FRASER VALLEY BANDITS ANNOUNCE 2021 SEASON SCHEDULE
Bandits Staff • February 25, 2021
Bandits return to Abbotsford Centre for third season with plans for fans in attendance. Highlights include a nationally broadcast rematch of the CEBL Summer Series finals against Edmonton and more
ABBOTSFORD, BC, February 25, 2021 – The Canadian Elite Basketball League led the NHL, NBA and later the CPL in returning to play in Canada after the coronavirus shut down the sports world in March of 2020. The CEBL Summer Series put professional basketball on the television and digital screens of millions of viewers across Canada and around the world, establishing the CEBL as the top Canadian-based global team sports brand. The 2021 season will build on that momentum with an expanded viewing audience around the world and locally through an innovative approach to addressing the uncertainties due to the pandemic around having fans in arenas across the league.
The CEBL and the Fraser Valley Bandits announced the 2021 regular season schedule Thursday, a 14-game slate reduced from the standard 20 games and pushed back from a mid-May start to June 5 to accommodate the possibility of fans being able to attend games in person this summer. The league cannot push its season beyond a late-August playoff finish because most of its players must report to their international pro teams by September.
“The health and safety of fans, players, officials and staff was our top priority when we created the schedule for 2021, followed closely by a structure that would increase the odds of having fans in the stands for as many games as possible this summer at Abbotsford Centre,” said Dylan Kular, vice president of the Fraser Valley Bandits.
“It is our hope that by summer our region and community will be better positioned in the fight against COVID-19 and restrictions around public gatherings may allow for some number of fans to attend games. Live events and entertainment have an integral role in reenergizing a community and we want to contribute to that to the extent that we can in the Fraser Valley.”
With uncertainty around government regulations of people attending events and in recognition that some people may not feel comfortable attending events in 2021, an innovative approach has been created to protect the investment of those who have purchased tickets to Bandits games.
All season tickets, season ticket deposits and flex packs that have been purchased for 2021 are automatically being moved forward into 2022 and applied toward next season’s ticket packages. If fans will be allowed into Abbotsford Centre, those ticketholders may choose to draw tickets from their 2022 package to use for any games they wish to attend in 2021. There will be no obligation to use any tickets in 2021. All unused tickets will remain on account and applied toward the same ticket packages in 2022.
Fans who had purchased tickets for the 2020 season and left their tickets on account for 2021 received retention benefits that included a 20 per cent credit toward additional tickets and a 25 per cent discount on team merchandise. Those benefits will be extended to all ticketholders through August of 2022.
“We have been amazed by the continued and growing support of people, partners and businesses throughout the past year. Fans who purchased 2020 season tickets asked us to hold onto their tickets on account for 2021 and new ticket holders and partners joined our family following a tremendous performance at last year’s CEBL Summer Series. Following a runner-up finish and playing in some of the CEBL’s highest watched games across both cable television and digital streaming platforms, we were overwhelmed by the support of fans, both new and old,” Kular said.
“Our fans and community come first. As a result, we have built a strategy that ensures the full protection of any investment in our tickets through a plan that provides flexibility and makes sure that no one will feel pressured to have to use their tickets this season if they’re not comfortable attending games.”
Additional ticketing details will be announced closer to the start of the season when it is expected there will be more clarity from government and health officials around public gatherings.
The Bandits open the 2021 season at home versus Edmonton on Saturday, June 5 at 1 p.m. PT. The seven home games will include an additional visit from Edmonton, as well as two visits from 2019 CEBL champions, the Saskatchewan Rattlers. The Ottawa BlackJacks, who completed its inaugural season in 2020, will make its first visit to Abbotsford Centre on July 3. The Guelph Nighthawks and Niagara River Lions will also make the trip out west to Abbotsford Centre this summer for regular season action.
Fraser Valley’s road schedule includes a single trip to Ottawa and Niagara, as well as a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s CEBL semifinal versus the Hamilton Honey Badgers on July 23 at 4 p.m. PT. In last year’s CEBL postseason, the Bandits defeated Hamilton to complete a thrilling 14-point comeback to advance to the CEBL championship.
The CEBL will announce its plans for the post-season at a later date.
CBC is the premier media partner of the CEBL and will broadcast nationally televised games on seven consecutive Saturdays beginning June 5. The Bandits will appear once on national television, beginning with Fraser Valley’s home opener against Edmonton on June 5 at Abbotsford Centre. All regular season games will also be live streamed on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, and on a new OTT streaming platform the CEBL will unveil this spring.
