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River Lions earn ‘validation’ with 2024 CEBL championship

Zulfi Sheikh • August 15, 2024

Getting over the hump can be one of the hardest things to do in professional sports. Because it typically means falling short somewhere along the way.


And no team in the CEBL knows that feeling quite like the Niagara River Lions. 


One of the original six franchises and the winningest team (72-38) in league history, the River Lions – up until Sunday’s
title-clinching victory over the Vancouver Bandits – had built a reputation of falling short when it mattered most.


Niagara had ended three of the CEBL’s six regular seasons with the most wins and never finished lower than second in the standings outside of a COVID-shortened year (2020) yet had one Championship Final appearance (a loss to the Edmonton Stingers in 2021), three Conference Final losses and just four playoff wins to show for it.


Needless to say, following a 14-6 campaign in 2024 which was tied for the best record in the league yet again, the biggest question about Niagara was could this squad be different come the playoffs? 


And on Sunday when the River Lions withstood a Target Score Time comeback from the Bandits (who erased a 10-point deficit) to pick up a 97-95 win and claim their first CEBL title, that question was emphatically answered. It not only crowned Niagara as champions, but it also cemented its place as one of the league’s premier franchises.


“This organization has been elite in the CEBL, but we never had the validation of a championship,” head coach of the River Lions Victor Raso said after the victory. “We have the most wins in CEBL history, we have players who want to come back every year … we’re doing things right … we just needed this as an organization.”


Arguably no one understood just how much Niagara had craved a title more than Raso, who has been at the helm of the River Lions since the league’s inception back in 2019. 


There for all of the team’s successes, as the league’s all-time coaching wins leader, and all of its short comings. To the point the former Coach of the Year’s inner circle began referring to him as “August Vic” because of the River Lions early exits come playoff-time. 


Yet those failures are exactly what Raso and Niagara used to define the run that eventually crowned them champions.


“I’ve grown up in the CEBL,” Raso said. “I’ve made my mistakes here and I’ve gone through adversity here. I’ve realized what works, what doesn’t work.


“I wasn’t a good enough coach (before) … and I learned through failure. And especially after last year, I was like ‘I’m not losing again because of the ways I’ve lost in the past.’”


And what exactly did Raso learn after being bounced by the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Eastern Conference Final in 2023, for a second consecutive season? 


He needed a squad that was going to be able to overcome adversity. When things got tough – like going through these playoffs without its second-leading scorer and CEBL All-Canadian Jahvon Blair – that the team would have the depth and wherewithal to overcome it.


As foundational as Raso’s coach-player pairing with former league MVP Khalil Ahmad was, it was just that…a foundation. The team would need more that a just a strong base come the post-season as to not be over-reliant on its star guard. Which is why Raso and the River Lions re-shaped the roster heading into 2024, notably bringing in immediate contributors Nathan Cayo and Omari Moore. Both of whom stepped up when it mattered most.


Cayo, a veteran of the CEBL, joined Niagara after playing for his hometown Montréal Alliance in 2023. Crediting the River Lions as a “great program” with big-time players. Meanwhile, Moore joined Niagara as a CEBL debutant, spending his time prior to the season in the NBA G League with the Raptors 905.


The pair were instrumental throughout the year but especially come Sunday when the River Lions were looking to cement their place in CEBL history. Cayo played arguably his best game of the season in front of his hometown crowd at Verdun Auditorium as he finished with a team-high 25 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists and a steal while going shot-for-shot with the Bandits’ Mitch Creek who finished with a game-high 26 points.


“Recognition,” Cayo said after the win when asked to describe what a championship meant to him in one word. “It’s rare to play at this level in your hometown and it’s extremely difficult to win. Each year the league gets better … I’m happy we came out with a championship … it’s special.”


Moore put 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks, but for the import it was less about his offensive production and more about his impact on the other end. The first-year CEBL guard took on the task of defending league MVP Tazé Moore and limited him to just six points on 2-of-11 shooting.


“(Omari) is a very talented basketball player, borderline NBA player,” Raso said on the 23-year-old’s impact this year. “He’s an elite defender, elite competitor, elite thinker ... I hope I get the chance to coach Omari Moore again, but I shouldn’t … he should be an NBA player.”


Depth shining through for the River Lions as they clinched a championship was a testament to the learning and growth the team had gone through over the last six years. In Target Score Time, before Ahmad, a two-time Clutch Player of the Year,
sealed the deal with a floater that he described as the “biggest bucket of my life”, it was Moore and Cayo scoring baskets. And then the make leading up to Ahmad’s heroics was a putback layup from Sixth Man of the Year Aaryn Rai who finished with 15 points on the night.


