Unforeseen challenges forced Fraser Valley Bandits to adapt and grow as a group during preseason preparations
By Contributing Bandits Writer: Emily Wilson • July 27, 2020
In every sport, preparing for an upcoming season is a difficult and tedious task.
Back in the spring, the Fraser Valley Bandits were preparing to take the usual steps ahead of their second season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
Add in a global pandemic, however, and the task becomes a lot harder.
“There's been tremendous difficulty with the COVID situation,” said head coach Kyle Julius, who continued on to highlight the most challenging part was configuring a revamped roster.
“First of all, it's really hard to build the team in the summer because most elite players don't want to play in the summer…to get them to commit their entire summer, especially if they're married, especially if they have kids, is really challenging.”
The second was reviewing which athletes were available and when. Most professional leagues run until mid-summer leaving some players only available for half the CEBL season. With COVID-19 cutting seasons short across the globe, many athletes found themselves with open schedules leaving a surplus of options for Julius’ staff.
“Come mid-April when everybody realized that, you know, at best the CEBL would be some type of format later in the summer, more and more players became interested because they had not played now for a couple months,” Julius said.
“I think you see that around the league, where a lot of teams signed guys that would not normally play in the summertime - which is great for those teams and great for the league.”
Out of all the teams in the league, the Bandits have changed their roster the most, only bringing back point-guard Marek Klassen.
While the other six rosters have some experience playing together in the league, the one positive the Bandits do have is a handful of players who previously played under Julius. Having players who understand his coaching philosophy will hopefully make the demanding Summer Series schedule easier.
“You don't have a long training camp. And once you kind of realize the actual chronology of a schedule that exists or doesn't exist in this setting, it became really important to me to sign guys that I know, that I've had success with,” Julius said. “That's a huge piece of my criteria.”
“This team is a unique case in that these guys have experienced playing for coach Julius in the past,” added K.J. Smith, who is an advance scout for the Bandits this season. “But at the same time, it is still a new team because this group of guys have not been together as this particular unit.”
Without playing on the court and quarantining across the country, the Bandits staff had to find ways to begin adapting their preseason preparations. Not being in person was a major setback, so the team found a way to innovate. Frequently checking in through video, text, and phone calls was the next best solution before arriving for training camp in St. Catharines, Ont.
According to Smith, video sessions were a major part of the preparations as it helped the team stay connected and also allowed for coaches to keep tabs on players and assess their fitness levels
“At the end of the day, there is no substitute for being in the gym and putting in the time with a group of players and coaches and really building that chemistry on and off the floor,” Smith said. “The adaptation comes with a lot of video (and) studying the history of guys.”
Assistant coach David Singleton added that virtual communication was key to try and build a team environment and to “reassure them that everything's going to be okay” during such unprecedented times.
“I talked to every single player at least three or four times before we got out here,” Singleton said. “Videos, zoom calls with them on other teams in the league, players [and] coaching styles in the league so we could be well prepared and prepped for the season ahead.”
“When I got here [St. Catharines], it was a good just transition into me getting to know these guys because they know my voice. They knew who I was over the zoom call on the phone - it's kind of like we already know each other.”
Following new COVID-19 protocols has also been an adjustment. After arriving at their hotel, CEBL players and staff were tested for the virus.
“I've never had to control guys and kind of diffuse the stress and things like that around a virus. I sign guys that I've known for a long time. I know their wives, I know their babies, I know their moms, you know, things like that,” Julius said.
With the Bandits’ next game against the Saskatchewan Rattlers fast approaching, the team is continuing to work together to handle the pressure of preparing as best as possible.
“The important thing is to first come in with a clear vision in mind, but understanding that there are going to be things that have to change sort of along the way as you adapt,” Smith said
“The teams that do the best in this are going to be the ones that can successfully handle that mental pressure that they sort of put on themselves and the existing conditions.”
“It hasn't been an easy process,” Singleton added. (But) it’s something that I think we'll hold for the rest of our lives and say that we were able to put this together in (these) crazy times that we're in.”
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The Vancouver Bandits have announced that forward Miller Kopp has signed an NBA Summer League contract with the Houston Rockets. The news was announced by the Rockets on the club’s website in a release .  Appearing in 14 games (13 starts), Kopp quickly established himself as a key Import player for the Bandits during the first half of the 2026 CEBL season, tallying 13.9 points The Rockets' roster will be headlined by 2026 NBA Draft selection Bruce Thornton (31st overall), who will begin NBA Summer League play on July 10 with scheduled games running through July 16. The Bandits have placed Kopp on its Reserve Roster in order for him to participate in NBA Summer League play while also retaining his CEBL rights, with the option to return to the club at the conclusion of his commitments.
The Vancouver Bandits failed to hold a fourth-quarter lead as they lost to the struggling Calgary Surge. Hosting the Surge on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre on Sunday afternoon as part of their Indigenous Heritage Game, the Bandits failed to make a single field goal in Target Score Time – settling for just three free throws – as they fell 92-84 to the Surge. Calgary led 83-81 heading into Target Score Time. It was the second consecutive loss for Vancouver and a fourth defeat in six games as they fell to 9-6 and second place in the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Western Conference. Calgary picked up just their second win of the season at 2-14. Vancouver had a great opening 10 minutes as they put up 33 points in the first quarter. But from there, the offence slogged, scoring just 51 points the rest of the way. “We’re working on that. I think getting all the guys to understand the play package, understand that, you know, we're going to be playing with different lineups. And when we do, what are the best plays to run with those lineups,” said Bandits interim head coach Rans Brempong. “We're still working to get comfortable. I think that's a big thing that we just need to clean up and we just got to continue to understand and work on our pace.” For Calgary, the victory was a nice reward for a team which has been close in its last few games. “When they went on their runs, we had to just maintain our composure, not getting too up or getting too down, just staying solid,” said Surge coach Dave Deaveiro. “I thought we fought through that, and every time we needed to get a bucket, we got a bucket. Every time we needed to get a stop, we got to stop it. We just stayed solid throughout.” And that was clear down the stretch when Calgary held Vancouver without a field goal on five consecutive possessions. “Tremendous effort. That was about willpower. We talk about imposing our will on the other team, especially in target time, where it has been other teams have been imposing their will on us. Today, I thought we did a little bit of that ourselves,” Deaveiro said. Another key was sharing the ball as the Surge finished with 27 assists on their 35 field goals. “We started swinging the ball twice, attacking from the corners, and that opened up a lot of options for our offense. So I just think when the ball started moving, we really took off,” Deaveiro said. Jarkel Joiner and Lloyd Pandi led the Banders with 16 points apiece with Tyrell Samuel and Tevin Brown adding 15 and 14 points, respectively. Calgary’s Adderson Pattison led all scorers with 19 followed by Mathieu Kamba’s 17. The Bandits now embark on a three-game, five-day road trip with stops in Saskatoon (July 7), Calgary (July 9) and Edmonton (July 11). The team’s next home game is July 17 against the Montreal Alliance as they celebrate Country Night. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm.
The Vancouver Bandits have announced that Kyle Julius has stepped down as head coach to accept a head coaching position in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Julius, who has been an integral part of the organization's success since 2020, will remain with the club as general manager for the remainder of the 2026 season. The Bandits organization fully supports Julius in this next chapter of his career, with the opportunity to lead at the CBA level exemplifying the Bandits as the top development organization in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) for both players and coaches. A two-time CEBL Coach of the Year (2024, 2025), Julius guided the Bandits to two CEBL Finals appearances in 2020 and 2024 while leading the team to the postseason in each of his five seasons at the helm. In 2025, he propelled the Bandits to a .792 winning percentage (19-5), the highest by any CEBL club across a full season. "I want to thank our tremendous coaches, president Dylan Kular, our ownership group Kevin Dhaliwal, Bryan Slusarchuk, and Milan Mann, the entire Bandits organization, our players, and the incredible fans for everything we have built together over the past seven seasons. Coaching the Vancouver Bandits has been one of the greatest experiences of my career. Together, we established a culture built on energy, effort, accountability, and player development. I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished on and off the court, but even more proud of the relationships that were built along the way. This opportunity to become a head coach in the CBA is one that is very important for my family and my career and, while it is difficult to leave a place that has meant so much to us, I believe it is