Highlights of the 2021 Fraser Valley Bandits schedule include:
- The Bandits’ home opener on Saturday, June 5 will be broadcast nationally on CBC in a rematch of last year’s CEBL championship versus the Edmonton Stingers
- Fraser Valley plays in both the first and last games of the CEBL regular season on June 5 and Aug. 8, respectively
- Fraser Valley plays three consecutive games against Saskatchewan as part of a home-away-home stretch against Saskatchewan on June 13, 24 and 26
- The Bandits’ longest home stand is June 26, 29 and July 3, which will see Fraser Valley take on Saskatchewan, Niagara and Ottawa, respectively
- Fraser Valley’s longest road trip is two games, both occurring during the second leg of the 14-game regular season; July 8 and 10 against Niagara and Ottawa, and to conclude the season on August 5 and 8 against Edmonton and Saskatchewan
- The team will play each CEBL opponent at least once during the regular season
- Fraser Valley will not host Hamilton and will not play at Guelph
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its 2020 rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian national team program, and top NCAA and U SPORTS programs.
More information about the Bandits is available at thebandits.ca, as well as on Instagram (@fvbandits.cebl), Twitter (@FV_Bandits), Facebook (@fvbandits.cebl), TikTok, and YouTube.
FRASER VALLEY BANDITS 2021 CEBL SEASON
Date Time (PT) Opponent Place Note
- Saturday, June 5, 2021 1:00 p.m. vs. Edmonton Abbotsford Centre Opener/CBC National Broadcast
- Thursday, June 10, 2021 6:30 p.m. at Edmonton EXPO Centre
- Sunday, June 13, 2021 1:30 p.m. vs. Saskatchewan Abbotsford Centre
- Thursday, June 24, 2021 6:30 p.m. at Saskatchewan SaskTel Centre
- Saturday, June 26, 2021 4:00 p.m. vs. Saskatchewan Abbotsford Centre
- Tuesday, June 29, 2021 7:00 p.m. vs. Niagara Abbotsford Centre
- Saturday, July 3, 2021 4:00 p.m. vs. Ottawa Abbotsford Centre
- Thursday, July 8, 2021 4:00 p.m. at Niagara Meridian Centre
- Saturday, July 10, 2021 4:00 p.m. at Ottawa Arena at TD Place
- Wednesday, July 14, 2021 7:30 p.m. vs. Guelph Abbotsford Centre
- Friday, July 23, 2021 4:00 p.m. at Hamilton FirstOntario Centre
- Sunday, July 25, 2021 1:00 p.m. vs. Edmonton Abbotsford Centre
- Thursday, August 5, 2021 6:00 p.m. at Edmonton EXPO Centre
- Sunday, August 8, 2021 1:00 p.m. at Saskatchewan SaskTel Centre
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Savory, Director of Operations, (604) 217-6213, [email protected]
About the Fraser Valley Bandits:
The Fraser Valley Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the club is proud to call Abbotsford Centre home. The Bandits offer a riveting entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue. PerfectLens, a Vancouver-based contact lens supplier, is the official presenting partner of the Bandits’ 2021 season. Head to thebandits.ca for more information.
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Seven players who have previously suited up for the Vancouver Bandits, including five from the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season, have been named to NBA G League training camp rosters ahead of the start of the 2026-27 season on November 6, 2026. The NBA G League serves as the NBA’s official minor league and features 31 teams, with 30 clubs having one-to-one affiliations with NBA franchises. Surrey, B.C.’s James Karnik will join the Portland Trail Blazers’ affiliate, Rip City Remix. Karnik has participated in 36 regular season games across four seasons dating back to 2022, including four games in 2026. This marks the first time that he has been named to an NBA G League training camp squad. Jaelen House, a former NBA G League All-Star who played in 10 games for the Bandits during the 2026 season, will be competing for a roster spot on the Utah Jazz’s affiliate, Salt Lake City Stars. He set the Bandits’ single-game scoring record, recording 42 points against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on June 18, 2026. The Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate and defending NBA G League champion, Greensboro Swarm, will feature Jarkel Joiner. Joiner played 21 games for the Bandits in 2026, leading the team in points per game (17.8), before being named to the Hornets’ training camp roster and logging minutes in four NBA preseason games. Joining Joiner on the Swarm is Kyle Mangas, who appeared in 16 games with 14 starts for the Bandits during the 2025 season. John Knight III, who logged 18 games for the Bandits in 2026, joins the Houston Rockets’ affiliate, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a club he has played for since 2023. D’Andre Davis, who appeared in three games for the Bandits in 2026, looks to secure a roster spot with the Boston Celtics’ affiliate, Maine Celtics. A member of the 2023 Bandits roster, Georgian-born forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili will take the court with the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate, College Park Skyhawks. The opening night rosters for all 32 NBA G League teams must be submitted by Sunday, November 5.
Former Vancouver Bandits forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks. The news was announced by the Hawks via social media on Wednesday. Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.
