Blog Layout

Winnipeg Sea Bears Introduced as Newest Member of Canadian Elite Basketball League

November 30, 2022

Asper brings expansion pro basketball team to Canada Life Centre

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) introduced the Winnipeg Sea Bears as its newest member during a Wednesday news conference at Canada Life Centre, the team’s home arena when it begins play in the 2023 season. The CEBL welcomed Winnipeg businessman and lawyer David Asper as the team’s owner.


“Winnipeg is an ideal market for the Canadian Elite Basketball League with a rich basketball history that dates back 120 years, with its multiculturalism, and with a location that unifies the CEBL’s geographic reach from British Columbia to Quebec,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “Winnipeg was a target market since the CEBL launched in 2018 and we’ve been waiting for an exceptional owner to emerge who shares our passion for the sport and for community development. David Asper is a lifelong community builder with a deep love for Winnipeg and we are thrilled to welcome him to our board of owners.”


The Sea Bears nickname was chosen in honour of the largest bear in the world, the polar bear whose Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means “Sea Bear”. The Arctic’s top predator is emblematic of Manitoba’s north and pays homage to the bear as a species under stress that shares the land in the north with the Dene people. Winnipeg is home to the world’s largest gallery of Inuit and Dene art, and the polar bear is a symbol of the north and its people. Winnipeg is also home to the world’s largest polar bear conservation organization. The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg includes the world-renowned Journey to Churchill polar bear exhibit.


“As someone with a long history of community service, bringing this team and the CEBL to Winnipeg is as much about the league’s overt commitment to diversity, immigrant and newcomer communities, and doing that through the lens of culture, music, food, as it is about the business of professional basketball,” said Asper, who in addition to being past Chair of The Asper Foundation and past Dean of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, currently serves as Chair of the Manitoba Police Commission and as a member of the Forks North Portage Partnership. “Manitoba has a historically strong basketball community that is growing every year both organically and as a sport that is easy for all people to participate in. Basketball has the power to include and unite, and the Winnipeg Sea Bears will serve an important role in further fostering those values.”


Asper’s extensive community involvement has been widely recognized. He is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his community service, was appointed as King’s Counsel by the Province of Manitoba in 2019, and received an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Manitoba. He is a past Chair of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Centreventure. In addition, he has provided lead gifts to establish the David & Ruth Asper Research Centre at the Pan Am Clinic Foundation in Winnipeg and the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights at the University of Toronto, which has supported many of Canada’s recent leading cases involving the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. David and his family have also made the largest private gift to the Canadian Olympic Foundation where his wife Ruth serves on the Board of Directors. He has been recognized with several community awards and is a proud member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame.


Asper announced veteran Winnipeg events executive Jason Smith as the Sea Bears team president. Smith’s 25 years of leadership experience includes operations and sales management, event production, and business development. He has produced many of Winnipeg’s most prestigious events, including the 2014 Juno Awards, the 2015 Grey Cup Festival, the NHL Heritage Classic, the Canada Summer Games Festival, ManyFest, Boo at the Zoo, Manitoba 150, and the Winnipeg Jets Whiteout Street Parties. He also serves on several boards and executive committees that currently include positions with the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the United Way Winnipeg.


The official team colour of the Sea Bears are teal, white and black. They will become the first CEBL club to play in a National Hockey League arena. Located in downtown Winnipeg, Canada Life Centre is home to the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.


The club will make its home base at the Sport Manitoba facility, where the team will enjoy continuity of care by utilizing the practice, training, recovery and meeting spaces and services, as well as their offices and business operations.


Deposits on tickets for the inaugural 2023 season are being accepted now at www.seabears.ca, where fans can also find the first line of team merchandise and get more information about Winnipeg’s professional basketball team. The team’s social handle @wpgseabears may be followed on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.


