BANDITS SIGN JOURNEYMAN AND SACRED HEART ALL-TIME SCORER SHANE GIBSON

The Vancouver Bandits announced today that R.R. Plett Trucking has been named the club’s Official Transportation Partner, supporting the team’s growing footprint across British Columbia and helping deliver the Bandits’ game-day experience and community programming to fans and young athletes throughout the province.  As part of the partnership, R.R. Plett Trucking will assist with the transportation of equipment and event infrastructure for a number of Bandits initiatives, including community activations, youth basketball events and special showcase games across the province. R.R. Plett Trucking recently played a key role in the successful delivery of Guildford Town Centre 3x3 Clutch , a four-day 3x3 basketball tournament hosted by the Vancouver Bandits, Basketball BC and Guildford Town Centre, at Guildford Town Centre during Family Day long weekend. The event welcomed nearly 250 young athletes from across the Lower Mainland competing on a custom-built court setup, marking the first-ever 3x3 basketball tournament held inside a shopping centre in British Columbia. Looking ahead, R.R. Plett Trucking will also be instrumental in transporting the Bandits’ game-day experience to the Kelowna HOOPFEST showcase game on June 6 at Prospera Place , where the club will bring professional basketball and community programming to the City of Kelowna as part of a weekend celebrating the sport throughout the Okanagan region. “As we continue to grow the game across British Columbia, having the right partners in place is critical. R.R. Plett allows us to extend our reach beyond our home market and bring the Bandits experience to more communities in a real and tangible way,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “Whether it’s youth events like 3x3 Clutch or major moments like Kelowna HOOPFEST, this partnership helps us move with intention and continue building something that connects the entire province through basketball.” Through the partnership, R.R. Plett Trucking will help ensure that the Bandits can continue expanding their events and youth initiatives across British Columbia while delivering the high-energy game presentation the club has become known for. “R.R. Plett Trucking is proud to be the Official Transport Partner of the Bandits in advancing youth development and expanding the game across British Columbia. At R.R. Plett Trucking, we believe strong communities are built by investing in our youth. Partnering with the Bandits is more than a sponsorship for us, it’s about creating opportunities, inspiring young athletes, and helping the game grow across British Columbia,” said R.R. Plett Trucking COO Trevor Plett. “Seeing the excitement and energy around initiatives like the Kelowna event reminds us how powerful sport can be in bringing people together. We are proud to stand behind a local organization that is making a real difference in communities and helping shape the next generation both on and off the court.” The partnership reflects the Bandits’ continued commitment to growing basketball throughout British Columbia through professional games, youth development programs and community-driven events.

The Vancouver Bandits have announced that the club has signed current Cleveland Cavaliers NBA G League starter and former Indiana Hoosier and NBA G League champion Miller Kopp for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A 6-foot-7 forward from Houston, Tex., Kopp signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the 2025-26 NBA season, where he was named to the club’s Training Camp roster and appeared in two pre-season games. He is currently a member of the Cavaliers’ NBA G League affiliate, Cleveland Charge where he is averaging 11.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals through 25.5 minutes per game. Before joining the Charge, Kopp played two seasons with the Oklahoma City Blue, the G League affiliate of the NBA’s Thunder, where he captured an NBA G League championship during the 2023-24 season. “I am excited to compete in front of amazing fans and impact winning in all areas,” said Kopp on joining the Bandits. Prior to turning pro, Kopp graduated from Indiana University where he helped lead the Hoosiers to back-to-back NCAA March Madness appearances. During his tenure from 2021 to 2023, he averaged 6.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks while starting in all 61 games played. He originally began his collegiate career at Northwestern University where he played three seasons for the Wildcats from 2018 to 2021. “Miller Kopp is an absolute marksman. What sets him apart is his relentless work ethic and high character,” commented head coach and general manager, Kyle Julius. “He has proven himself at every level from being a fan favorite at Indiana University, to shining in the G League and playing NBA minutes this season. He fits our culture of energy, effort, and enthusiasm.” Internationally, Kopp represented the United States at the 2025 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers appearing in games against the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. 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.

The Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that the club has signed Queen’s University forward Ashton Bain and University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) forward Dario Lopez for the 2026 season as part of CEBL Signing Day. “We are proud to announce these two local student-athlete signings, as building BC talent is a core mandate for our team,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “While these are key pieces, we are far from done. We will continue to actively scout collegiate athletes to further strengthen our roster this summer.” Bain, a 6-foot-9 forward from Vancouver, B.C., finished his second season at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. where he averaged 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists through 24.2 minutes in 26 games (16 starts). In his freshman season in 2024-25, his Gaels team made appearances at the 2025 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference finals and U SPORTS Final 8. Prior to his time at Queen’s, Bain played high school basketball at North Vancouver’s Handsworth Secondary. Lopez, a 6-foot-7 forward originally from Madrid, Spain, recently completed his fifth and final season with the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades where he earned Canada West First Team All-Star honours. In 2025-26, he played and started in 15 games while posting averages of 27.1 minutes, 15.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Before competing for UFV, Lopez was a member of Movistar Estudiantes U18 in Spain. Replacing the CEBL Draft, Signing Day marks the next evolution of the CEBL’s partnership with U SPORTS, established in 2019, and more recently the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The new approach creates a more direct and flexible pathway for Canadian student-athletes to transition from campus to the professional stage. “As Canada’s professional basketball league, our focus is on elevating the game and the athletes who power it,” said CEBL President and CEO Ty Mazereeuw. “Signing Day gives student-athletes a direct path to the pro level, where they can test themselves against elite competition and contribute to an exciting, fast-paced product. With expanded visibility across CEBL+, YouTube, and CBC platforms, along with strong fan support in every market, it’s an opportunity to grow their careers within a league built from the community up.” “U SPORTS is proud of its partnership with the CEBL that allows our student-athletes to sign with clubs to continue meaningful development during the U SPORTS off-season,” said Matthew Davies, U SPORTS Chief Sport Officer. “The CEBL teams' commitment to carry developmental players is a valuable opportunity for our student-athletes to fuel their growth as players and as people.” 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.