Project rebuild leaves Fraser Valley Bandits with future blueprint for success
Emily Wilson • November 3, 2020
After finishing in last place in their inaugural season, the Fraser Valley Bandits went back to the drawing board determined and focused on rebranding themselves as true competitors.
When the Bandits returned to play nearly a year later, the new-look organization had engineered a sharp turnaround, proving themselves to be a championship contender by finishing as runners up in the 2020 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
But with such a dramatic turnaround, where do the Bandits go next?
Led by new head coach Kyle Julius, the organization travelled almost 4,500 kilometres from Abbotsford, B.C. to St. Catharines, Ont. to participate in the ‘bubble-style tournament’ for a pandemic impacted season.
Their opponents were familiar, but the Bandits looked reborn. The team sported a new roster with just one returning player in B.C. native, Marek Klassen. Right from the start, they had a game plan moving into year two.
“The first thing that we did as the team [was] just mostly reflecting after year one. We were the worst team based on record in year one, we lost a lot of close games but there was definitely an edge that we were missing and right away we knew that we had to rebuild,” said Bandits vice president Dylan Kular.
“We knew that we wanted to be the developmental hub for the CEBL. We wanted to make sure that if players were coming to the Fraser Valley, that they knew they were going to get the best medical treatment, the best basketball development, they're going to develop as people and they are going to propel their careers.”
Starting from scratch might have been seen as a setback, yet the Bandits held a slight advantage as Julius knew most of the players and their playing styles from previous years. With those connections, it didn’t take long for the team to make themselves known in the CEBL.
“My coaching style is process-driven and I wanted a group of guys that I knew were going to play as hard as they could,” said Julius on constructing the roster. “I wanted a group of guys that really wanted to be there in the CEBL and specifically for the Bandits.”
“What you saw was what we planned to do.”
Kular echoed the same thoughts. “We knew if we brought those kinds of people in that we were going to give ourselves a really good chance to be successful in the Summer Series and that ended up being the case.”
However, while the prior on-the-court experience enhanced the team’s cohesiveness, it was the individual drive that pushed them to be their best and earn a spot in the final.
“Coach Julius gathered a bunch of guys who had something to prove, myself included,” said guard Jahenns Manigat. “A bunch of guys who have felt underappreciated, undervalued.”
“In the locker room, it was just a bunch of guys who are hungry, who were eager to prove something not only to the public but to themselves as well. We just all kind of took that as like our warcry and carried it with us with every game.”
Message received. The CEBL took notice as opposing teams took note of the chip on Fraser Valley’s shoulder.
Right from the opening tip-off, the Bandits impressed many as the team finished with a 4-2 record in the round robin, earning themselves a berth in the playoff semifinals against the Hamilton Honey Badgers.
In group play, the Honey Badgers were one of the two teams to defeat the Bandits, handing them a 102-96 loss. But with a spot in the final on the line, Fraser Valley wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip.
The match-up was a tight contest as the Bandits won 76-75 after overcoming a 14-point fourth quarter deficit.
“That semifinal was a crazy comeback,” Kular said. “We had guys puking in the changeroom after the game and then less than 24 hours later we got ready for another game.”
When it came time for the final, Kular said the Bandits had just simply run out of gas as they lost 90-73 to the top-seeded Edmonton Stingers.
Despite not going home with any hardware, the team returned to B.C. with their heads held high and most importantly, a new foundation for the organization.
“Our goal was to win. So on that Sunday afternoon after we lost we were all deeply saddened about it. We didn't want to go home without that number one spot. But when you look at it, in hindsight, we did a really good job,” Manigat said. “We've proved that the right pieces could have an immediate effect.”
“Our goal was to show fans a type of a basketball that is gritty and people that want to lockdown on defence and are going to give their full effort night in and night out,” Kular said. “I think we achieved that. Fans back in B.C., and even across the country, were letting us know that.”
Whether or not the same players and coaching staff return for the 2021 season, the redevelopment of the organization leaves a solid blueprint to refer to for future success.