The squad was set up to succeed based on the sum of its parts, something the River Lions’ bench boss made sure was by design.


“It’s us, we’ve been doing it all year long,” Raso said. “We’ve been winning without Khalil having to be the guy all year long … the truth is Kimball McKenzie’s won a game, Nathan Cayo has, Aaryn Rai had won us as many games as Khalil.”


When the River Lions hoisted the CEBL trophy as confetti rained down onto the court, they earned the validation they had been after. Using six years of learning as a catalyst. The league’s winningest franchise now solidified in its standing, no longer just a model of consistency but one of championship-calibre.


And that’s the beauty of sports. For all the heartbreak and falling short of lofty expectations, history can be re-written within one season and with one victory. 


“There’s been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of adversity and it’s just a credit to the team because we did it together.” Ahmad said after winning Final MVP for his 23-point, three-steal performance. “Everyone is a family and that’s what won us the game. We stuck together through adversity and got it done … that was always our end goal, to get a championship.”


– CEBL –



About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSNTSN+RDSGame+Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on InstagramTwitterTikTokLinkedInFacebook & YouTube.


January 28, 2025
Les BlackJacks d'Ottawa de la Ligue Élite Canadienne de Basketball (LECB), la plus grande ligue professionnelle de basketball au Canada et membre de la Fédération internationale de basketball (FIBA), ont annoncé aujourd'hui que David DeAveiro a été embauché comme quatrième entraîneur-chef dans l'histoire de l'équipe. Avec l'embauche de DeAveiro (prononcé deh-VEERO), l'ancien entraîneur-chef et directeur général intérimaire, James Derouin, a été promu au poste exclusif de directeur général à temps plein du club. « Ottawa occupe une place particulière dans ma vie. C'est là que j'ai élu domicile, que j'ai élevé mes enfants et que j'ai développé ma passion pour le basketball », a déclaré M. DeAveiro. « La région de la capitale a une riche histoire d'excellence en matière de basketball et je suis fier de diriger la seule équipe professionnelle de la capitale nationale. Je suis enthousiasmé par l'avenir de la franchise des BlackJacks d'Ottawa et je suis honoré de diriger cette équipe à l'avenir, alors que nous nous efforçons d'atteindre notre objectif ultime, soit de remporter le championnat de la LECB. » Entraîneur adjoint des BlackJacks depuis la saison 2020-21, DeAveiro est actuellement entraîneur-chef du programme masculin des Bold de l'Université métropolitaine de Toronto, où il a compilé une fiche de 63-38 de jeu en ligue au cours des quatre dernières saisons. Avant d'arriver à TMU, DeAveiro a été entraîneur-chef du programme masculin de l'Université McGill pendant 10 ans et de l'équipe masculine des Gee-Gees de l'Université d'Ottawa pendant neuf campagnes, menant ses équipes à huit tournois de championnat national. Avec 457 victoires, DeAverio occupe actuellement le neuvième rang sur la liste des victoires de tous les entraîneurs de basketball masculin de USPORTS. Au cours de sa carrière d'entraîneur universitaire, DeAveiro a remporté neuf prix d'entraîneur de l'année, dont trois dans l'Est des SUO et six dans la conférence du RSEQ. Il a également été entraîneur adjoint de nombreuses équipes nationales canadiennes, notamment aux niveaux senior, de développement et junior, ce qui l'a amené à remporter une médaille d'argent aux Jeux du Commonwealth en Australie à l'été 2018. Diplômé de l'Université d'Ottawa et de l'Université Brock, DeAveiro a joué cinq saisons pour les Gee-Gees de 1984-85 à 1988-89. Il a également fondé le club de basket-ball Ottawa Next Level à Kanata, en Ontario, une organisation qui, depuis plus de 30 ans, se concentre sur le développement d'habiletés de qualité, la promotion d'un bon esprit sportif et le respect des autres, tout en permettant aux jeunes d'Ottawa de jouer au basketball en réalisant leur plein potentiel. Il est actuellement possible d'acheter des forfaits de billets flexibles en visitant le site https://www.theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/tickets . Les abonnements de saison des BlackJacks 2025 sont disponibles dès maintenant. Pour plus de détails, les amateurs sont invités à envoyer un courriel à [email protected] ou à composer le 613-690-0519. À propos des BlackJacks d'Ottawa Première franchise d'expansion de la Ligue de basket-ball de l'élite canadienne (LBEC), les BlackJacks d'Ottawa présentent le meilleur du basket-ball et du divertissement dans la capitale nationale. Le bureau de direction d'Ottawa apporte à la franchise son expérience de la NBA, de la NBA G League, de l'équipe nationale, de la NCAA et des grandes ligues professionnelles internationales. Dirigée par le directeur général James Derouin et l'entraîneur-chef Dave DeAveiro, l'équipe d'Ottawa joue ses matchs à domicile dans l'aréna de classe mondiale de la Place TD, dans le parc Lansdowne. Pour plus d'informations, visitez le site theblackjacks.ca . À propos du CEBL La CEBL est une équipe créée par des Canadiens pour des Canadiens, avec pour objectif de développer des joueurs, des entraîneurs, des responsables sportifs et des arbitres canadiens. Elle compte le plus grand nombre de joueurs canadiens de toute autre équipe professionnelle dans le pays, avec 75% de ses équipes étant canadiennes et un record de 12 joueurs NBA en 2024. Les joueurs apportent également leur expérience de la NBA G League, des meilleures ligues internationales de professionnels, du programme national canadien, des programmes NCAA, ainsi que de U SPORTS et de CCAA. 22 joueurs ont signé des contrats NBA après une saison CEBL, et de nombreux joueurs CEBL participent à des camps de formation NBA G League chaque année. La saison CEBL se déroule de mai à août, avec des matchs diffusés en direct sur CEBL+ avec BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment et Courtside1891 . On peut trouver davantage d'informations sur le CEBL sur CEBL.ca et @cebleague sur Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook et YouTube . Contactez-nous sur les réseaux sociaux: Facebook: OttawaBlackJacks X: @Ott_BlackJacks Instagram: ottawablackjacks
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January 22, 2025
Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced that Barry Rawlyk will return as General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations for his seventh season with the team. The Rattlers are working on assembling their roster ahead of 2025 CEBL Free Agency under Rawlyk’s leadership while utilizing his connections in the basketball world. “We are excited to extend Barry Rawlyk’s contract. He has an unbelievable knack for finding amazing talent both on the Canadian front and on the intricate import player side,” said Rattlers President, Lee Genier. “He plays an integral role in the management and success of the team as we continue to grow. We saw incredible talent come through the Rattlers organization in 2024 with record setting results, and we look forward to taking the next step in 2025.” Rawlyk celebrates his sixth year as General Manager, and seventh with the team after serving as the lead assistant coach and recruitment of the roster during the 2019 Championship season. Over the last three seasons, Rawlyk was instrumental in securing some of the best talent in the league with Tony Carr, Justin Wright-Foreman, and Jalen Harris. Rawlyk served as the eighth head coach in University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s basketball history, holding multiple program records. He took the helm in an interim position in the 2010-11 season. In May 2012, he was officially named head coach of the men’s basketball program. During the 2010-11 season, Rawlyk led the Huskies to a fourth-place finish at the CIS (now U SPORTS) Championship and a second-place finish in Canada West. The following season, the team finished in first in their conference and hosted the Canada West Final Four for the first time in the program’s history. Prior to joining the Huskies, Rawlyk spent over two decades coaching with Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon. During his time with the Crusaders, he led them to 11 City Championships as well as three Provincial Championships. “It is a privilege to remain with the Rattlers for 2025. The opportunity to work with Rattlers President Lee Genier and the rest of the staff, as we work to build the Rattlers brand will be both exciting and rewarding,” said Rawlyk. “We have a blueprint in place for building a roster that will compete in a very challenging environment and give our fans a lot to be excited about.” Canadian Elite Basketball League free agency opens February 1, 2025 with player announcements to follow. The full 2025 Rattlers schedule has been released, which features a new 24-game slate. The 2025 CEBL Playoffs are scheduled to begin Thursday, August 14 with the Conference Play-In games, followed by the Conference Semifinals on Saturday, August 16. The winners will advance to CW25 to join the Winnipeg Sea Bears (host team) and the top-ranked team from the Eastern Conference who are automatically seeded into the Conference Finals. The full playoff schedule with tipoff times will be announced at a later date. General public and returning season ticket members can claim their seats for the entire Rattlers 2025 season by using Account Manager . Season tickets starting at $235 in the bronze. All tickets can also be purchased through the Rattlers Front Office (306) 244-2181, Saskatchewan Rattlers website , or via Ticketmaster . The Holiday Pack can be purchased online or at the Rattlers Front Office , which features four-tickets in any section with a bonus gift card. Single game tickets will be available later this spring. For more seating options, suites, and group rates; fans can contact an account executive . About the Saskatchewan Rattlers The Saskatchewan Rattlers are Saskatchewan’s professional basketball team, one of the six original teams in the CEBL – the Rattlers won the 2019 inaugural season championship. Playing out of SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – the Rattlers offer an entertainment-focused environment surrounded by some of the world’s top professional athletes. The Rattlers are a community-first organization and take pride in their ability to bring communities together while making sport more accessible to the province. About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Twenty-two players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . For more information on the Saskatchewan Rattlers professional basketball team - visit therattlers.ca . 
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January 15, 2025
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that Jermaine Anderson will once again lead the club as general manager and vice president of basketball operations, returning for a sixth season with the organization. Since being appointed general manager in December 2019, the Honey Badgers have accumulated a 43-43 (.500) overall record, featuring four consecutive CEBL Playoff appearances (2020-23), two CEBL Championship Weekend appearances (2020, 2022), and a CEBL Championship in 2022. “Despite experiencing some turnover over the past two years, our organization’s core values remain steadfast,” said Anderson. “We take immense pride in delivering a comprehensive and holistic player development experience. We are confident that we are well-positioned to foster a culture that empowers our players to excel both on and off the court.” During Anderson’s tenure, 10 players have elevated their careers to the NBA G League with four players signing contracts with NBA clubs, including Javonte Cooke (Oklahoma City Thunder), Lindell Wigginton (Milwaukee Bucks), Christian Vital (Toronto Raptors), and Nino Johnson (Utah Jazz). Since 2020, 75 of the 96 players who have worn the black and gold pinstripes have played professionally around the world in the fall following the season, excluding six players who returned to their respective university basketball programs. “Jermaine (Anderson) shares our organization's vision of creating a great experience for all our players which allows them to reach their full potential into the next stages of their careers,” said Josie Pingitore, vice president of the Brampton Honey Badgers. “He has built both a competitive and positive culture amongst our players, coaches, and staff, making our organization a desirable one to play for.” After joining the Honey Badgers organization more than five years ago, Anderson spent the CEBL off-season as a player development coach with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association from 2019-22. Before transitioning to a front office role, Anderson had an impressive 14-year playing career (2004-18) that totaled more than 80 international games representing Canada. He also suited up in 294 games for 15 teams in eight different countries across Europe from 2008-17. An Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute graduate, Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing while playing at Fordham University. He averaged 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 30.2 minutes in 111 games during a four-year tenure with the Rams. Following his playing career, Anderson became a player development coach for Canada Basketball, handling player relations duties that ensured players had access to training facilities and health care across the country. In 2018, Anderson founded the Fifty For Free Youth Community Initiative, a not-for-profit organization based in Toronto and Halifax focused on building character, cultivating financial literacy, and developing basketball skills with youth from underserved communities. Anderson’s announcement follows the reveal of the Honey Badgers expanded 2025 schedule in December, featuring a slate of 24 games. Brampton’s campaign opens on the road May 18 against the Montreal Alliance, followed by a visit to the nation’s capital May 21 to take on the Ottawa BlackJacks. The Honey Badgers will then return home to host the Scarborough Shooting Stars on May 25 in the club’s home opener. Ticket packages to catch all of the action at the CAA Centre are now available, including season tickets , half season pack , group experiences , and more! Visit honeybadgers.ca/tickets or contact [email protected] for more information. ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca . About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Twenty-two players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . 
December 18, 2024
The holiday season is about spending time and celebrating with friends and loved ones while also supporting important causes and initiatives in the community. The Honey Badgers front office staff visited the Regeneration Marketplace and the Regeneration Marketplace on Tuesday afternoon to sort food donations, portion meals, stock shelves and assist guests with food selection. “As leaders in our Brampton community, it is extremely important for us to collaborate with local organizations that continue to make a positive impact in the lives of others on a daily basis,” said Josie Pingitore, vice president of the Brampton Honey Badgers. “Our organization is committed to continue to make strides in our community growth, not only during the holiday season but throughout the calendar year.” Regeneration Marketplace is a local food bank in the heart of downtown Brampton, operating to provide quality, helpful food and household items for those in need in the community. Open 365 days a year, they proudly serve 39,000+ meals annually with more than 1,100 households receiving the necessary food and goods on a weekly basis. “Right now we are just inundated with donations, and the work the Honey Badgers did to help us sort saved us so much time,” said Katie Cleland, director of development at Regeneration Outreach Community. “This will help us get the food on the shelves much quicker so that we can serve more people this week.” The Honey Badgers staff were also joined by Amisha Moorjani, owner of The Food Quotient, and Rod Power, City of Brampton Councillor of Wards 7 and 8. This is one of many initiatives that the Honey Badgers and Councillor Power have collaborated on this holiday season, including turkey drives and Christmas dinners for underprivileged youth. To learn more about how you can contribute to the Regeneration Office & Meal Program or Regeneration Marketplace, please contact [email protected] or visit www.regenbrampton.com .
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