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WELCOME TO

YOUR HOME TEAM.


The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at the WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating as the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). From day one, the Surge have been committed to being the Home Team for Calgary and a space where everyone is welcome. The Calgary Surge are active members of the community and have participated in hundreds of events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport and entertainment. The Surge have made

back-to-back-to-back CEBL Championship Weekend appearances

and were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 & 2025.

Fans can expect even more excitement for 2026!


PROFESSIONAL

BASKETBALL


Our roster includes players with experience in the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, & the Canadian National Team.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

CHAMPIONS


In our first two seasons, the Surge reached the playoffs & competedin the Championship weekend, winning the Western Conference title in 2023 & 2025.

CATCH THE ACTION

LIVE AT WINSPORT


Our season runs from May – August at WinSport Event Centre & consists of 12 Home Games & 12 Away Games.


4000+  KIDS &

FAMILIES IMPACTED


Surge ASSIST donors sent over four thousand deserving kids & families to Surge games for free.


CALGARY SURGE NEWS

CALGARY SURGE ANNOUNCE 2026 SEASON SCHEDULE

January 15, 2026 – Calgary, AB – Off the heels of their most successful season to date, "TRILOGY," which earned them Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) honours as Franchise of the Year and 2025 Western Conference Champions, as well as amassing record crowds across three venues (WinSport Event Centre, Scotiabank Saddledome, and Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer), the Calgary Surge are shifting into "OVERDRIVE."


The 2026 season is all about acceleration – elevating on-court performance, deepening community engagement, and amplifying the energy the Surge bring to every game. Building on the momentum of last season’s achievements, the organization is poised to cement its fast-growing reputation as one of the most exciting live event offerings in Western Canada. 


“Building on the momentum of ‘TRILOGY,’ we’re shifting into ‘OVERDRIVE’ with a relentless focus on basketball excellence, fan experience powered by great art and entertainment, as well as continued community impact,” said Team President, Dylan Howe. “Our team will play with urgency as we chase our first CEBL championship and bring even more energy to the Calgary community.”


On the court, the Surge will open the 2026 campaign on the road against the Ottawa BlackJacks on Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. MT, at TD Place. The Surge Home Opener will follow on Thursday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. MT, when the Surge welcome the Scarborough Shooting Stars to WinSport Event Centre for fans’ first taste of OVERDRIVE action. For the complete 2025 schedule, visit calgarysurge.ca/schedule.


The Canadian Elite Basketball League’s (CEBL) eighth season marks the beginning of a new era for the league with the introduction of a full in-market playoff model and the first best-of-three CEBL Finals series in league history.

