêts inoubliables prévus à Lethbridge, en Alberta et maintenant à Whitehorse, au Yukon. REAL, la LECB et Sport Yukon ont pris l'engagement historique de présenter cette série d'événements à Whitehorse pour les trois prochaines années. « Des événements comme le Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic montrent ce qui est possible lorsque les opérateurs canadiens de sports et d'événements en direct, les ordres de gouvernement et les organismes commerciaux et sans but lucratif travaillent ensemble avec une vision commune pour créer de la valeur touristique, économique et communautaire », a déclaré Jason Ribeiro, coprésident du conseil et président de REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. « Nous aimons le Canada dans nos tripes et nous ne pouvions pas laisser passer l'occasion d'amener la ligue professionnelle de basketball du Canada et nos deux équipes dans le Nord. Nous devons une profonde gratitude à l'équipe de Sport Yukon pour son aide et ses conseils ainsi qu'aux membres de notre comité d’accueil qui ont défendu cette initiative de tourisme sportif depuis le début. » « Le sport a une capacité remarquable de créer des liens entre les gens et de renforcer les communautés grâce à des expériences partagées et des célébrations collectives », a déclaré Jen Gehmair, ministre du Développement économique, du Tourisme et de la Culture. « Le REAL North Classic réunit le tourisme, la culture, le sport et la fierté communautaire d'une manière qui peut créer une valeur durable pour les Yukonnais ainsi que les visiteurs. » Les événements de la fin de semaine commenceront par des apparitions de mascotte lors du défilé de la fête du Canada et un tournoi de basketball 3x3 sera organisé et appuyé par des organisations sportives locales, des entraîneurs et des entreprises à l'aréna Takhini le 1er juillet. Une clinique pour entraîneurs suivra le 2 juillet. La journée du 3 juillet commencera par des apparitions de joueurs à travers les communautés et se terminera en soirée par le tout premier match de basketball professionnel dans les territoires à l'aréna Takhini, mettant en vedette des artistes et des interprètes locaux et des moments de narration autochtone. Enfin, la série d'événements se terminera le 4 juillet par un camp de basketball, présenté par Snowline Gold, pour développer les compétences des jeunes. « Snowline Gold est fier de contribuer à une expérience sportive professionnelle unique en son genre ici au Yukon », a déclaré Scott Berdahl, chef de la direction de Snowline Gold. « Le sport est une partie importante de notre vie communautaire au Yukon et constitue le fondement d'un tissu social solide. Nous sommes reconnaissants des efforts déployés par de nombreux groupes et personnes qui ont contribué à faire de la REAL North Classic une réalité, et nous avons hâte à l'événement de cette année. » Le Surge de Calgary et le Mamba de Saskatoon (anciennement les Rattlers de Saskatchewan) se sont partagé leurs quatre matchs au cours de la saison régulière 2025, 2-2, dans ce qui est depuis devenu une conférence de l'Ouest incroyablement compétitive. La Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic sera diffusée en direct à l'échelle nationale sur CBC Gem, CBC Sports YouTube et CEBL YouTube. « Sport Yukon a hâte de voir un grand match de basketball venir à Whitehorse », a déclaré Stacy Lewis, présidente de Sport Yukon. « Ce genre d'initiative favorise la participation, inspire les jeunes athlètes et renforce la réputation du Yukon en tant que destination de tourisme sportif mémorable. » Tous les billets de match pour cet événement historique comprennent un t-shirt en édition limitée et commencent à 38,50$ plus les frais et taxes applicables. Les partisans sont encouragés à réserver leur place tôt pour s’assurer d’avoir les meilleurs choix. Pour plus d'informations sur toutes les offres de l’événement et les options de billets, visitez REALNORTHCLASSIC.ca . Citations supplémentaires Benjamin Ryan — Directeur commercial, Air North, compagnie aérienne du Yukon « Chez Air North, nous croyons que certains des moments communautaires les plus significatifs se produisent grâce au sport. Cet événement est plus que du basketball. C'est une occasion de reconnaître les entraîneurs, les bénévoles, les parents et les supporteurs qui travaillent chaque jour dans les coulisses pour créer des possibilités pour les jeunes du Yukon. C'est aussi l'occasion pour les joueurs actuels et futurs d'assister à une expérience de basketball professionnelle ici même à la maison, les incitant à poursuivre leurs propres objectifs sur et en dehors du terrain. Nous sommes fiers de soutenir un événement qui célèbre la communauté, tisse des liens et contribue à inspirer la prochaine génération. » Caroline Anderson — Directrice exécutive de la Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIA) « En tant que porte-parole de l'industrie touristique du Yukon, représentant les centaines d'entreprises qui contribuent à notre économie grâce au tourisme, TIA Yukon est fière d'appuyer la REAL North Classic et notre partenariat avec Sport Yukon. Des événements comme celui-ci créent de nouvelles raisons pour les gens de visiter le territoire, générant de l'activité économique pour les entreprises locales tout en rehaussant le profil du Yukon sur la scène nationale. Le REAL North Classic montre comment le sport et le tourisme peuvent travailler ensemble pour attirer de futurs visiteurs, événements et investissements au Yukon. » REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc., le Surge de Calgary et le Mamba de Saskatoon REAL Divertissement & Culture Inc. (REAL) est une compagnie spécialisée dans le sport professionnel et le divertissement en direct cofondés par Jason Ribeiro qui possède et gère des clubs de basketball professionnel, le Surge de Calgary et le Mamba de Saskatoon, et REAL Studios. Le Surge de Calgary a entamé sa saison inaugurale au WinSport Event Centre en mai 2023, après avoir débuté sous le nom des Nighthawks de Guelph, l'un des membres fondateurs de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB). Au cours de trois saisons, le Surge a fait trois apparitions consécutives à la fin de semaine du championnat de la LECB, a gagné le titre de champion de la Conférence de l'Ouest en 2023 et 2025, détient le record de participation à un match de la ligue et a envoyé gratuitement plus de 6 500 enfants et familles à leurs matchs. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez calgarysurge.ca . Le Mamba de Saskatoon (anciennement les Rattlers de Saskatchewan) a entamé sa saison inaugurale au SaskTel Centre en mai 2019 et a remporté le championnat inaugural de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB). L'équipe a restauré plus de 100 filets de basketball dans toute la ville pour rendre le basketball plus accessible aux jeunes. REAL a acquis et relancé la franchise en février 2026. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez saskatoonmamba.ca . Les deux équipes sont des membres actifs de leur communauté et ont participé à des centaines d'événements (et plus encore) dans plusieurs villes qui connectent les organisations à diverses communautés par le sport, le divertissement, les arts et la culture. À propos de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball La ligue canadienne de basketball (LECB) est la ligue professionnelle de basketball au Canada. Elle regroupe dix clubs membres répartis dans six provinces et mise sur un talent d'élite, un rythme de jeu soutenu et des liens étroits avec les communautés pour offrir une expérience estivale unique aux partisans partout au pays. Avec la plus jeune base de partisans du sport professionnel au Canada — dont la moitié a moins de 34 ans — et une audience de près de 4,1 millions de Canadiens, la LECB affiche l'une des croissances les plus rapides du pays. Cet engouement reflète la capacité de la ligue à proposer un produit dynamique et captivant, à tisser un lien durable avec une nouvelle génération de partisans et à contribuer à l'essor du basketball au Canada. Sur le terrain, la LECB incarne la rencontre entre performance d'élite et talent local. En 2025, 17 joueurs ayant de l’expérience dans la NBA ont évolué dans la ligue, tandis que près de 70 % des effectifs étaient composés de Canadiens. Présentée de mai à août, la saison offre un rendez-vous estival rassembleur, marqué par un jeu rapide, une ambiance électrisante et le meilleur du basketball canadien. À propos du gouvernement du Yukon Le gouvernement du Yukon est le gouvernement territorial responsable de la prestation des services et programmes publics tout en gérant des affaires territoriales et en apportant du soutien au bien-être social, culturel et économique des Yukonnais. À propos de Snowline Gold Snowline Gold est une compagnie d'exploration et de développement minérale fondée au Yukon qui fait progresser le gisement aurifère Valley dans le cadre de son projet Rogue dans l'est du Yukon. En mettant l'accent sur l’intendance environnementale, le développement responsable et les partenariats locaux solides, la compagnie s’est engagée à offrir des avantages économiques et communautaires à long terme dans le Nord.
The Montréal Alliance announced today the signing of American guard Davion Warren for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Warren joins the Alliance after building an impressive professional résumé across several international leagues and the NBA G League. The Buffalo, New York native has competed professionally in Canada, China, Mexico, Mongolia, and the NBA G League since beginning his professional career in 2022. Across his professional career, Warren has averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while establishing himself as a productive two-way guard. Most recently, Warren began the 2026 CEBL season with the Winnipeg Sea Bears, averaging 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists through his first six games. Prior to returning to the CEBL, he enjoyed a standout season with the BHC Knights in Mongolia, averaging 26.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 4.2 steals per game while earning recognition as the league’s Best International Player. Before beginning his professional career, Warren starred at Hampton University and Texas Tech University. He finished his collegiate career with 1,944 points and earned Big South Player of the Year honors in 2020-21 after averaging 21.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game at Hampton. He later helped Texas Tech reach the Big 12 Tournament Championship Game and advance to the NCAA Tournament during his senior season. “Davion is a player who has consistently produced at every level he has played,” said Joel Anthony, General Manager and Co-Owner of the Montréal Alliance. “He brings valuable professional experience that will strengthen our roster as we continue through the season.” Warren’s addition provides the Alliance with another experienced perimeter player capable of contributing as both a scorer and playmaker. The Alliance returns to Verdun Auditorium on Sunday, June 7, at 4:00 p.m. to host the Edmonton Stingers for its Future Stars theme game. Kids' tickets are available for just $10 with the purchase of an adult ticket. ###
L’Alliance de Montréal a annoncé aujourd’hui la signature de l’arrière américain Anthony Nelson pour la saison 2026 de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB). Originaire de Harlem, dans l’État de New York, Nelson se joint à l’Alliance après avoir connu du succès dans la NCAA et sur la scène professionnelle internationale. Il a disputé 137 matchs en Division I avec Seton Hall et Manhattan, où il a inscrit 1 162 points et distribué 386 passes décisives en carrière. Lors de sa dernière saison universitaire en 2022-23, Nelson a été nommé sur la première équipe d’étoiles de la MAAC après avoir maintenu des moyennes de 15,1 points, 4,7 passes décisives, 3,7 rebonds et 1,9 interception par match avec Manhattan. Il a également franchi le cap des 1 000 points en carrière universitaire. Depuis le début de sa carrière professionnelle, Nelson a évolué en Angola, en Mongolie et au Mexique. Plus récemment, il a affiché des moyennes de 15,0 points, 4,6 passes décisives et 1,6 interception en 18 matchs avec les Venados de Mazatlán dans la ligue professionnelle mexicaine CIBACOPA. Il a également enregistré des moyennes de 17,7 points et 5,3 passes décisives par rencontre lors d’un passage en Mongolie. « Je suis reconnaissant de l’occasion de me joindre à l’Alliance », a déclaré Nelson. « J’ai entendu d’excellents commentaires sur l’organisation, la ville et les partisans. J’ai hâte d’arriver à Montréal et d’aider l’équipe à atteindre ses objectifs cette saison. » L’arrivée de Nelson procure à l’Alliance un arrière polyvalent capable de contribuer autant comme marqueur que comme créateur de jeu. L’Alliance sera de retour à l’Auditorium de Verdun le vendredi 5 juin à 19 h 30 pour affronter les Sea Bears de Winnipeg dans le cadre de la Soirée étudiante. Montréal accueillera ensuite les Stingers d’Edmonton le dimanche 7 juin à 16 h à l’occasion du match thématique Future Stars. ###
The Montreal Alliance announced today the signing of American guard Anthony Nelson for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Nelson joins the Alliance after building an impressive résumé at both the NCAA Division I and professional levels. The Harlem, New York native appeared in 137 NCAA Division I games at Seton Hall and Manhattan, recording 1,162 points and 386 assists. In 2022-23, he earned First Team All-MAAC honors after averaging 15.1 points, 4.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game for Manhattan while surpassing the 1,000-point mark for his collegiate career. Since turning professional, Nelson has competed in Angola, Mongolia, and Mexico. Most recently, he averaged 15.0 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals in 18 games with Venados de Mazatlán in Mexico’s CIBACOPA (Pacific Coast Basketball Circuit) league, serving as one of the club’s primary offensive creators. He also enjoyed a productive stint in Mongolia, where he averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 assists per contest. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Alliance,” said Nelson. “I’ve heard great things about the organization, the city, and the fans. I’m excited to get to Montreal and do whatever I can to help the team reach its goals this season.” Nelson's addition strengthens the Alliance backcourt with a proven scorer and playmaker who has found success at both the NCAA Division I and professional levels. The Alliance returns to the Verdun Auditorium on Friday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. when they host the Winnipeg Sea Bears for Student Night. Montreal will then be back on home court on Sunday, June 7, at 4:00 p.m. against the Edmonton Stingers for the organization's Future Stars theme game. ###