BANDITS HOLD OFF SURGE FOR 99-97 WIN. ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL.

The Calgary Surge have been notified that Coach Tyrell Vernon intends to remain in Nova Scotia through 2025, citing a desire to be home with family and create a youth basketball league in Atlantic Canada. During his tenure as head coach throughout the Surge’s second season, Coach Vernon led the team to an 11-9 record and a 2024 CEBL Championship Weekend appearance (the club's second straight qualification). "Tyrell came into training camp on short notice and navigated his first season coaching at the professional level with great care and class. We are proud of what we achieved together for our fans and the Calgary community," says Surge Senior Vice President Dylan Howe. The organization wishes Coach Vernon and his family well as they continue to lay roots in Antigonish where Vernon remains Head Coach of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men basketball program. The Calgary Surge have already begun recruitment for a new head coach.

The Calgary Surge are pleased to announce the launch of the team’s new Youth Sports Partnership Program. The program will offer youth basketball and sports clubs unique benefits, exciting gameday experiences, and meaningful support, creating positive memories and inspiring the next generation to become part of the Surge family. “The Calgary Surge are dedicated to strengthening Calgary’s vibrant sports community by fostering a love for the game of basketball and supporting young athletes on and off the court,” said Dylan Howe, Surge Senior Vice President. The Calgary Surge believe basketball and sports should be accessible to all youth, regardless of sport or club affiliation. This partnership is open to all youth basketball and sports organizations in Calgary who share the club’s passion for community, teamwork, and development. Program benefits for clubs and athletes include: Exclusive access to Surge ticket and apparel discounts. Exclusive permissions to officially license and co-brand club apparel with the Surge logo (including the ability to procure apparel through preferred Surge vendors at highly competitive pricing). Surge coaches and players making special appearances at club practices, sharing firsthand advice, fun drills, and insider tips. Prominent visibility on the Surge website, at featured events, and on Surge Gamedays. Access to one-of-a-kind gameday experiences like high-five tunnels, halftime scrimmages, on-court photos, etc. “We are building a strong, supportive, and awarded platform that promotes sportsmanship, health, and team spirit, creating lasting connections with Calgary’s basketball future,” said Surge General Manager, Shane James. “Together, we can make the sport more inclusive, inspire young athletes, and celebrate the incredible passion our community has for basketball.” For more information on becoming an Official Youth Sports Partner, please contact Surge Senior Vice President, Dylan Howe at [email protected] . OFFICIAL PARTNERS

Mitch Creek’s 27-point performance helped the Vancouver Bandits stave off a late Calgary Surge rally on Friday for an 89-87 win at Verdun Auditorium. The import forward set a franchise single-game playoff scoring record with the game-high performance as he helped the Bandits advance to their second-ever Championship Final appearance. Helping the Aussie on the night was league MVP Tazé Moore who finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, and Nick Ward who put up 17 points, eight rebounds and five blocks off the bench. Zach Copeland had arguably his quietest game of the season, finishing with just nine points on 3-for-11 shooting, but that didn’t stop Bandits’ head coach Kyle Julius from having the import guard on the floor for Target Score Time. “There’s no way we can play (Target Score Time) without Zach,” Bandits head coach Kyle Julius said post-game reflecting on the victory. Julius’ gamble paid off as Copeland received a pass off a Koby McEwen offensive rebound and drilled his lone three of the contest to send Vancouver to the Championship Final. On the other side, the Surge fell just short of a second consecutive Final appearance despite erasing what was once an 11-point second half deficit. Leading the charge was Corey Davis Jr. who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. “We knew it was going to be a very hard-nosed basketball game,” Davis Jr. said following the loss. “The ball didn’t land the way we wanted to, we had multiple chances to win the game … the basketballs didn’t let the ball bounce our way.” Behind Davis. Jr was Malcolm Duvivier who scored 16 points off the bench with on four-for-eight shooting from distance and Sean Miller-Moore who put up 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. It came as no surprise that two of the league’s top defensive squads opened Friday’s contest by mucking things up inside. Neither team found any early success in the paint as Vancouver and Calgary both shot below 40 per cent inside the arc through the first 10 minutes of play. What ended up splitting the difference was a quarter-ending 9-2 run by the Surge courtesy of timely shooting from distance. Calgary knocked down back-to-back-to-back triples -- capped off by Justin Jackson hitting one from the right corner at the buzzer – to lead 23-20 after the first frame. It was short lived, however, as the Bandits went on a 9-2 run of their own in the second quarter. Creek spearheaded the charge as he scored all nine of those points as part of a game-high 18 in the first half. Vancouver made sure not to waste the import’s effort as Copeland drilled a step back jumper from the left elbow in the dying seconds of the frame to put the Bandits up 47-41, the largest lead of either team at the break. “It’s about taking what comes,” Creek said on his record-setting performance after the win. “It’s a reflection of the team and culture we have … it’s not about points or steals … it’s about winning.” After struggling to score against the Surge’s interior defence in the opening quarter, Vancouver found success in the second. By halftime, the Bandits had shot 52 per cent from inside the arc for 20 points in the paint (plus-12). Vancouver kept that trend going as action resumed in the second half, going on a 10-0 run in third quarter, scoring all but two of those points at the rim. The most emphatic basket of that run came courtesy of a fastbreak alley-oop dunk from Moore off a slick feed from Copeland. And despite trailing by as many as 11 points in the third, the Surge responded with an 11-4 run that once again came courtesy of knocking down shots from distance. Calgary hit three triples in the final three minutes of the frame to cut the deficit to 70-67 ahead of the fourth. The Surge hit 12 threes (plus-seven) through the first 30 minutes of play on a 44 per cent clip, once again proving how three-point shooting can be the great equalizer. Calgary hit four more threes in the fourth quarter -- a Davis Jr. triple in Target Score Time even briefly giving the Surge an 83-82 lead – but ultimately it wasn’t enough. Ward threw down a dunk and split a pair of free throws and Creek drilled a three before Copeland supplanted himself as the game’s hero by knocking down the game winner. “It was a dog fight,” Surge head coach Tyrell Vernon said reflecting on the loss. “I’m proud of my group, it’s not the way we wanted it to end but definitely proud … sometimes (shots) don’t fall.” Vancouver’s efficiency inside the arc (50 per cent) proved too much for Calgary to overcome who simply couldn’t keep up, shooting 25 per cent on two-point shots. The Bandits ended up a plus-28 (42-14) on points in the paint. “For us it’s always about one more thing, and right now it’s about one more win and we’ll be champions,” said Creek. Up next With the win, the Bandits await the winner of Friday’s Eastern Conference Final between the Niagara River Lions and host Montréal Alliance. The Surge head home. – 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, 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 .

The Western Conference was a battle all season. Soon, someone will emerge as the last team standing. The Vancouver Bandits (14-6) meet the Calgary Surge in the West final on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. MT at Montreal’s Verdun Auditorium. Broadcast coverage of the game is available on TSN and Next Level Sports & Entertainment, while you can live stream the contest on CEBL+, TSN+ and Courtside 1891. The winner will play for the CEBL championship trophy on Sunday against either the Niagara River Lions or host Montreal Alliance. Despite the tough nature of the conference, Vancouver held down the top spot for most of the season thanks to an 8-2 start. And while the second half wasn’t as smooth for the Bandits, they still finished the campaign with wins in six of their last 10. On Wednesday, the Bandits dominated the league’s awards gala as point guard Tazé Moore was named MVP, Kyle Julius took top coaching honours and Koby McEwen was crowned the top Canadian. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, for me to play well, for me to play free,” McEwen said moments after winning the award. “I don’t wanna say I’m not happy, but definitely not satisfied. There’s a lot of things we gotta do this weekend, just trying to stay even keel about things. But I’m definitely grateful for the league recognizing me and stuff like that.” While Moore and McEwen buoyed the Bandits for most of the season, the team also received some late reinforcements in Canadian brothers Duane Notice and Marcus Carr as well as Australian big man Mitch Creek. Over six contests, Creek averaged 25.8 points per game to go with eight rebounds and 2.7 assists. Meanwhile, the season wasn’t as smooth-sailing for Calgary, which lost two of its first seven games to dig an early hole. But the Surge seemed to discover their identity as a fast, physical and never-say-die squad in a 97-94 win over the Bandits last month, the second of a four-game winning streak that launched them firmly into playoff contention. Despite missing some key players in NBA Summer League, a next-man-up mentality led by Mathieu Kamba, Corey Davis Jr., and mid-season addition Kyler Edwards helped propel the Surge forward. Davis Jr., led the team with 22.5 points and seven assists per game while Sean Miller-Moore hauled in 10 rebounds per game. The Bandits won the season series 2-1 over the Surge.  - 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, 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 .

The Calgary Surge waltzed into Edmonton and ended the Stingers season for the second year in a row, securing a 78-69 victory at EXPO Centre on Sunday night to book their ticket to Championship Weekend. Sean Miller-Moore, who flirted with a triple-double in a Play-In game victory over Winnipeg two days ago, scored six of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning layup through contact in Target Score Time. “I was thinking about going to the left but I just ducked my head, tried to get it up, and the ball bounced in my favour,” said Miller Moore after the game. The victory comes roughly one year after Calgary defeated Edmonton at home in the Western Conference Semifinal to seal the fourth and final spot in Championship Weekend 2023, where they ultimately fell to the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Championship Final. Jordy Tshimanga who scored only three points in Calgary’s Play-In game, was a force on the glass, hauling in eight rebounds — three offensive — and adding 14 points. Gabe Osabuohien and Trhae Mitchell, who combined for 15 rebounds, also led the Surge to a 48-37 edge over Edmonton in rebounds. It was a factor that helped Calgary overcome 22 team turnovers that resulted in 24 Edmonton points. “It was amazing to watch, we stayed together and made it work,” Tshimanga said. “I’m proud of the guys, proud of the coaching staff, and happy to move on.” The game went back and forth right from the opening tip, as neither team created any separation on the floor or scoreboard. After the Surge won the jump and missed a quick layup, Nick Hornsby found Brody Clarke running the floor for the Stinger’s opening basket. Four of Edmonton’s first six points were scored in layups in transition. And roughly one quarter of the total points in the game were scored on the fast break (19). However, the Surge — not showing any signs of fatigue from their victory on Friday night — used the three-point ball to take an early one-point lead after one, converting four triples in the first quarter. Reserve Mike Nuga did his best to counteract the Surge’s sharp shooting in the opening frame. Nuga, who knocked down both of his three-point attempts in the first quarter, converted his third three of the game on a dish from Trey McGowens in the second quarter. Nuga finished with 11 points, while Jacob Evans III scored a team-high 13 points on 45 per cent shooting from the field and added eight boards. Nuga’s efficiency came as the long balls stopped dropping for the Surge. Calgary didn’t score another three pointer until the third quarter — a Corey Davis Jr. triple in the corner, which marked his third three pointer of the game. Davis Jr. led all scorers with 22 points and four triples. But Calgary shot 25 per cent from beyond the arch as a team. The Surge, instead, relied on midrange jumpers and buckets inside after the first. Miller-Moore had a couple of those midrange jumpshots. And Tshimanga started flexing his muscles after being subbed in halfway through the first, chipping in with six points off the bench in the first two quarters. Mindaugas Kačinas a 37 per cent three-point shooter during the regular season, found space moving without the basketball to knock down a three and tie the game at 39 heading into halftime. Following the intermission, the Surge once again started feeding Tshimanga. The 6-foot-11 big man from Montréal, who dealt with a nosebleed in the second quarter, found success in a one-on-one matchup against Ben Krikke, drawing a foul and scoring a tip-in off the glass in the paint on back-to-back possessions in the third. “He did a phenomenal job rebounding the ball, scoring the ball down low, putting pressure on the rim… His energy and attention to detail was phenomenal today,” Calgary head coach Tyrell Vernon said of Tshimanga, who nearly registered a double-double (13 points and 8 rebounds) through three quarters. The Surge also used seven third quarter points from Davis Jr. to take a 63-54 lead heading into the fourth. Although Edmonton started the fourth on a 5-0 run to cut into the lead, Brody Clarke, who notched 11 points and 8 rebounds, fouled out right before Target Score Time with Calgary clinging to a seven-point lead. Without Clarke, Calgary went on a 7-0 run with the game clock shut off. Davis Jr. then knocked down a three pointer on a bounce-pass from Osabuohien that forced Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker to call a timeout. “It’s professional basketball, you gotta put the ball in the basket. When you don’t score 70 points it becomes hard to win basketball games,” Baker said. “Guys battled, to their credit, we had some really good possessions that resulted in some easy ones that we missed.” The Stingers shot under 40 per cent from the field as a team. And despite coming into tonight as the best free throw shooting team in the CEBL, Edmonton converted only 6-11 shots from the line. Edmonton crawled within eight points in Target Score Time, but following a Surge timeout, Miller-Moore fought through a pair of Stingers to get a layup to fall, silencing the crowd. The Surge will face the Vancouver Bandits in the Western Conference Final on Friday night, which is a rematch from Championship Weekend 2023. Calgary defeated the host Bandits last summer to advance to the Championship Final. Vernon says another victory over the Bandits won’t come easy, but preparation for that matchup is already underway. “For us, it’s just attention to detail, go back to the film, rest up and keep everybody healthy,” he said. “We’ll be motivated come the weekend.” - 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, 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 .