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RECENT NEWS

January 15, 2026
2x Western Conference Champions and CEBL Franchise of the Year Back for Fourth Season January 15, 2026 – Calgary, AB – Off the heels of their most successful season to date, "TRILOGY," which earned them Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) honours as Franchise of the Year and 2025 Western Conference Champions, as well as amassing record crowds across three venues (WinSport Event Centre, Scotiabank Saddledome, and Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer), the Calgary Surge are shifting into "OVERDRIVE." The 2026 season is all about acceleration – elevating on-court performance, deepening community engagement, and amplifying the energy the Surge bring to every game. Building on the momentum of last season’s achievements, the organization is poised to cement its fast-growing reputation as one of the most exciting live event offerings in Western Canada. “Building on the momentum of ‘TRILOGY,’ we’re shifting into ‘OVERDRIVE’ with a relentless focus on basketball excellence, fan experience powered by great art and entertainment, as well as continued community impact,” said Team President, Dylan Howe. “Our team will play with urgency as we chase our first CEBL championship and bring even more energy to the Calgary community.” On the court, the Surge will open the 2026 campaign on the road against the Ottawa BlackJacks on Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. MT, at TD Place. The Surge Home Opener will follow on Thursday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. MT, when the Surge welcome the Scarborough Shooting Stars to WinSport Event Centre for fans’ first taste of OVERDRIVE action. For the complete 2026 schedule, visit calgarysurge.ca/schedule . The Canadian Elite Basketball League’s (CEBL) eighth season marks the beginning of a new era for the league with the introduction of a full in-market playoff model and the first best-of-three CEBL Finals series in league history. The Calgary Surge regular season will feature 24 games — 12 at home and 12 on the road — running from May 9 to August 3. Following the regular season, the playoffs will begin with a single-elimination Conference Semifinals on Thursday, August 6, followed by single-elimination Conference Finals on Saturday, August 8, with higher seeds hosting each round. The season will conclude with a best-of-three CEBL Finals from August 12–16, marking the first multi-game championship series in league history, with the lower seed hosting Game 1 and the higher seed hosting Games 2 and 3, if necessary. For more information on the playoff format, visit cebl.ca/playoffs . 2026 season tickets are on sale and for a limited time, fans can purchase an exclusive Home Opener Flex Pack, which includes one ticket to the 2026 Home Opener and two additional games of their choice. Visit calgarysurge.ca/surge-home-opener-pack for more information. Fans should continue to follow Surge channels as several marquee game announcements will be made in the coming weeks. About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club and REAL Studios. The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating as the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have made three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit calgarysurge.ca . About the CEBL The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide. In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media. Media Contact: Karina Castellanos Feijoó Manager, Projects & Administration Calgary Surge 647-916-3594; [email protected]
December 16, 2025
One of the league’s most experienced operators steps into expanded role after guiding competitive success and community impact. DEC 15 – The Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club is proud to announce that Dylan Howe has been promoted to Team President as part of an organized succession plan. Howe previously served as the team’s Senior Vice President, where he was instrumental in driving the Surge’s operations in basketball, ticketing, community engagement, and programming. Howe has served under the direct mentorship of Surge Co-Chairman and awarded entrepreneur Jason Ribeiro since the franchise launched in October 2022. Prior to joining the Calgary Surge, Howe served in progressively senior roles with the Niagara River Lions (2016-18) and Guelph Nighthawks (2018-2022) of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). “Dylan has been by my side from the very beginning of the Calgary Surge shaping every detail of who we are — competitively, culturally, and commercially,” said Jason Ribeiro, Co-Chairman of the Surge. “This promotion, his second in three years, is a testament to the dedication he has shown to date and the leadership potential he continues to bring to Canada’s sports and entertainment industry.” In 2025, the Surge were named 2025 CEBL Franchise of the Year, captured their second Western Conference Championship and Digital Excellence Award in three years, advanced to a third consecutive Championship Weekend, and finished with their best record in franchise history. “I’m honoured by the trust placed in me,” Howe said. “Our fans, our partners, and our city have embraced my family and I in such a powerful way. I’m committed to continuing the work of making the Calgary Surge a leading example of sport, culture, and community across the nation.” Ribeiro will continue to guide the business’s growth with his unique lens to cross-sector partnerships, community impact, and belief that innovation can shape culture and inspire connection. The organization’s latest venture is REAL Studios , a creative agency that produces accessible culture-driven content and materials that move audiences — not by chasing trends, but by revealing the real stories inside people, teams, and communities. The studio serves as the in-house creative team for the Calgary Surge and its wide range of sponsors and community partners and is now accepting new clients. Rather than relying on gimmicks or surface-level spectacle, the studio operates as a humble creative engine, led by a team with deep experience in storytelling, brand strategy, and the thoughtful use of AI to expand creative possibilities. The Surge will continue building on a foundation that centres community impact, enrichment for youth and families, and a modern, culturally informed approach to sport and entertainment. The Calgary Surge’s 2026 season will tip off in May, with full schedule information to be announced shortly. Season tickets for 10 Calgary games can be purchased here and start at $37 per game. About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club and REAL Studios. The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca . About the CEBL Created by Canadians for Canadians, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is dedicated to developing Canadian players, coaches, referees, and sports executives. In 2025, the league featured a record 17 players with NBA game experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its rosters were Canadian — the highest of any professional league in the country. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National Team program, NCAA, U SPORTS, and CCAA. Nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and many others attend NBA G League training camps each year. The season runs from May through August, with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, and Next Level Sports & Entertainment in the U.S. For more information, visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . Media Contact: Karina Castellanos Feijoó Manager, Projects & Administration Calgary Surge 647-916-3594; [email protected]
October 30, 2025
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada's largest domestic professional sports league, announced Thursday the Calgary Surge have been named the 2025 CEBL Franchise of the Year as part of the league's 2025 Business Awards. The Surge also took home the Digital Excellence Award, marking the second time in three years Calgary has received that distinction. “The Calgary Surge have proven themselves best-in-class, excelling on the court, engaging fans, and making a real impact in their community. These awards are a well-deserved recognition of their outstanding achievements,” said CEBL President Ty Mazereeuw. Over three years the Surge have become Calgary's winningest team, outpacing the winning percentage of all local NHL, CFL, AHL, WHL, NLL, CPL, and NSL franchises. “We’ve never been afraid to do things differently – to experiment, to blur the lines between sport and art, and to represent Calgary in a way that feels fresh and unapologetically ambitious,” said Jason Ribeiro, Vice-Chairman & President of the Calgary Surge and Co-Founder of REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. “These honours belong to an entire community of staff, players, partners, and fans who have emboldened us to lead a new era of professional basketball in Canada.” In 2025, the Surge captured their second Western Conference Championship in three years, advanced to a third consecutive Championship Weekend, and finished with a 17–7 record, the second-best mark in the league and best in franchise history. Calgary also led the CEBL in rebounds, steals, fouls drawn, and free throw attempts, while allowing the fewest points against. The team’s success was fueled by a star-studded roster assembled by General Manager, Shane James and led by Head Coach, Kaleb Canales. Jameer Nelson Jr. set a CEBL record with 57 steals and was named Defensive Player of the Year (nominated alongside Surge forward Greg Brown III), while Evan Gilyard II established a new franchise scoring record with 37 points in a single game and a CEBL playoff record with eight three-pointers. Rugzy Miller- Moore finished tied for first in target-score game winners (six) and set a new single-season scoring record for a Canadian with 427 points. The Surge continue to hold the largest single-game attendance record in the CEBL and in 2025 the Surge hosted their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th highest-attended games and their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th highest-grossing games in franchise history. The Surge also became the first CEBL team to host regular season games in three venues in a single season – WinSport Event Centre, the Scotiabank Saddledome (headlining the Calgary Stampede), and Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer (the first neutral-site game in league history). The team’s commitment to community remains at the core of its identity. This year saw the launch of their free SURGE CITY HOOPS programming in collaboration with the City of Calgary. Their Surge ASSIST program with Kids Up Front Calgary provided free access to games for another 2,250 vulnerable Calgarians in 2025, raising nearly $400,000 over three years and supporting more than 6,500 children and families. The team has also raised nearly $50,000 for KidSport to help remove financial barriers to youth basketball programming across the city. The criteria for each award is as follows: FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR Awarded to the franchise that best represents the values of the CEBL through good internal governance, engagement in the community, commitment to innovation, success on the basketball court and with revenue generation, demonstration of a long-term vision for sustainable business growth, and promotion of Canadian basketball. DIGITAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Awarded to the franchise that best delivers graphic and video content that demonstrates excellence in quality of presentation and appeal, creativity and innovation, and overall consistency, while driving interactive engagement with designated targeted audiences that show a measurable impact for followers, partners, and for the franchise’s business and brand awareness. Voted 40% by quantifiable measures in-season from May 1 to August 31 and 60% by vote. Award winners were voted on by different variations of groups comprised of league and team executives, including but not limited to the CEBL’s President and Chief Operating Officer, and all 10 team presidents. The Calgary Surge’s 2026 season will tip off in May, with full schedule information to be announced in the coming months. Season tickets for 10 Calgary games can be purchased here and start at $37 per game. About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live events company co- founded by Jason Ribeiro that owns and operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club. The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca . A bout the CEBL Created by Canadians for Canadians, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is dedicated to developing Canadian players, coaches, referees, and sports executives. In 2025, the league featured a record 17 players with NBA game experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its rosters were Canadian — the highest of any professional league in the country. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National Team program, NCAA, U SPORTS, and CCAA. Nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and many others attend NBA G League training camps each year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . Media Contact: Karina Castellanos Feijoó Manager, Projects & Administration Calgary Surge 647-916-3594; [email protected]
August 16, 2025
As the Calgary Surge and Vancouver Bandits jockeyed for position atop the Western Conference all season, a postseason matchup appeared all but destined. Now, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the West get ready to face off at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, with a trip to the Western Conference Final at Championship Weekend — and a matchup against the host Winnipeg Sea Bears — on the line. Live broadcast coverage of the West Semifinal tilt begins at 12:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. ET on TSN, CEBL+, TSN+ and NLSE. The Surge and Bandits enter the matchup as the two hottest teams in the league, each having won their last four regular-season games. Meanwhile, Calgary pushed its win streak to five straight with a 103-95 Play-In win over the Edmonton Stingers on Thursday to advance to the Western Conference Semifinal. It was an effort led by the floor general tandem of Evan Gilyard II (28 points, five assists) and Jameer Nelson Jr. (26 points, seven assists and two steals). The duo not only accounted for over 50 per cent of the Surge’s scoring production on the night, but also led the way in Target Score Time as Gilyard II and Nelson Jr. scored all of Calgary’s points once the clocks stopped. “It’s super special and we’re super spoiled having both of them,” Surge head coach Caleb Canales said of the pairing after the game. “Both are knocking on the door of an NBA contract. They play both ends at a high level, so we’ve been very spoiled by both of them.” On the other side, the Bandits look to begin their postseason journey of retribution on the right foot. Vancouver made it to the Championship Final last year before ultimately losing to the Niagara River Lions. And it was clear that the West Coast squad had nothing but redemption on its mind leading into 2025, as this year’s Bandits have been on a mission, maintaining pole position in the conference for much of the season. An effort that stemmed largely from their dominance on both ends of the floor — boasting the league’s No. 1 offence (98.8 points per game) and second-ranked defence (88.4 points against per game). Saturday’s matchup also won’t be the first time the