The CEBL features 10 teams in six provinces, making it the largest pro sports league in Canada. The CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. 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 May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

December 4, 2024
Chaque équipe visitera chaque ville en 2025 alors que la ligue dévoile le calendrier de sa septième saison
December 4, 2024
Every team visits every city in 2025 as league unveils CEBL 2025 schedule for seventh season
November 28, 2024
LANGLEY, BC - The Vancouver Bandits professional basketball team is proud to announce the launch of the Bandits Community Foundation - the team’s dedicated charitable and philanthropic arm. This foundation is committed to empowering youth and driving positive change across British Columbia through innovative basketball and education programs. The Bandits Community Foundation will prioritize creating pathways for youth and adults to excel both on and off the court. Its initiatives include supporting local nonprofits, increasing access to basketball in underserved communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to engage in the sport—all while fostering community connections and personal growth. “We believe in the power of community and the ability of sports to inspire, unite, and create lasting change,” said Dylan Kular, Executive Director of the Bandits Community Foundation. “The launch of the Bandits Community Foundation is a commitment to giving back and empowering the next generation. Together, we are building a brighter future, one bucket at a time.” To guide this effort, the Bandits Community Foundation will be guided by an esteemed Board of Directors: Shawn Dheensaw, Basketball BC Executive Director Teresa Gabriele, Canada Basketball national team alumni Charles Hethey, O’Neil Law LLP Lawyer and Partner Dylan Kular, Vancouver Bandits Basketball Team President Peter Natrall, ISPARC Regional Coordinator Kim Smith-Gaucher, 3x3 Canada Basketball Women’s Head Coach Lucky Toor, TGL Group CPA’s LLP Co-Founder and Partner Full biographies of the Foundation’s board members can be found here . In addition to basketball-centred programs, the Foundation will support local charities, schools, and community organizations through scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and event collaborations. Its overarching vision is to ensure sport and education are accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic circumstances. The Vancouver Bandits have long championed community engagement through initiatives such as: Court Projects: Building and refurbishing outdoor basketball courts across BC Bandits School Tour: Delivering cost-free basketball workshops and practice instruction to high school teams Community Champion Initiative: Providing youth and families in need with the special experience of a Vancouver Bandits game Indigenous Basketball Collective: A partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council to foster opportunities for Indigenous players and coaches The Bandits Community Foundation invites individuals and businesses to join its mission, amplifying its impact through donations and partnerships. Every contribution helps provide vital tools, experiences, and support for youth to thrive. For more information about the Bandits Community Foundation, its programs, or ways to get involved, visit www.banditsfoundation.ca . Follow the Foundation’s journey on social media: Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter @BanditsFoundation.
November 21, 2024
The Canadian Elite Basketball League mourns the loss of one of our most beloved players, Chad Posthumus. Chad was a founding player in our league, helping lead Saskatchewan to the inaugural CEBL championship in 2019. He was a fan favourite in ensuing years playing with Ottawa and Winnipeg and representing Edmonton and Brampton in international tournaments. Chad had a love for people and for the game of basketball that lit up even the largest arenas. His spirit and passion touched the hearts of fans and inspired teammates and all of us blessed to have shared Chad’s all-too-brief life with him. Chad represented the best in aspiring Canadian basketball players during his professional career in Japan, Argentina, and here at home. Off the court he was an Academic All-American in college and was a dedicated advocate for those living with Diabetes. The impact Chad made on our world is as undeniable as the force that he was on the court. Our deepest sympathies go out to Chad’s family, his legion of friends, fans, and teammates, and to the Winnipeg Sea Bears organization. - CEBL -
By Josh Kozelj November 18, 2024
How Jon Giesbrecht brought mindfulness to Vancouver — paving the way for the best season in franchise history
November 14, 2024
Award-winning Canadian entrepreneur becomes co-owner of the league, with the goal of growing the business of basketball in Canada
November 14, 2024
L’entrepreneur canadien primé devient copropriétaire de la ligue, avec pour objectif de développer la commercialisation du basketball au Canada
By Myles Dichter November 14, 2024
Drew Green’s basketball roots run deep. Green, the CEO of Indochino, played high-school hoops against the likes of Rowan Barrett, starred on the York University squad and went on to ply his trade professionally in Australia and Singapore. Now, his two sons are forging their own careers in the sport — and Green is right there with them. On Thursday, the CEBL announced that the accomplished executive was coming aboard as its first-ever Chair of the Board of Governors and co-owner. “We are a basketball family, right? We've been in the gym, my sons and I, thousands and thousands of hours. We have an NBA half court literally in our front yard that we built during COVID. And so this is going to be a lot of fun,” he said. It’s a partnership that fits as snugly as a well-tailored suit. The Scarborough, Ont., native said that watching his sons find their love for basketball in recent years reignited his own affinity for the sport. “The two areas of passion in my life are basketball and business. And they interplay really well with this role,” Green said. Throughout the many business ventures, Green said his first job was as a father to Liam and Aidan and as a husband to his wife, Andrea Dayco. While his sons are triple-citizens of Canada, the U.S. and the Philippines, Green has made it a point to raise them with Canadian values — and to push them toward the national basketball culture. “I've seen the evolution of basketball in this country firsthand. When I played in high school, I think we had one, maybe two people that ever played in the NBA. The ability to play in the U.S. and go to and play (NCAA) Division One basketball didn't really exist. “Rowan was one of that first cohorts that played, and that was amazing, but it was so rare.” Now, there are nearly 200 Canadians playing in college basketball’s top division. Among those players is Liam, who recently accepted a five-year scholarship at Florida Atlantic University. Aidan plays for the renowned prep school Montverde Academy, which produced the likes of current Raptors RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes. Liam heads to FAU with some CEBL background, having practised with Vancouver Bandits head coach Kyle Julius. Green said the CEBL has quickly become a foundational piece of the Canadian basketball landscape through its partnership with U Sports, its reach to all corners of the country and its affordability. “I think there's just an amazing group of people involved in the league that are really passionate about growing the sport, growing the business (and) providing a really, really incredible experience to customers. “You've got some of the best athletes in Canada and the world playing in the games. … The product continues to get better and better every year,” he said. Besides his impressive basketball resumé, Green has enjoyed a long, successful career in business. He took over as CEO of Indochino, the men’s formal-wear company, 10 years ago and proceeded to launch its retail business, raise over $100 million in strategic capital commitments and guide the brand through the pandemic. Prior to Indochino, Green founded Canada’s first multi-merchant marketplace (now owned by Emerge Commerce) and was an executive at DoubleClick (acquired by Google) and Shop.com. At the CEBL, Green will help introduce the league to potential partners and investors while assisting the league and team owners on business matters. CEBL commissioner Mike Morreale called the partnership with Green “an incredible win.” “Drew’s business success speaks for itself and his passion for the game mimics all involved in making the CEBL a homegrown and global success. His personal financial investment into the league demonstrates his strong belief of our bright future and recognizes the foundation that has been built during our formative years,” Morreale said. “Personally, I look forward to getting right to work with Drew on the next stage of the CEBL and the growth of our game.” Green said the CEBL is on a “great trajectory,” but projected plenty of growth potential too. “Whether that's sponsors or investors or other types of strategic partners that really align with growing the game of basketball and growing the business of basketball in Canada, I think there's lots and lots of opportunities,” he said. “When you try to do something on your own in life, it often takes you a lot longer than it should at the core of it. And so that's why partnerships have always been a core ethos of mine to build businesses.” Green also remained connected to sports through business as Indochino established partnerships throughout the four major North American sports leagues. There was one NBA draft, Green said, in which half of the first round wore Indochino — though the company cannot take credit for Gradey Dick’s infamously bedazzled red suit. “We had a deal to provide him with suits and actually suited him up,” Green recalled, “and then I saw the suit and I was like, what the, how did that happen? That was not an Indochino. So he went off the reservation and did his own thing, but good on him. It got a lot of hits.” Like Dick, CEBL players have quickly become known for their personal branding and tunnel fits. Now, with a former hooper in Green on board, the CEBL brand itself is ready to truly take off. “I just think the CEBL will play a really critical, critical role in the evolution of the game over these next couple decades,” Green said, “and inspire a whole new generation of young athletes to go after their dreams.”
November 5, 2024
Twenty-four players with CEBL experience currently attending G League training camps
October 30, 2024
Bandits swipe three of four annual league Business Awards
More Posts
Share by: