The Fraser Valley Bandits look to stay undefeated as they venture further west to take on the Saskatchewan Rattlers Wednesday at 7:30 CT/6:30 PT at SaskTel Centre in the final game of their season-opening three game road trip.

The match-up is the first of a home-and-home with the Rattlers, who will travel to Langley for a rematch on Saturday afternoon. The Bandits have a 5-4 advantage all-time against Saskatchewan and have won the last five meetings between the two franchises.

The Bandits enter the game coming off of a pair of narrow victories to open the season in Ontario, defeating the Ottawa BlackJacks 90-87 in the opener and the Hamilton Honey Badgers 71-70.

Alex Campbell and Kadre Gray go into Wednesday’s match-up with Saskatchewan as the Bandits’ leading scorers. Campbell, Fraser Valley’s MVP last season, is averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on 50 per cent shooting from the field and a league-best 42.9 per cent from three. Campbell closed out the season opener in the nation’s capital, scoring the Bandit’s final 7 points including the game-winning three.

Two-time U Sports MVP Kadre Gray is averaging 17 points, 6 assists and 3.5 rebounds in his first two games with Fraser Valley. However, the point guard will look to cut down on turnovers averaging a league worst 6 turnovers per game to open the season.

Meanwhile, the Sakatchewan Rattlers will look to bounce back from a loss to the defending champion Edmonton Stingers 84-71 on Sunday. The Rattlers were in a tight game until going cold in the Elam ending, with the Stingers closing the game on a 15-0 run.

The Rattlers struggled from the field against Edmonton, shooting 33 per cent from the floor. After shooting 43 per cent in an opening night win against the Niagara River Lions, the Rattlers will look to return to form. Saskatchewan has been solid from beyond the arc to start the season, sitting second in the league in both three-point percentage (38.2) and three pointers made (26).

Their hot shooting can be largely attributed to new acquisition Scottie Lindsey, who enters Wednesday’s game leading the CEBL in threes made with 10 on 41.7 per cent shooting, good for 5th best in the league. Lindsey led the Rattlers in scoring in both games, averaging 23.5 points against Niagara and Edmonton.

Saskatchewan will also look to Devonte Bandoo, their leading scorer last season, and newcomer Anthony Carr for contributions. Bandoo, a Baylor alumnus, averaged 17.4 points per game last season and has scored 14 points in both games in 2022. Meanwhile former New Orleans Pelicans draft pick Anthony Carr has had a strong start to his CEBL career, averaging an impressive 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6.5 assists to open the season. Carr will look to steer the Rattler’s offense with his playmaking ability against Fraser Valley.

In the paint, Wednesday’s game will see a match-up between Fraser Valley’s Chris McLaughlin and Saskatchewan’s Jordy Tshimanga. Thomas Kennedy has also been a major contributor at the five for the Bandits, but both Fraser Valley big men have struggled with foul trouble so far this season. Tshimanga leads the Rattlers in rebounding and will look to provide a strong interior presence against Fraser Valley.



The game will stream on CEBL+ live internationally and in Canada at cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and the free CBC Gem streaming service. Games are also available on the CEBL’s official app, CEBL Mobile, available on iOS and Android devices.

Fraser Valley Bandits season tickets are available at https://www.thebandits.ca/season-tickets while Saskatchewan Rattlers season tickets are available at https://www.therattlers.ca/tickets .

A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 71 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .