THE CALGARY SURGE SIGN STEFAN SMITH, A 6’2’’GUARD FROM AJAX, ON.
CALGARY, AB - The Calgary Surge have signed six-foot-two guard Stefan Smith for their 2023 inaugural season, the team announced Thursday.
Stef Smith most recently played in the Basketball Champions League Americas tournament with the Brampton Honey Badgers where he played in two games and averaged 9.5 points per game. He spent the 2022 season with the Guelph Nighthawks where he played in 16 games and averaged 7.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
“Stef is dedicated to working on his craft and it’s become very clear that his hard work is paying off. We will count on him to be a leader and to lead by example. He makes shots at all 3 levels and will be relied upon to make plays for his teammates. I am happy to have him on our team, and can’t wait to watch him thrive,” says Surge General Manager, Shane James.
Smith has five years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) experience, including four years at the University of Vermont and one year at St. John’s University. In the 2021-22 season, he played 31 games and averaged 6.3 points, 1.9 assists and 1.9 rebounds. In his freshman season at the University of Vermont, Smith averaged 3.8 points, 1.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game. His performance in his debut season earned him a spot on the America East All-Rookie team.
“I am really excited to be a part of the Surge organization this summer. The addition of basketball to Calgary will be great for the city. I am looking forward to leaving everything out on the court as well as interacting with and embracing the people of Calgary,” said Stef Smith.
In the 2018-19 season at the University of Vermont, the Ajax, Ontario local went on to win the America East title after putting up 17 points and eight rebounds in the championship game. In 34 appearances, he averaged 12.4 points. This was one of the strongest performances of the season, including a 28-point showing against Binghamton University which earned him a spot on the America East All-Championship team.
In the 2019-2020 season, Smith finished second on the team in scoring, averaging a career-high of 14.2 points. He also led the team in assists and steals that season. That same year, the University of Vermont finished in first place in the America East Conference with a 26-7 record. In 2020, Smith was selected for the America East All-Conference first team.
In Smith’s final season with the University of Vermont, he averaged 13.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 31 games. He ended the season with a selection to the America East All-Conference Second Team.
About the Calgary Surge
The Calgary franchise originated as the Guelph Nighthawks in 2018, one of the six founding members of the CEBL. The organization was relocated from the league’s smallest market to Calgary in August 2022 as part of the growing league's business strategy to have teams in Canada’s largest metropolitan areas. Chairman Usman Tahir Jutt and Vice-Chairman and President Jason Ribeiro saw an opportunity to bridge Calgary’s diverse communities together through sport and entertainment and to create a sense of belonging. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.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 71 percent of its roster being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, top NCAA programs, and USPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May to August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.
Media Contact:
Hilary Fontus
Manager, Communications
Calgary Surge
514-918-7826