By CEBL Contributing Writer: Jared Helinksy 

Members of the Saskatchewan Rattlers organization have remained busy throughout the CEBL off-season. This includes the Rattlers 2019 team captain Alex Campbell. Alex is spending his time away from the CEBL by playing professionally in Finland as the captain of the Lahti Basketball Club. The Brampton, ON. native has helped his team to a 6-4 record to start the 2020-21 season averaging 15.9 points, 3.1 assists and 4.0 rebounds. In the previous season, the Lahti Basketball Club missed the playoffs by a sliver; finishing in ninth place, one spot out. The addition of Campbell can hopefully push Lahti over the hump and into the playoffs. As the team captain of Lahti Basketball Club, Alex knows he plays a key role in the team’s success this season. This is a position Campbell feels comfortable in, due to his experience playing for the Rattlers. In 2019, he filled the role of team captain in the organization’s championship winning season. 

During the Rattlers inaugural championship winning season, Campbell’s leadership was on constant display. Alex reflects back on that season with great admiration. The season saw the Rattlers embrace an underdog mentality, a mentality that instilled a “never be out worked” attitude within the locker-room. All the hard work and sacrifice displayed by the team eventually paid off. The season came to a close with Rattlers’ players holding the championship trophy high above their heads in front of the faithful Rattlers Republic. That season meant a lot to Alex and his development as a basketball player. As a natural born leader and hard worker, Campbell’s energy set the tone for his teammates and was infectious, playing a critical role within the Rattlers’ success. His impact on our team throughout the 2019 season was immeasurable and the Lahti Basketball Club is lucky to have his presence in the locker-room. 

Playing overseas is a great opportunity for any basketball player. It is a privilege Campbell has worked hard to experience multiple times throughout his life. Professional leagues around the world play different styles of basketball. The European style can be described as structural and system orientated. This differs from the CEBL which is described as fast paced and free flowing. Learning to play within a system and still having the ability to play 1-on -1 is an incredible asset to have as a basketball player. This is an asset that Campbell has achieved. Alex was introduced to the European style of basketball in 2016 while playing professionally in Spain. The experience of playing around the world allowed Campbell to develop his skills and become an even more well-rounded player. Playing for the Lahti Basketball Club will, without a doubt, allow Alex to continue to develop his overall game.

Campbell is currently enjoying his time in Finland, a country whose culture was unfamiliar to him. The city of Lahti, which Alex resides in, is about an hour away from Finland’s most populous and capital city, Helsinki. Campbell notes the friendliness of the people of Finland as one of his favourite aspects of playing in Lahti. Although he is enjoying his time abroad, Alex still misses the city of Saskatoon. His heart is always with the Rattlers organization and the Rattlers Republic. Originally an Ontario native, Campbell made Saskatoon his home and has established deep roots within the community. Alex can often be seen spending his free time sharing his love of basketball with Saskatoon’s youth through his basketball camp, Camp Campbell, a camp in which Alex will resume when he arrives back in Saskatoon in 2021.

The Rattlers are excited to get back in front of the Rattlers Republic at the SaskTel Centre in May 2021. Stay tuned for updates on ticket packs and other ways to get involved with Saskatchewan’s only professional basketball team. 

The CEBL is currently preparing for its third season which is scheduled to start in May 2021. CBC’s online and over-the-air programming will include all 75 regular season and playoff games, with a potential of additional games on CBC television. The CEBL will be striving to expand upon its global carriage to deliver more games to Europe, Asia-Pacific, Asia, and the Americas.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80% of its current rosters being Canadian. CEBL players bring basketball experience from the NBA, the NBA G-League, top FIBA international leagues, the Canadian national team program, in addition to top NCAA and U SPORTS schools. The only First Division Professional League partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. More information is available at www.cebl.ca