Fraser Valley Bandits 2022 Free Agency Update

Tejpaul Garcha • April 11, 2022

The Fraser Valley Bandits lace up for their inaugural season at Langley Events Centre on May 25th.


A new venue brings excitement for fans new and old as the club’s fanbase from across the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland regions eagerly awaits a new entertainment product and revamped game presentation. 


The Bandits have welcomed new additions to the squad. Head coach Mike Taylor is one of them. Taylor is a decorated coach coming off a historic run with the Polish men’s basketball team that saw Poland rise from 42 to 13 in the world rankings during his tenure, which lasted from 2014 to 2021. Taylor is excited to coach the Bandits and help the team win. 


“As a new coach coming in, I want to beat everybody. You know, the end goal is a championship and whoever is competing for that championship, those are the people you want to compete with,” Taylor said.


The 20 game Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season will feature key matchups against rivals, as well as one game at home and on the road against each of the CEBL’s expansion franchises.

 

The Montréal Alliance, Newfoundland Growlers, and the Scarborough Shooting Stars are the latest additions to the CEBL fold. The Shooting Stars are the first expansion team to challenge the Bandits when they visit the LEC on June 18th. 


An issue last season for the Bandits was road trips. The Bandits finished 2-5 on the road last season. With three new teams scattered further east in Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland, CEBL road trips will be more difficult this season. Taylor has determined areas of address that he believes will help the team remedy its woes on the road.


For Taylor, it begins on the defensive end.


“You've got to have an improved defensive mentality,” Taylor said. “If you want to be a championship calibre team, defence travels well, so you got to make the commitment to defend. That's number one.”


The former bench boss for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League is looking to maximize the team's potential this season. After a Fraser Valley championship berth in 2020 and a trip to the semifinals in 2021, he knows that the Bandits' fanbase is hungry for a big season.

Free Agency in Full Swing


All signs point towards an exciting 2022 campaign for the Bandits thanks to the arrival of some key returning players in Alex Campbell and Malcolm Duvivier, as well as the recently announced signing of a left-handed sharpshooter, Murphy Burnatowski. 


The 6-foot-8 forward had an impressive showing in Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA). Burnatowski started four out of six games and averaged 10.3 points per game and shot 38.7 percent 45% from beyond the arc throughout six games played in Nicaragua and Canada.


Taylor has high praise for Burnatowski.


"He makes his teammates better out there on the court. You talk about a guy that can impact the game from the front court – I think Murphy is that,” Taylor said.


Burnatowksi previously suited up for the Hamilton Honey Badgers in 2019, helping the club advance to the CEBL finals.

Key Matchups in Ontario 


Here are storylines to look forward to before the Bandits tip-off on May 25th: 

 

Guelph Nighthawks (Historical Head-to-Head Record: 3-3)

 

The Bandits look to win the tiebreaker this season against their rivals from Guelph. The two franchises have a history together. In 2020 the Bandits beat the Nighthawks to earn a bye to the CEBL semifinals in the final regular season game of the CEBL Summer Series. In 2021, the Bandits defeated Guelph 104-84 on Aug. 15, 2021, in an emphatic quarterfinal playoff win that sent Fraser Valley to CEBL Championship Weekend in Edmonton.

 

The Nighthawks host the Bandits on June 15 and will visit LEC on July 15.

 

Niagara River Lions (Historical Head-to-Head Record: 2-5)

 

Following an 84-82 semifinal defeat at the hands of the River Lions in the 2021 postseason, the Bandits are ready to bounce back The two teams will meet in Langley in July. Niagara will then host the Bandits on July 25. 


Hamilton Honey Badgers (Historical Head-to-Head Record: 2-4)


The Bandits will travel to  FirstOntario Centre on May 27 and look to notch their first-ever road victory against the Honey Badgers.


The June 27 matchup will also be Burnatowski’s first game against his former CEBL team.

LATEST NEWS

Bandits Re-Sign Local Product and Trinity Western Alum David Mutabazi

By Bandits Staff • May 2, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits announced Saturday that Trinity Western Spartans alumnus David Mutabazi has re-signed with the club for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League season (CEBL). The 6-foot-5 guard joined the Bandits as a Developmental Player during the 2025 season where he was selected 30th overall in the CEBL Draft, appearing in nine games with three starts. Mutabazi made an immediate impact, logging 29 minutes and finishing with a game-high plus-44 as a starter in his professional debut on May 15, 2025 in a 106-65 win against the Saskatchewan Rattlers. “David was a complete surprise last season. His defensive instincts and relentless effort elevated our locker room culture,” said head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “This year, we are counting on David to do even more. He is one of our few returning players and we expect him to bring that toughness, intensity, and now leadership to push us forward.” Mutabazi recently finished a four-year collegiate basketball career at Trinity Western University, where he averaged 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game across 83 games dating back to 2022. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 17 games, placing him in the top five in those categories for the Spartans. Mutabazi will be reunited with fellow TWU product Jack Vandenberg on the Bandits training camp roster, which begins on Tuesday, May 5. Born in Kirinda, Rwanda, Mutabazi recently represented his country at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket tournament. In his international debut, he averaged 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while playing 19.1 minutes per game across three games as its sixth man off the bench. Fans will get their first chance to watch the Bandits’ new-look roster in a charitable preseason game on Saturday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m. at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre when the club faces the Sikh Warriors from ESPN’s The Basketball Tournament. Preseason tickets are on sale at this link , with proceeds benefitting the Bandits Community Foundation. The Bandits open the 2026 CEBL season on Thursday, May 14 on the road in Saskatoon before coming home for its Home Opener against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. A full game schedule can be viewed here . Bandits Single Game Tickets and additional 2026 ticket options can be purchased here . All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app, the CBC Gem app and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Marquee games will air nationally on CBC TV. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