HAIDA GWAII, BC - October 6, 2026 - This past weekend, Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, and the Bandits Community Foundation hosted a series of youth basketball clinics on Haida Gwaii, continuing its ongoing series of community visits across the province in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC). The community visits and youth camps on Haida Gwaii were also made possible through the generous support of Langara Island Lodge and Skidegate Band Council. Led by Bandits Team President Dylan Kular and Community Manager Pavan Kalair, local youth athletes aged 10 to 17 from across Haida Gwaii participated in free-of-charge workshops and basketball camps, furthering the Bandits Community Foundation’s goal of bringing more basketball to more people across the province. "Haida Gwaii has an incredible passion for basketball, and it was an honour for our staff to spend time on the court with so many talented young athletes," said Vancouver Bandits Team President Dylan Kular. "Our partnership with I·SPARC through the Indigenous Basketball Collective is about building lasting relationships with communities across the province and making sure every young player has access to the game. We are grateful to Langara Island Lodge, the Skidegate Band Council and everyone in Old Massett, Masset and Skidegate who welcomed us, and we cannot wait to come back." “Programs like this show what is possible when partners come together for Indigenous youth,” said I·SPARC’s Chief Executive Officer Rick Brant. “We are proud to work with the Vancouver Bandits to bring high-quality basketball coaching to Haida Gwaii, where the game is so deeply loved." Bandits staff led PHE classes with students at Chief Matthews School in Old Massett, and ran skill development clinics for local youth athletes aged 13 to 17 across three communities at Kwiiyaans Community Hall (Old Massett), Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School (Masset) and George Brown Recreation Centre (Skidegate). “We are grateful for the opportunity for the Vancouver Bandits and I·SPARC to come in and work with our youth,” said Trevor Russ, head coach of the Old Massett Raiders boys basketball team. “Basketball plays a big role for our youth in Masset, and the Bandits coming to town provides an opportunity for them to work with some high-level coaches at the professional level. Our youth are very happy to have this opportunity.” “To be able to have the Vancouver Bandits come to Skidegate and Haida Gwaii is very important,” said Desi Collinson, Recreation Coordinator and elected representative to the Council of the Haida Nation. “Basketball means a lot to Haida Gwaii; it brings excitement, hope and inspiration to our communities. Organizations like the Bandits and I·SPARC give us different insights and outlooks that our young athletes have not experienced before, and we are happy to have them here to uplift our youth.” The camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, previous community visits hosted through the Collective since its inception include Ahousaht, Bella Coola (Nuxalk First Nation), Kitimat (Haisla Nation), Nanaimo (Snuneymuxw First Nation), Victoria, West Vancouver and Williams Lake with future youth camps and coaching seminars currently being planned for 2027.
This weekend, youth across Haida Gwaii will have the opportunity to learn and sharpen their basketball skills from British Columbia’s professional basketball team. Through the generous support of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and Langara Island Lodge, the Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation will be hosting free-of-charge youth basketball camps across Haida Gwaii, marking the organization’s first community visit to the North Coast region. “Haida Gwaii means a great deal to us, and we know how much basketball means to these communities. The game gives young people a place to grow, brings families together, and creates opportunities for teams to proudly represent where they come from,” said Yos Gladstone, Sales Coordinator, Langara Island Lodge. “The young players, coaches, families, and teams here deserve every opportunity we can help bring their way. We are grateful to the Vancouver Bandits, I∙SPARC and the Bandits Community Foundation for their commitment to make this program happen, and especially to those in Haida Gwaii who give so much of their time, energy, and efforts to basketball year-round.” “For us, supporting this program is personal. We care about the communities and the people who make them so special. If this visit from the Vancouver Bandits gives local players more time on the court, encouragement to keep going, and a chance to connect through the game, that is something we are proud to be part of.” The camps are hosted in collaboration with I∙SPARC, Bandits Community Foundation, Haida Gwaii Recreation and School District 50 Haida Gwaii. Across three days, over 200 youth athletes aged 10 to 17 and their families will gather in gymnasiums across Haida Gwaii for camps and workshops led by Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation staff members. Youth participants will also receive complimentary Vancouver Bandits merchandise. "Haida Gwaii holds a legendary place in this province and Indigenous basketball culture and being on the ground in Masset and Skidegate truly showcases how powerful this sport is," said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. "The competitive drive and skill level of these youth are incredible, but what is even more inspiring is how basketball acts as a heartbeat for the entire region. Seeing the immediate connection between the youth, the coaching staff, and the local fans highlights exactly why we wanted to bring the Bandits to Haida Gwaii.” “We want to extend our deepest thanks to the Haida Nation and our partners at I∙SPARC and Langara Island Lodge for hosting us and sharing their incredible hospitality. This visit marks an exciting milestone for our organization, and we look forward to building on this relationship for years to come." The camp schedule for this weekend is as follows: Friday, October 2 Kwiiyaans Community Hall, Old Massett 12:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School, Masset 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The forthcoming camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits, and build upon recent previous community visits to Williams Lake and Bella Coola earlier this year. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.
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