SASKATOON, January 23, 2018 - The Saskatchewan Rattlers, member club of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), are elated to introduce Greg Jockims as the first ever head coach and general manager in franchise history.

Jockims joins the Rattlers after coaching the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s basketball team for 13 years. From 1998 to 2011 Jockims helped rebuild the Huskies and coached them to seven straight playoff appearances which included Central Division Regular Season Titles in 2005 and 2006 as well as a Central Division Championship in 2006 and a Canada West Championship in 2010. That same year, Jockims lead an underdog Huskie team to the pinnacle of men’s university basketball in Canada by becoming the first men’s program in Saskatchewan to win the CIS National Championship. Amassing a total of 198 victories during his time as the Huskies head coach, Jockims will bring a high-intensity and fast-paced game to the Rattlers hardwood. Jockims’ first task as the Rattlers head coach and general manager is to begin the recruitment and assembly of the Rattlers roster.

As a player, Jockims played a total of five seasons with the Huskies and reached the national championship in two seasons. After graduation Jockims became an assistant coach with the Huskies before moving west to become an assistant coach at the University of Victoria. From 1994-1998 Jockims was the head coach for Cape Breton University where he led the Capers to an AUS Championship title and third place in the 1995 National Championship. This is not Jockims first foray into professional basketball as he was an assistant coach for the league champion Saskatoon Slam in 1993. Most recently, Jockims has spent time as a High-Performance Coach for Basketball Saskatchewan Inc.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Greg as the first head coach and general manager in Rattlers franchise history,” said Rattlers President and COO Lee Genier. “He has a proven track record as a winning coach on the national stage and has strong ties to the community. I know that the people of Saskatchewan are in for some very exciting basketball starting in May and Greg is the right person to lead the team in its historic inaugural season.”

Modelled after top international professional leagues, the CEBL is comprised of six original teams in Hamilton, Edmonton, Guelph, St. Catharines, Abbotsford, and Saskatoon. Each team plays 10 home and 10 road games using FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules, and player and referee standards set by Canada Basketball. Rosters will be comprised of at least 70 percent Canadian players, many playing professionally in North America and overseas during the traditional basketball season. Playing out of the SaskTel Centre, the Rattlers will play ten home games starting with their season opener on May 9, 2019, at 7 p.m. against the Niagara River Lions. Season tickets range from $175 in the lower bowl to $775 for courtside and are available on the Rattlers website.

Individual game tickets are expected to go on sale in spring 2019.

Fans are able to reserve their place in history by visiting the Rattlers website. A detailed seat map, with a link to purchase tickets can be found here.

For more information about the Rattlers, visit www.therattlers.ca or www.cebl.ca

About the CEBL
Created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL will provide sports fans with a premium entertainment option while also allowing players, coaches and other stakeholders the opportunity to engage in the sport of basketball in meaningful ways that support the growth of the game in Canada. The CEBL will operate in accordance with the player and referee standards set by Canada Basketball, the National Sports Organization for basketball in Canada. It is the only league in Canada affiliated with FIBA, the international governing body for basketball.

Contact:
Raúl García
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Saskatchewan Rattlers
(306)-591-7265
[email protected]