“If you understand how to build a team, if you understand how to get a coach who knows how to coach up his players and to have players who are willing to listen and give 110 per cent effort, then you're going to move in the right direction,” Manigat said.
“I think that's what the Bandits learned this past summer and I think that's what they're going to look forward to continuing to build in the future.”
Kular emphasized that plan, “We're looking forward to what 2021 holds.”
LATEST NEWS
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.
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.
The Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday that the club has signed University of Victoria Vikes standout and former U SPORTS national champion Shadynn Smid for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A 6-foot-7 forward from Duncan, B.C., Smid has spent the last four years playing post-secondary basketball with the University of Victoria. He helped lead the Vikes to a U SPORTS Final 8 appearance in each of his four years with the program, a run that included three Canada West conference championships and a U SPORTS national championship in 2024-25. Smid was one of 40 men’s basketball student-athletes invited to the 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. The signing marks Smid’s first-ever professional contract and he will join the club for 2026 Training Camp, commencing on Tuesday, May 5. “Shadynn is a rare combination of elite athleticism and growing skill. He was one of the best players in Canada and we think he can impact winning for us right away,” said head coach and general manager, Kyle Julius. “Shadynn is an explosive athlete who brings a relentless motor every time he steps on the floor. He embodies our team’s culture and we are excited to get to work with him.” He started 25 of 26 games in the 2025-26 season, averaging 13.4 points and pulling down a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game en route to earning Canada West Second Team All-Star honours. Prior to his post-secondary career, Smid attended Cowichan (now Quw’utsun) Secondary. Internationally, Smid represented Canada at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games where he competed in 3x3 basketball. As part of the CEBL’s long-standing partnership with U SPORTS, Canadian men’s basketball student-athletes can be signed to CEBL Developmental Player Contracts therefore retaining a student-athlete’s post-secondary eligibility.
The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that Vancouver-based contact lens supplier, PerfectLens , has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Canadian professional basketball by extending its season presenting partnership of the Bandits for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. PerfectLens has partnered with Bandits Basketball since 2020 when its inaugural year of partnership was announced prior to the CEBL Summer Series. The focus of PerfectLens’ partnership with British Columbia’s professional basketball team is to contribute to the game day experience at Vancouver’s home venue of Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (LEC) and to support basketball communities throughout the Lower Mainland. PerfectLens supported Bandits Community Foundation’s School Tour, a free program for high schools where Vancouver Bandits head coach Kyle Julius visited over 160 teams in three years. The upcoming CEBL seasons represent the seventh year of partnership between the Bandits and PerfectLens. “Since day one, our partnership with the Vancouver Bandits has been about more than visibility, it’s been about impact. Over the past six years, we’ve had the opportunity to support basketball at every level, from the energy inside Langley Events Centre on game day to meaningful community initiatives like the Bandits School Tour. We’re proud to continue building alongside an organization that shares our values of accessibility, community and growing the game across British Columbia,” said PerfectLens President Mitsuhiro Shigeno. As the club’s Official Contact Lens Supplier since 2020, PerfectLens will be promoted on Bandits game days at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre with a co-branded logo lock at centre court and on the team’s shorts for both home and away games against CEBL competition in each of the league’s nine other markets in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Brampton, Niagara (St. Catharines), Scarborough (Toronto), Ottawa and Montréal. Bandits fans also receive an exclusive 20% discount on their first order through PerfectLens now through the end of the 2026 season on August 31st, 2026. PerfectLens has built a vast customer base across Canada since its inception in 2014. Through prioritizing customer service, its offering of brand name contact lenses at affordable prices, PerfectLens has earned a strong reputation from its loyal clients. “PerfectLens has been an integral part of the Bandits story since 2020, and their continued commitment speaks to the strength of this partnership. They understand that what we are building goes beyond basketball, it is about creating unforgettable game day experiences and making a lasting impact in communities across the province,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We are proud to have PerfectLens back as our Season Presenting Partner and look forward to continuing to grow together in 2026 and beyond.”
LATEST VIDEO
A message from Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius on the 2025 season and thoughts on the CEBL Western Conference Semifinal.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 16th, 2025.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on July 25, 2025.