Matthew Winick

The Ottawa BlackJacks (4-7) will aim to create separation in the CEBL standings from the Guelph Nighthawks (3-9) as the two Ontario squads face off on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. ET at TD Place in Ottawa. 

While both teams have guaranteed a spot in the postseason, who they play and whether they host a quarterfinal game or not is still to be determined. Because of this, both Guelph and Ottawa have a ton to play for in Wednesday’s contest. With another game between these two set for Friday, it’s crucial to get off on the right foot.

More than anything though, the contest can serve as an indicator of where these teams are at as the season comes to a close. With the Nighthawks and BlackJacks going through significant roster changes recently, a battle against a similarly ranked foe could help identify where the group stands with the playoffs less than two weeks away.

Big vs. Small

There’s no doubting that Ottawa and Guelph are both capable of putting up big point totals up on the board and doing so with high efficiency. However, the way each squad seeks to score in the half court are vastly different. 

The Nighthawks are led by a solid pair of scoring guards in Cat Barber and Ahmed Hill, who each rank near the top of the CEBL in scoring. With Barber using his quickness to drive to the rim and Hill’s elite shooting stroke helping space the floor, the rest of the Nighthawks can play a complimentary role.

For the BlackJacks, the offense typically runs through physically imposing big man Nick Ward. The import forward out of Michigan State is able to finish through defenders near the rim, and often requires two opposing players to hold him down, allowing his teammates to become threats from three-point range. 

While both teams score in different ways, it’s clear that their offenses are star-driven. Whichever lead man can step up on Wednesday will be a key towards bringing their team a victory.

Roster Changeover

While Ottawa and Guelph rank near the bottom of the CEBL standings, both teams have had major roster changes from the start of the season until now, making it hard to acclimate as a cohesive group.

This has been largely evident of the Nighthawks, as they’ve suited up 20 different players at some point this season. With 13 of those guys starting at least one game, the lack of consistency on the floor has left the team searching for options. While Barber and Hill have been constants for Guelph, losing two critical pieces in Justin Jackson and Chad Brown to Summer League rosters has been a tough pill to swallow. 

The personnel inconsistencies don’t stop with Guelph though, as Ottawa has also dressed 16 different players this season, with two more rostered and awaiting their debuts. 

Playoff Picture

As previously mentioned, the Nighthawks and BlackJacks are fighting each other for playoff positioning. With Guelph only a game and a half back of Ottawa, wins on Wednesday and Friday would vault the team ahead of its opponent.

Beyond each other, the squads are trying to catch the Fraser Valley Bandits in fourth place. Whoever is able to snag the four seed will host a quarterfinal game, rather than having to play on the road. 

All CEBL games will be available for live streaming on the CEBL’s new OTT streaming service  CEBL+,   cbcsports.ca , the free  CBC Gem  streaming service, the CBC Sports App for iOS and android devices, and on Twitch.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 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 typically runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube