The time has finally come. Tonight is opening night of the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s inaugural season and we’re all in for a treat as the Guelph Nighthawks and the Fraser Valley Bandits close out the evening with a historical tip-off.
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. PST at the Abbotsford Centre in Fraser Valley, B.C. Since it’s the first game ever for both teams, expect many historical moments. Both teams unveiled their opening night rosters earlier this week, with each core filled to the brim with Canadian basketball talent. The Bandits roster is highlighted by Joel Friesen, the first overall pick of the 2019 CEBL Entry Draft, Friesen, an Abbotsford, B.C. native himself, is a 3x National Basketball League of Canada champion who averaged 11.3 points per game for the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans during the 2018-19 season.
The Bandits also boast 7-foot centre Dallin Bachynski, who recently played professionally in Bulgaria. Expect to see some major plays coming from both of them.The time has finally come. Tonight is opening night of the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s inaugural season and we’re all in for a treat as the Guelph Nighthawks and the Fraser Valley Bandits close out the evening with a historical tip-off.
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For Guelph, guard Myck Kabongo, who played for the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League this past season, is expected to lead the Nighthawks. Joining him is a talented cast of Canadian basketball players including Cape Breton Highlanders Jamal Reynolds and Chris Johnson. Unfortunately, Connor Wood, who was selected third overall by Guelph could not join the team's roster after being picked up by professional French team Quimper for their playoff run. This team is sure to have a powerful, high-paced offence.
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Each team will also feature one U SPORTS developmental player—an emerging basketball talent straight from a Canadian university program. For the Nighthawks, the University of Guelph’s Malcolm Glanville looks to shine on the big stage. For the Bandits, Grant Shephard makes the leap to the pros.
The teams have been shaping up for the last couple of weeks during training camp. Although tonight will be the first time the public gets to see either team in action, we can be sure that they’re ready to bring us an exciting game showcasing the best that Canada has to offer.
The story of the game is truly about who's determined to step their game up to the next level. On this historical night with all eyes on them, will it be Fraser Valley proving they have what it takes to survive in this new league? Or will it be Guelph stealing the spotlight from the home team?
Just because it’s the first game of the season doesn’t mean either team will go easy. Both teams know that success starts from the beginning, so expect the Bandits and the Nighthawks to fight hard for their first win of both the season and for their respective franchises.
Anticipate high-flying offence, emotion-filled plays and an intense game overall as each team tries to make history. Watch as our fellow Canadians duke it out in what will definitely be a night to remember. You can catch it all for FREE on CEBL TV at 7 p.m. PST.