the right next step. I will always be grateful to everyone who believed in me and supported our journey. I will be cheering for the Bandits from afar and wish the organization nothing but continued success. Vancouver will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Julius. Julius’ relentless commitment to building a championship culture transformed the Bandits into the CEBL's premier organization, earning its status as a true destination for world-class talent and top basketball development. The Bandits have advanced players to NBA two-way contracts directly following their time with the club in each of the past three seasons, more than any other CEBL organization. "Kyle has become family. He believed in this organization and poured his heart into building something special here. His vision, passion, and commitment to developing players and people have set a standard that will define the Bandits for years to come. Beyond wins, he gave us a foundation built on passion, accountability, and genuine care for every person in our organization. I am grateful for every early morning meeting, every late-night phone call, and every moment we shared chasing this dream together. This isn't goodbye; we will be cheering louder than anyone when he succeeds in China and beyond in the next chapters of his career,” said team president Dylan Kular. Off the court, Julius participated in the Bandits' youth sports development efforts primarily through the Bandits Community Foundation School Tour. Since 2023, the free-of-charge initiative saw Julius support training and skill development directly with nearly 200 school teams across British Columbia. In addition, through the Bandits Community Foundation, Julius has hosted countless youth skill clinics and coaching seminars with athletes and volunteer coaches across the province. In a corresponding move, the Bandits have appointed Lead Assistant Coach Ransford Brempong as Head Coach for the remainder of the 2026 CEBL season. A former Canadian Senior Men's National Team member, Brempong has represented Canada at the highest level for eight years. He also played professionally for six years in Europe and was a standout NCAA DI player at Western Carolina University, where he graduated as both the program’s and conference's all-time leader in blocked shots, a record that still stands today. "The Vancouver Bandits have high expectations for our roster, and I am excited to lend my decades of experience and skills developed at the collegiate, international, and national team levels to help our players get better and to achieve success this summer,” said Brempong. Fans will have an opportunity to connect with Julius in August after he returns from training camp in China, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.
The Vancouver Bandits seemed destined for an improbable comeback. Trailing by nine points entering Target Score Time, the Bandits — fueled largely by a trio of 3-pointers from Tevin Brown — rallied to pull even with the Edmonton Stingers, leaving both teams one point away from victory. Bandits forward Mychal Mulder came up with what appeared to be a huge blocked shot. But while the loose ball was still in the air, Miller Kopp was whistled for a foul, sending Taye Donald to the free-throw line with two chances to win the game. Donald needed just one, sinking his first free throw to give the visiting Stingers a 94-93 victory in Canadian Elite Basketball League action on Friday night on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. The Stingers improve to 7-7 while Vancouver sits at 9-5, good for a share of top spot in the Western Conference. “I think that we played with the right intensity and aggression in stints, but it was definitely not 40 minutes. And that was my message to the guys,” said Vancouver coach Rans Brempong. “You have got to come ready to play. It doesn’t matter the record, anyone can beat anyone in this league. “I appreciate the fight (we showed), but at the end of the day, it’s an ‘L’ in the column.” The Bandits led for much of the first half but held just a one-point advantage at the break before the Stingers built their lead to as many as 13 in the third quarter. “First of all, it was a great win. Most people don't know we traveled today on a plane. We got here, we ate, and we stuck together, so it was a great win on the road,” said Edmonton’s Stanley Davis Jr. The victory was a fourth straight for the Stingers and gives them a 2-1 edge in the season series over Vancouver with one head-to-head meeting still to go. “We didn’t play very well to open the season, so every game is big,” said Stingers coach Jordan Baker. “We’re trying to fight for a home playoff spot and obviously Vancouver’s been the cream of the crop in the West for the last handful of years, so for us to come in this building – it’s not an easy place to play and it’s not an easy place to win – so credit to our guys.” Tyrese Samuel led Vancouver with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Jarkel Joiner and Brown each added 19 points and Kopp finished with 14. Edmonton's bench outscored Vancouver's reserves 47-16. Davis came off the bench to lead the Stingers with 18 points, while Nick Hornsby and Donald each had 16 and Emmanuel Bandoumel had 15.  Vancouver returns to action Sunday (July 5) when it hosts the Calgary Surge in its Indigenous Heritage Game. Tip-off is set for 12:30 p.m. on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre.
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