West rivals meet in the playoffs, as Vancouver and Calgary are plenty familiar with one another in a single-elimination setting. The pair have faced off in the Western Conference Final in back-to-back seasons leading into this year, and fittingly, those battles were split evenly — the Surge winning in 2023 (then losing to the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Final) and the Bandits coming out on top in 2024. Season series If there’s any squad that won’t be intimidated at the prospect of heading into Vancouver to take on a top-seeded Bandits team, it’s the Surge. For starters, Calgary hasn’t been far behind in terms of two-way production as it ranks second on offence (95.3) and first on defence (87.2). Beyond that, the Surge also hold a bit of a mental edge, considering they swept the regular-season series (3-0) against the Bandits this year. Aside from the last game, which came down to a Gilyard game-winning triple, the first two contests were fairly one-sided as Calgary won them by an average margin of 16.0 points. Victories that were spearheaded by the Surge’s trademark defence as they held the top-scoring and most efficient offence in the CEBL to just 87 points per game on 43 per cent shooting throughout the three games. Players to watch Saturday’s contest features top-end talent on both sides. Between the Surge and Bandits, five 2025 CEBL award finalists will be taking the floor. Mitch Creek, in the running for league MVP, will presumably leave his mark in the West Semifinal against a Calgary team he’s found success against individually. The Aussie enters the matchup having averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds on a 52.5 per cent field goal clip in those appearances. Manning the frontcourt with Creek will be Tyrese Samuel, who’s up for Canadian Player of the Year alongside Calgary’s Sean Miller-Moore. Samuel has turned heads in his first CEBL season as the only player to average a double-double (21.4 points, 10.8 rebounds) this year. Bandits fans will also be hoping for a repeat showing from his last game against the Surge, when the Montreal native put up a team-best 26 points on 12-of-15 shooting. Meanwhile, Miller-Moore has done his fair share of damage against the Bandits as a Surge mainstay the last three years. The two-time CEBL All-Canadian enters Saturday having averaged 23 points on 52.6 per cent shooting in three games against Vancouver this season, including a game-high 27-point showing in July. As for Calgary, expect plenty from the two-way tandem of Nelson Jr. and Greg Brown III — both vying for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Nelson Jr. set a new single-season CEBL steals record this season with 57 in 19 games, while his 3.0 steals per game led the league by a full steal over the next closest player. Brown III was second in the CEBL for both blocks per game (1.8) and total blocks (41) this year. He’s also been highly productive against the Bandits in 2025, averaging 22.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in three appearances. 2025 CEBL Playoff Schedule Eastern Conference Semifinal – Saturday, Aug. 16 – SSS at OTT – 1 p.m. ET – Centre Slush Puppie – Gatineau, QC (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Western Conference Semifinal – Saturday, Aug. 16 – CGY at VAN – 12:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Langley Events Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – Eastern Conference Final – Friday, Aug. 22 – TBD at NRL – 5 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – Western Conference Final – Friday, Aug. 22 – WPG at TBD – 7:30 p.m. CDT / 8:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – CEBL Championship Final – Sunday, Aug. 24 – TBD at TBD – 6 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .
By Zulfi Sheikh August 15, 2025
One of the biggest rivalries in the CEBL gets set to pen its latest chapter on Thursday when the Calgary Surge host the Edmonton Stingers for the Western Conference’s Play-In game. The Battle of Alberta matchup will tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. local at the WinSport Event Centre, with live broadcast coverage available on TSN, CEBL+, TSN+ and NLSE. And to raise the stakes even further, Calgary and Edmonton enter the contest as two of the hottest teams in the league. The Surge capped off their regular season with a four-game win streak, while the Stingers weren’t far behind as they won their last three contests. Unsurprisingly, Calgary’s success came on the back of its impressive defence, entering Thursday allowing the fewest points per game (87.2) of any team this season. All the while, the Surge stepped up even further on that end during their win streak, limiting opponents to just 83.8 points while winning by an average margin of 18.8 points during that span. What is a bit unexpected, however, is that the Stingers seem to have found their defensive form of late, as well. Despite giving up the second-most points per game (91.0) on the year, Edmonton held opponents to 84.0 points during its three consecutive wins. It's the kind of effort the Stingers will need to replicate to upset a Surge team that ranked second in scoring (95.3), boasts a 9-3 home record, and holds a 2-0 all-time playoff advantage over the Stingers. For what it's worth, it wouldn’t be the first time Edmonton has overcome those odds — the Stingers are 3-3 all-time in Calgary and 7-3 on the road against the franchise (formerly Guelph). Season series If the 2025 campaign was any indication, expect a tightly contested affair on Thursday. The provincial rivals split their first two matchups, as the pair of contests were decided by a combined five points. Despite that, Edmonton does hold a slight edge entering the Play-In, owning a 2-1 season series lead courtesy of a 23-point win against Calgary in early July. It is worth noting, however, that the Surge were without Jameer Nelson Jr. — the 10th-ranked scorer (19.4) in the CEBL this year — for that 113-90 loss. Meanwhile, Nelson has enjoyed matching up against Edmonton, averaging 22.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals in his two appearances. Yet despite the Surge missing Nelson’s dynamism offensively, it was their typically stout defence that ultimately cost them against the Stingers in the final regular-season matchup between the two. Calgary head coach Caleb Canales made that point abundantly clear after the loss, explaining that the Surge “didn’t play our brand of defence or our brand of basketball.” Edmonton not only converted at percentages of 50/36/90 from the field, distance and free throw line, but did so while stampeding through Calgary’s interior. The Stingers finished their season-best scoring performance, shooting an impressive 57 per cent from two-point range as they put up 60 points in the paint for a plus-28 edge in that regard. Meanwhile, the Surge’s lone win against the Stingers this season came back in May, eking out a two-point victory largely thanks to their late-game execution. Calgary entered the fourth quarter down by eight, but outscored Edmonton 28-18 in the final frame to secure a season-opening win. Players to watch Nelson will undoubtedly be vital for the Surge’s success on Thursday. The import has been a pillar for Calgary on both ends of the floor, second on the team in scoring, while his 57 steals set a new all-time single-season CEBL record. Beyond that, the guard’s ability to lift his game in big moments will likely be called upon should the game come down to the wire. In the Surge’s lone win against the Stingers this year, it was Nelson who led the way as he scored the final seven points for his team in Target Score Time. On the other side, it’s no secret that much of the attention will be on Sean East II, who set the CEBL’s scoring record with 546 points this season. But with much of the defensive attention focused on the import, it should leave room for Scottie Lindsey to operate against a Surge team he’s found success against. The guard enters Thursday averaging 24.7 points per game against Calgary in 2025, including two of his three best scoring performances. In the Stingers’ latest victory over the Surge, Lindsey scored 29 points, three shy of his season-high, while shooting a torrid 7-of-11 from beyond the arc. 2025 CEBL Playoff Schedule Eastern Conference Play-In – Thursday, Aug. 14 – MTL at SSS – 7 p.m. ET – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Western Conference Play-In – Thursday, Aug. 14 – EDM at CGY – 7:30 p.m. MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Eastern Conference Semifinal – Saturday, Aug. 16 – TBD at OTT – 1 p.m. ET – Centre Slush Puppie – Gatineau, QC (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Western Conference Semifinal – Saturday, Aug. 16 – TBD at VAN – 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Langley Events Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – Eastern Conference Final – Friday, Aug. 22 – TBD at NRL – 5 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – Western Conference Final – Friday, Aug. 22 – WPG at TBD – 7:30 p.m. CDT / 8:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – CEBL Championship Final – Sunday, Aug. 24 – TBD at TBD – 6 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE)  For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .
August 13, 2025
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday the individual award nominees for the 2025 CEBL Awards, taking place on Thursday, August 21 at 7 p.m. CDT at The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre (The MET) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The CEBL Awards serve as the first official event of 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25), which runs from August 21 to 24. Most Valuable Player finalists Mitch Creek of the Vancouver Bandits and Sean East II of the Edmonton Stingers headline the list of nominees revealed across six player award categories. In total, eight individual CEBL awards will be presented in 2025. 