Defensive Intensity Takes Centre Stage as Fraser Valley, Hamilton Battle on National Television
August 1, 2020
Midway through the round robin portion of the CEBL Summer Series the consensus surprise team has been the Fraser Valley Bandits. Surprise to most, but not to Bandits head coach Kyle Julius nor anyone wearing their orange and blue uniform. Julius emphasized chemistry when building a roster of players familiar with his system, most who have played for him previously during their career. Tenacious, tough, fighters who want to fight are labels often ascribed to a Julius-coached team, and this year’s Bandits exemplify that. Only a hard-luck roll off the rim late in Thursday’s 78-76 loss to Ottawa has kept Fraser Valley from a perfect 3-0 record. The Bandits present a balanced offensive attack with five players averaging in double digit scoring. They hold a 25.7 to 16.3 advantage over their opponents in points off turnovers, and a 28.7 to 20.0 edge in fastbreak points—evidence that pressure and scoring in transition are the staples of this team.
When Julius talks about his team being overlooked because it lacks big name national team players or the NBA tag, he’s alluding to today’s opponent, the Hamilton Honey Badgers. The Honey Badgers, who lost National team and NBA G League performers Aaron Best, MiKyle McIntosh, and Justin Jackson the week before training camp for different reasons, must re-tool yet again as the spiritual leader of the team and its most productive player in the CEBL Summer Series, Duane Notice, tore his left Achilles at the end of Wednesday’s loss to Edmonton and underwent surgery yesterday. Notice had been named Hamilton’s Player of the Game in the victory over Guelph and his 23 points against the Stingers drew the same honours.
Much like their opponent today, the Honey Badgers are ignited by ball pressure and winning the transition battles. Hamilton’s struggle to make shots—the team is shooting only .415 from the floor and averaging 88.0 points a game—is overcome by holding opponents to a .409 accuracy mark and 85.3 points per outing. Hamilton is scoring an average of 20.3 points off of 20.3 opponents’ turnovers a game.
Today’s game is being televised nationally by CBC, and internationally on cbcsports.ca and on Twitch.tv (CEBLeague). It’s also available on the CBC Gem app.
Players to Watch
Fraser Valley’s Cameron Forte, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Portland State, has jumped to the top of the CEBL Summer Series MVP race as his scoring average of 24.3 points is nearly seven points higher than the second-best scorer in the league. Forte accounts for 26 percent of his team’s points and 20 percent of their rebounds. Doing most of his damage in the paint, Forte is also grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game. He burned Edmonton for 28 points in the Bandits opening game and tied the CEBL record with six steals against Saskatchewan on Tuesday.
Replacing Notice at guard on the Hamilton roster is third year pro Caleb Agada, who had signed with the team this spring before heading over to play in Israel. He returned to Canada in July after averaging 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 29.2 minutes in eight games with Hapoel Beer Sheva (Israel-Winner League). The Burlington native played two games with the Honey Badgers in 2019, recording 19 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in 28 minutes in his debut appearance against Niagara. He left Hamilton to train with the Nigerian National team before signing with Melilla in Spain’s LEB-Gold league where he averaged 14.7 points in 23 games.
Brianté Weber led Hamilton in scoring in the team’s first two games and along with Alex Johnson will have to shoulder more of the team’s quarterbacking duties in the absence of Notice. Like Notice, Weber is a lockdown defender and gives the team a 94-foot effort on defense and offense.
Forte will have to contend with the Hamilton duo of Owen Klassen and Derek Cooke, Jr. in the battle of the big men. Klassen opened the Summer Series with a 15-point 10-rebound effort against Niagara and followed that up with 16 points and six rebounds versus Guelph. Foul trouble limited him to three points and five rebounds against Edmonton. Cooke Jr. made his tournament debut against the Stingers with two points and a rebound in six minutes.
The Bandits roll a four-man backcourt of Marek Klassen, Jahenns Manigat, Malcolm Duvivier, and Junior Cadougan—all scoring threats and strong defensively. Cadougan was drafted by Hamilton in 2019 but missed the season because of injury, and Duvivier was signed to a free agent contract immediately following the draft but was never added to the club’s Active roster.
Schmidt Back for 2021
Hamilton announced Friday that it has extended the contract of head coach Ryan Schmidt through the 2021 season. As assistant coach who has led player development with the Toronto Raptors NBA G League affiliate Raptors 905 the past three years, Schmidt picked up the first win of his professional head coaching career Monday against Guelph. Schmidt has been responsible for advance game scouting and planning with Raptors 905, and throughout his time with that team he has been accountable for offense, defense, and special teams that has included practice, game planning, and strategic execution. The Oregon native has also worked with players in the Canadian National Senior and Junior National teams since 2017.
Next Up
Both teams get right back at it in a doubleheader tomorrow. Hamilton meets the expansion Ottawa BlackJacks for the first time in the opener at 1:30 p.m. ET. With both clubs heading into the weekend carrying a 1-2 record, it could be a must-win game for one or both teams. Fraser Valley meets Niagara (1-3) in the second game of the twin-bill at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).
LATEST NEWS
The Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation are proud to partner with the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) to support local Indigenous youth participating at the upcoming 2026 Junior All Native Tournament (JANT). Hosted jointly by the Vancouver Bandits, Bandits Community Foundation, Vancity Nation Basketball and Kwantlen First Nation, JANT is the largest Indigenous youth sports gathering in British Columbia and one of the largest basketball tournaments in Canada. As a co-presenting sponsor, UFV will support the tournament’s on-site athletic therapy services. Students and faculty from UFV’s School of Kinesiology will assist in providing athletic therapy coverage throughout the tournament under the supervision of UFV Head Athletic Therapist Grant Ammann, who help ensure high-quality care for participating athletes. “Supporting Indigenous youth through sport reflects UFV’s commitment to community engagement, experiential learning, and is consistent with Reconciliation” said Michael Gaetz, Director of the School of Kinesiology at the University of the Fraser Valley. “Our students gain valuable hands-on experience while contributing to the health and well-being of young athletes and communities from all over the Province of BC.” “The Junior All Native Tournament represents the power of sport to bring communities together and inspire the next generation,” said James Mandigo, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley. “UFV is proud to support this important event and to contribute the expertise of our School of Kinesiology in helping create a safe, supportive environment for Indigenous youth athletes.” “We’re incredibly excited to partner with UFV to support the young athletes participating in the Junior All Native Tournament. This collaboration is a great example of what can happen when different parts of a community come together with a shared purpose,” said Vancouver Bandits team president & JANT co-chair Dylan Kular. “Seeing UFV’s School of Kinesiology & UFV Cascades’ students and faculty step in to support these athletes demonstrates the university’s commitment to youth across British Columbia and shows the real power of cross-department collaboration in creating meaningful experiences for the next generation. The Bandits Community Foundation and its partners have supported basketball development initiatives for Indigenous youth across British Columbia, including camps for athletes, officials and coaches, and community court revitalization projects. JANT has been a cornerstone event for nearly 50 years, uniting young athletes and their families from Indigenous communities across British Columbia. The tournament aims to inspire Indigenous youth to pursue their goals and make the most of their potential, while improving their fitness and skill levels. The 50th edition of JANT will take place in Langley from March 15-20, 2026 and is expected to bring more than 1,200 youth athletes, over 10,000 travellers and over 100 teams from across the province, representing over 100 Indigenous communities. Learn more about JANT and purchase event tickets at www.JANT.ca.
The Vancouver Bandits are proud to announce the renewal of their collaboration with FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) for the 2026 season, continuing a shared commitment to empowering youth through basketball development. This marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the Bandits and FortisBC, reinforcing a strong community-driven initiative that provides coaching and mentorship opportunities for aspiring young athletes and coaches across British Columbia. As part of this renewed sponsorship, FortisBC will once again be the official co-presenter of the coaching and youth clinics hosted by the Bandits Community Foundation’s Indigenous Basketball Collective (IBC) . These clinics, designed to foster skill development and leadership among Indigenous youth, will continue to offer a structured environment where young players can learn from experienced coaches while also building confidence and teamwork skills through the game of basketball across British Columbia. Basketball is one of the most participated sports amongst Indigenous youth in British Columbia, which is displayed at the annual Junior All-Native Tournament (JANT). In addition to the Indigenous Basketball Collective, FortisBC is supporting the 50th anniversary of JANT. This tournament is welcoming 130 teams from across British Columbia to Langley March 15th to 20th, 2026. The 50th anniversary JANT is slated to be the largest in the history of the tournament welcoming nearly 1,800 players and coaches from over 75 First Nations communities across British Columbia. With the support of all JANT sponsors, including FortisBC, the tournament is not charging spectators to watch games from March 16th to 19th. “FortisBC is committed to supporting Indigenous youth and community-led initiatives that strengthen connection and belonging,” said Vanessa Connolly, director, community and Indigenous relations FortisBC. “By investing in youth basketball programs and community tournaments, we’re helping create inclusive spaces where young people can build confidence, skills and lasting relationships.” FortisBC returns as a co-presenter of the BC Basketball Festival, one of the province’s premier youth basketball tournaments and one of the only youth basketball tournaments in British Columbia that does not charge spectators to watch games. The extension of this partnership aligns with both organizations’ ongoing efforts to foster community engagement, youth development, and the overall growth of basketball in British Columbia.
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and CBC Sports today announced a landmark five-year broadcast partnership that will see marquee games air on CBC TV, including the first best-of-three CEBL Finals in league history, and all games live streamed on CBC Gem and CBC Sports YouTube . “As Canada’s professional basketball league, with 10 teams across the country, our focus is simple, to meet fans where they are,” said CEBL President and CEO Ty Mazereeuw. “Partnering with CBC Sports brings the CEBL to more Canadians on a trusted national stage, and expands access across digital platforms including CBC Gem and YouTube, giving basketball fans of all ages more choice in how they follow our biggest moments.” “Canadian basketball is having a moment right now on the world stage, and through our partnership with the CEBL, we can bring the energy and momentum of Canada’s top young players to fans across the country,” said Chris Wilson, Executive Director, Sports and Olympics, CBC. “We are excited to share the excitement from the court with wider audiences on CBC’s platforms, and to interact with and serve local fans in CEBL locations across Canada.” CBC Sports was the league’s broadcast partner for its inaugural seasons from 2019 through 2022, and with the new partnership, for the next five years CBC Sports will offer select regular-season games on CBC TV and all regular-season and playoff games on CBC Gem and CBC Sports YouTube. Available platforms will also include CEBL+. The CEBL’s full 2026 broadcast schedule and more broadcast-related announcements are coming soon. For the full 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League game schedule, visit cebl.ca/schedule . Details on the League’s new playoff format are available at cebl.ca/playoffs , and ticket information for all CEBL games can be found at cebl.ca/tickets .
The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that single game tickets for all home games for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League ( CEBL ) season are available for purchase to the public. The Bandits sold-out 75 per cent of regular season home games during the 2025 CEBL season so fans are encouraged to secure their tickets as soon as they can. The Bandits will tip off the home portion of their schedule with a pair of games as part of Home Opener Weekend at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (LEC). The home opener will be played on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT against the Edmonton Stingers, while the second game will take place on Sunday, May 24 at 5:00 p.m. when the Bandits host the Calgary Surge in a highly-anticipated rematch of the 2025 CEBL Western Conference Quarterfinal. “There is nothing like a Bandits Basketball game. It is high-energy, engaging and, most importantly, it’s for everyone. Whether you are a lifelong basketball fan, a family looking for a fun night out, or someone experiencing a game for the first time, you belong here,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We have worked hard to create one of the best live event experiences in British Columbia, a place where the community comes together, cultures are celebrated, and unforgettable moments are made. We cannot wait to welcome all of BC to Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre this summer.” In celebration of the BC School Sports Basketball Provincial Championships, taking place at LEC, fans use the promotional code PROVINCIALS15 upon check out to save 15% off single game tickets played at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre until Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Single game tickets for all Bandits home games can be purchased here . The Vancouver Bandits’ complete home game schedule is as follows (all times Pacific): Home games played at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre, unless denoted. Friday, May 22, 2026 vs. Edmonton | 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 24, 2026 vs. Calgary | 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026 vs. Saskatchewan | 6:00 p.m. *Game played in Kelowna Saturday, June 13, 2026 vs. Ottawa | 6:00 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2026 vs. Scarborough | 7:00 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2026 vs. Brampton | 6:00 p.m. Saturday, June 27, 2026 vs. Winnipeg | 6:00 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2026 vs. Edmonton | 7:00 p.m. Sunday, July 5, 2026 vs. Calgary | 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026 vs. Montreal | 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2026 vs. Saskatchewan | 6:00 p.m. Sunday, August 2, 2026 vs. Winnipeg | 12:30 p.m. Featuring the club’s most fan-friendly schedule to date, Bandits home games will feature start times on Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. (3), Saturday nights at 6:00 p.m. (5), and Sunday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. (2). Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre will be the place to be for professional basketball in British Columbia this summer, further solidifying the Bandits’ fast-growing reputation as one of the most exciting and dynamic live event offerings in British Columbia. Fans can also look forward to the return of Bandits Theme Nights this summer. Dates and details of popular games, such as Filipino Heritage, South Asian Heritage and Country Night, along with new themes will be announced next month. Single game tickets for the eighth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase and can be accessed by clicking here . In addition to single game tickets, Season Tickets , Group Experiences and Jam Packs are also available for purchase.
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