THOMAS KENNEDY ANNOUNCED AS CEBL U SPORTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Bandits Staff • August 5, 2022

LANGLEY, B.C., August 5, 2022 – The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday that Thomas Kennedy has been named as one of the 10 individual award nominees for its annual CEBL Awards being held August 10 at Casino Du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, QC.


A student-athlete forward from the University of Windsor, Kennedy is a finalist for the U SPORTS Player of the Year award. Fellow nominee David Muenkat of Scarborough represented St. Francis Xavier University in 2021-22.


Kennedy was a breakout performer for the Bandits this past CEBL regular season, averaging 14.5 points, 8.3 rebounds (third in the league) and two assists per game on 63.6 per cent shooting from the field (second in the league).


Over 12 regular season games played, Kennedy averaged 28.1 minutes per game and also represented the Canadian under-23 men’s national team at the GLOBL JAM showcase in Toronto this past June and July. Kennedy will return to the Windsor Lancers this upcoming fall.


The CEBL Awards is the first official event of the 2022 Championship Weekend, which is being held in Ottawa, Ont. between August 10-14. Fans can buy tickets now via the link here and be in attendance for the CEBL Awards.


Award nominees were revealed for six player categories. All CEBL award winners will receive a customized ring from Jostens, the official Supplier of Awards and Rings to the CEBL, a $500 Foot Locker shopping spree and free flights for two for one full year courtesy of Flair Airlines.


The award nominees include:

  • U SPORTS Player of the Year: David Muenkat (Scarborough), Thomas Kennedy (Fraser Valley)
  • Sixth Man of the Year:  Elijah Mitrou-Long (Niagara), Koby McEwan (Hamilton)
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Caleb Agada (Hamilton), EJ Onu (Niagara)
  • Canadian Player of the Year: Caleb Agada (Hamilton), Isiaha Mike (Scarborough)
  • Player of the Year: Khalil Ahmad (Niagara), Tony Carr (Saskatchewan)


The 2022 Coach of the Year and Fox40 Official of the Year honourees will also be announced at the CEBL Awards. 


Award winners are determined by votes cast by the league’s head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and internal media personnel. Team representatives cannot vote for a player nor the head coach from their own team.


The 2022 CEBL Playoffs began Thursday night with play-in games at Saskatchewan and Fraser Valley. The Saskatchewan Rattlers dethroned the two-time defending league champion Edmonton Stingers, 94-91, and the Guelph Nighthawks defeated the Fraser Valley Bandits, 90-85.


Fans can live stream all playoff games on the CEBL’s OTT streaming service CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices, cbcsports.ca, the free CBC Gem streaming service, the CBC Sports App for iOS and Android devices and on NXT Level Sports in the U.S. As part of its playoff coverage, CBC Sports will broadcast the quarterfinal games Sunday, August 7, semifinal games Friday, August 12, and the Championship game on Sunday, August 14. For the complete broadcast and streaming schedule, click here. All times are subject to change. 


The CEBL’s fourth season began May 25 and ended August 1. A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL is the largest pro sports league in the country with 10 teams located in six provinces. It has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 71 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.


Head to thebandits.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.


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