Bandits Sign Houston Rockets G League Starter John Knight III

By Bandits Staff • May 1, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that the club has signed Houston Rockets’ NBA G League guard John Knight III to its roster for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Knight, a 6-foot-3 guard from Jackson, Miss., has spent the past three seasons in the NBA G League with the Houston Rockets’ minor league affiliate, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he became known for his dunking ability and shutdown defensive skills. During the 2025-26 season, Knight averaged 7.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while playing 31.1 minutes per night across 34 games with 29 starts. “We are really excited to add John to our roster this summer. He is an explosive, high-level athlete who can impact the game on both ends and defend multiple positions,” said head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “He has had real success in the NBA G League, and we expect him to bring that same production, toughness, and versatility to our group right away.” Prior to the NBA G league, Knight made his professional debut during the 2022-23 season with Norwegian club Frøya Basket where he averaged 22.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.3 rebounds per game. Knight led the team in all categories, as well as steals (104), blocks (39), and minutes played (1363). Before turning pro, Knight attended Utah State University during the 2018-19 season before transferring to Southern Utah University from 2019 to 2022. During his time with the Thunderbirds, Knight earned First Team All-Big Sky Conference honours in 2022 during his senior year. Knight will reunite with fellow Thunderbird alumnus and recent Bandits free agent signing Tevian Jones, who both shared the court during the 2021-22 season. The Bandits open the 2026 CEBL season on Thursday, May 14 on the road in Saskatoon before coming home for its Home Opener against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Bandits Single Game Tickets and additional 2026 ticket options can be purchased here . All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app, the CBC Gem app and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Marquee games will air nationally on CBC TV. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

Vancouver Bandits Sign TWU Product Jack Vandenberg

By Bandits Staff • April 30, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has signed Trinity Western University (TWU) product Jack Vandenberg to its roster for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A six-foot tall guard from Vancouver, Vandenberg earned an invitation to the inaugural Bandits University Combine. 40 local student-athletes competed against each other, developing their game against B.C.’s top young talent and with the help of Bandits coaching staff. The club hosted the combine to identify players who can make an impact in training camp and potentially sign to its roster for the upcoming 2026 season. “Jack Vandenberg is one of the premier shooters in Canada. He proved it again at our combine, where he stood out for his elite space and shot-making,” said head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “Having coached him in the gym, I know he’s tough, a leader on his university team, and a player who is going to help push our culture forward.” Julius stressed the importance of Vandenberg’s ability to space the floor in training camp, which begins on Tuesday, May 5. “We are excited to add his toughness and sharpshooting as we gear up for camp,” he continued. In his junior year at TWU during the 2025-26 season, Vandenberg led his team with 15.8 points-per-game while also averaging 3.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 20 games with 19 starts. He led the Canada West conference in three-pointers made, finishing with 75 makes on 175 attempts. Vandenberg shot .429 per cent from beyond the arc, ranking 4th in the conference. Prior to his time with the Spartans, Vandenberg attended Montreal’s Concordia University in the 2022-23 season. An alumnus of St. George’s School in Vancouver, he earned Second Team All-Star honours at the 2022 BC 4A Boys Basketball Provincial Championship where he helped lead his school to a top 10 finish in his senior year. Fans will get their first chance to watch the Bandits’ new-look roster in a charitable preseason game on Saturday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m. at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre when the club faces the Sikh Warriors from ESPN’s The Basketball Tournament. Preseason tickets are on sale at this link , with proceeds benefitting the Bandits Community Foundation. The Bandits open the 2026 CEBL season on Thursday, May 14 on the road in Saskatoon before coming home for its Home Opener against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. A full game schedule can be viewed here . Bandits Single Game Tickets and additional 2026 ticket options can be purchased here . All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app, the CBC Gem app and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Marquee games will air nationally on CBC TV. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

Vancouver Bandits Sign UBC Okanagan All-Time Leading Scorer Jalen Shirley

By Bandits Staff • April 29, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that the club has signed the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s (UBCO) all-time leading scorer and assist leader Jalen Shirley to its roster for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A six-foot guard from Brampton, Ont., Shirley was invited to participate in the inaugural Bandits University Combine, hosted by the club to identify players to invite to training camp and add to its roster for the upcoming 2026 season. Shirley was one of 40 student-athletes from local universities, earning a spot on the Bandits 2026 training camp roster, beginning on May 5. “At our combine, Jalen stood out for not getting sped up and playing with control,” said head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “We are thrilled to bring him in and give him the platform to develop into a top-tier professional as he transitions from university to the next level.” He averaged 20.8 points per game in his final season (2025-26), which ranked second in the Canada West conference, as well as 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 34.4 minutes played per game across 23 games and starts. His play earned him Canada West Third Team All-Star honours. Shirley finished his six-year university career as the UBCO Heat’s all-time leader in points and assists, while ranking second all-time in steals, and received the school’s men’s Graduating Athlete of the Year award. “Jalen is an elite U SPORTS point guard who plays the game with solid poise and pace. In pick-and-roll situations, he plays with flow and gets to his spots,” added Julius. Fans will get their first chance to watch the Bandits’ new-look roster in a charitable preseason game on Saturday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m. at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre when the club faces the Sikh Warriors from ESPN’s The Basketball Tournament. Preseason tickets are on sale at this link , with proceeds benefitting the Bandits Community Foundation. The Bandits open the 2026 CEBL season on Thursday, May 14 on the road in Saskatoon before coming home for its Home Opener against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. A full game schedule can be viewed here . Bandits Single Game Tickets and additional 2026 ticket options can be purchased here . All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app, the CBC Gem app and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Marquee games will air nationally on CBC TV.

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