2025 CEBL Award Finalists Most Valuable Player: Mitch Creek (Vancouver Bandits), Sean East II (Edmonton Stingers) Canadian Player of the Year: Sean Miller-Moore (Calgary Surge), Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits) Sixth Man of the Year: Chris Smith (Edmonton Stingers), Zane Waterman (Ottawa BlackJacks) Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Brown III (Calgary Surge), Jameer Nelson Jr. (Calgary Surge) Developmental Player of the Year: Aaron Rhooms (Edmonton Stingers), Isaac Simon (Saskatchewan Rattlers) The 2025 CEBL Coach of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year (most Target Score Winners), Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award winner and All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian teams will also be announced at the CEBL Awards on August 21. Creek’s leadership and production were instrumental in Vancouver’s league-best 19-5 record this season. He finished second in the CEBL in scoring with 24.4 points per game, ranked third in three-point percentage (48.6%), and fourth in field goal percentage (58.4%). The 6-foot-5 Australian's 488 total points were the second-highest in the league in 2025 and the fourth-most ever recorded in a single CEBL season. He also ranked among the league';s top 10 in several other categories, including free throws made (2nd – 110), field goals made (3rd – 171), minutes played (6th – 687.7), and steals (9th – 30). East II made history in 2025, setting a new CEBL single-season scoring record with 546 points — surpassing the previous mark of 544 set by Winnipeg’s Teddy Allen in 2023. The first-year Edmonton guard also recorded the second-most steals (48) and seventh-most assists (116) in league history. He led the CEBL in both field goals made (202) and minutes played (741.5), ranked second in steals per game (2.0) and free throw percentage (90.7%), and finished third in scoring with 22.8 points per game. He also made 54 three-pointers, the fourth-highest total in the league this season. Miller-Moore’s 427 points in 2025 set a new CEBL record for the most scored by a Canadian player in a single season and ranked as the sixth-highest total in league history. The two-time CEBL All-Canadian (2023, 2024) tied for the league lead with six Target Score Winners, and finished second in both minutes played (760.5) and field goals made (173). In his first CEBL season, Samuel was a dominant presence for the Bandits and the only player in the league to average more than 20 points (21.4) and 10 rebounds (10.8) per game. Despite appearing in just 15 games, the Canadian big man tied for the league lead with six Target Score Winners and led the CEBL in field goal percentage (65.9%). He also ranked third in rebounds per game and tied for third with eight double-doubles. Smith and Waterman each played valuable roles off the bench for their respective clubs in 2025. Smith appeared in 17 games for the consistently competitive Stingers, averaging 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 15.4 minutes per game. Waterman was a key factor in the BlackJacks’ strong second-half surge, averaging 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 23.1 minutes per game, while shooting 52.9 per cent from three-point range. Surge teammates Greg Brown III and Jameer Nelson Jr. delivered strong two-way performances in 2025, particularly on the defensive end. Brown III ranked second in the CEBL with 1.8 blocks per game and recorded 41 total blocks — third-most in a single season in league history. He also collected the second-most defensive rebounds (144) and finished third in total rebounds (188), while adding 16 steals. Nelson Jr. set a new CEBL single-season record with 57 steals in just 19 games, adding five blocked shots along the way. His 3.0 steals per game average led the league by a full steal over the next closest player, MVP candidate East II. Rhooms (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Simon (University of Alberta) were nominated for the CEBL’s Developmental Player of the Year award after contributing valuable minutes for their pro teams in 2025. Rhooms appeared in 19 games for the Stingers, logging 150.5 total minutes and averaging 4.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. Simon played in all 24 games for the Rattlers, including six starts, and averaged 4.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per contest. Award nominees and winners are determined by votes cast by the league’s head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and internal media personnel. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team. All CEBL award winners will receive a customized ring from Jostens, the official Supplier of Awards and Rings of the CEBL; a custom trophy from protocole, crafted from maple and solid metal with a silkscreened CEBL logo; and a special gift from the league’s partner, Foot Locker. The 2025 CEBL Playoffs begin tomorrow (Thursday, August 14) with a Play-In round doubleheader at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET. For full details on the CEBL’s playoff format and 2025 matchups, please visit: https://www.cebl.ca/playoffs The four-team CW25, hosted this year at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, features a Conference Finals doubleheader Friday, August 22, and the CEBL Championship Final on Sunday, August 24. The Championship Final official halftime performer will be acclaimed Canadian rapper k-os, while Winnipeg-based musicians The Lytics and Boogey The Beat will perform at the Conference Finals doubleheader. Ticket and event information is available at cebl.ca/championshipweekend.
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