Vancouver Bandits and FortisBC Extend Partnership for 2026 Season, Expanding Commitment to Youth Basketball Across British Columbia Through JANT
Bandits Staff • March 11, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits are proud to announce the renewal of their collaboration with FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) for the 2026 season, continuing a shared commitment to empowering youth through basketball development. This marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the Bandits and FortisBC, reinforcing a strong community-driven initiative that provides coaching and mentorship opportunities for aspiring young athletes and coaches across British Columbia.
As part of this renewed sponsorship, FortisBC will once again be the official co-presenter of the coaching and youth clinics hosted by the Bandits Community Foundation’s Indigenous Basketball Collective (IBC). These clinics, designed to foster skill development and leadership among Indigenous youth, will continue to offer a structured environment where young players can learn from experienced coaches while also building confidence and teamwork skills through the game of basketball across British Columbia. Basketball is one of the most participated sports amongst Indigenous youth in British Columbia, which is displayed at the annual Junior All-Native Tournament (JANT).
In addition to the Indigenous Basketball Collective, FortisBC is supporting the 50th anniversary of JANT. This tournament is welcoming 130 teams from across British Columbia to Langley March 15th to 20th, 2026. The 50th anniversary JANT is slated to be the largest in the history of the tournament welcoming nearly 1,800 players and coaches from over 75 First Nations communities across British Columbia. With the support of all JANT sponsors, including FortisBC, the tournament is not charging spectators to watch games from March 16th to 19th.
“FortisBC is committed to supporting Indigenous youth and community-led initiatives that strengthen connection and belonging,” said Vanessa Connolly, director, community and Indigenous relations FortisBC. “By investing in youth basketball programs and community tournaments, we’re helping create inclusive spaces where young people can build confidence, skills and lasting relationships.”
FortisBC returns as a co-presenter of the BC Basketball Festival, one of the province’s premier youth basketball tournaments and one of the only youth basketball tournaments in British Columbia that does not charge spectators to watch games.
The extension of this partnership aligns with both organizations’ ongoing efforts to foster community engagement, youth development, and the overall growth of basketball in British Columbia.
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The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that the club has signed former NBA draft selection and decorated overseas champion Stephen Zimmerman for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A 7-foot centre hailing from Las Vegas, Nev., Zimmerman was selected 41st overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA Draft and appeared in 19 games as a rookie. With the signing, Zimmerman becomes the first-ever NBA draft selection to sign with the Bandits. “Zimmerman brings additional size to our team and experience from the highest levels of the game around the world,” said Bandits general manager Kyle Julius. “His signing is part of our strategic plan to ensure we have a strong roster to compete in the CEBL playoffs.” A veteran of 10 professional seasons, Zimmerman most recently played for Gigantes de San Francisco in the Dominican Republic during the 2025-26 season where he helped lead the club to a Dominican LNB championship. He also earned championships in the Czech Republic, guiding ERA Nymburk to both a Czech Cup and Czech NBL title in 2021. His journeyman career overseas includes previous stops in Germany, Poland, Australia, Japan, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Malaysia and China. In addition, Zimmerman played parts of four NBA G League seasons with the Orlando Magic’s affiliate (Erie Bayhawks, now Osceola Magic) in 2016-17, the Los Angeles Lakers’ affiliate (South Bay Lakers) in 2017-18, the New York Knicks’ affiliate (Westchester Knicks) in 2018-19, and San Antonio Spurs’ affiliate (Austin Spurs) in 2022-23. Internationally, Zimmerman represents the United States. He competed for his country at the senior level at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup and 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and won a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2014. Before playing professionally, Zimmerman played one season of NCAA DI basketball for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). As a freshman, he started 24 of 26 games played and averaged 26.2 minutes, 10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots per game while shooting .477 per cent from the field.
WINNIPEG, MB - July 23, 2026 - The Vancouver Bandits are back in the win column after a second half comeback against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Thursday night. The Bandits defeated the Sea Bears 92-77 to take them atop of the Western Conference, now tied with the Sea Bears at 13-8. “For the past two years, we’ve been in first place and we’ve been hunted. We’re the hunters this time around,” said Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong. Vancouver trailed for most of the game, and by as many as 14 points, before exploding in the final 20 minutes of the game. The Bandits shot just one-for-seven from three point range in the first half. “We’ll make mistakes but keep the game close and see if we can steal it, which is what we did.” Vancouver’s defence stepped up in the second half, holding Winnipeg’s best stars to a rough shooting night. Isiah Osborne, who averages 12.9 points, was held to four points on two-for-eight field goal shooting, while Emmanuel Akot made just one field goal for four points. CEBL scoring leader Teddy Allen scored 26 points, but he took 22 shots to do it and committed four turnovers. Jarkel Joiner’s 24 points once again led the Bandits. He also recorded three assists and two steals. “He’s quick and he’s strong,” said Sea Bears head coach Mike Raimbault about Jarkel Joiner. Joiner said there’s a “fight” within the team, especially with a close schedule remaining. “We know we’re fighting for homecourt advantage,” he said Bremprong praised the Bandits for sticking together in an unorthodox season. “This team is extremely resilient,” said Brempong about the Bandits’ second comeback win in three games. “The year has already thrown punches. We got thrown into the fire, but the fire is also a place where iron gets sharpened.” The paint was dominated by the Bandits as they scored 62 of their 92 points in the paint, including countless ferocious dunks from Tyrese Samuel and James Karnik. Rookie big man Dominic Parolin also poured in seven points, eight rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes of action. “We got those guys because they’re big boys and they’re Canadian,” said Brempong. Tied at 70 heading into the fourth, Tevin Brown was the answer Vancouver needed, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the final frame. Brown’s play catapulted a 22-7 scoring run in the fourth quarter to clinch the win. A putback layup by Karnik was the game winner. He finished with a season-high 17 points and season-high 12 rebounds. “To slay a Sea Bear isn't easy,” said Brempong. The Bandits will return home for a quick one game home stand on Saturday against the Saskatoon Mamba at 6 p.m. Tickets can be found at thebandits.ca . “Every game is a new challenge.”
Tyrese Samuel’s ninth double-double of the season wasn't enough as the Vancouver Bandits fell 93-86 to the Calgary Surge on Tuesday night. Samuel poured in 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the Bandits’ shooting woes were the story of the game. “I expect it out of him, but expectations doesn't mean it will be easy. You still have to go out and do it,” said Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong about Samuel’s performance. The Bandits shot just 10-32 from beyond the arc while the Surge cashed in 14 of their 26 three point opportunities. Vancouver entered action with the second-best three point percentage in the league at 37.3%. Brempong mentioned tonight’s officiating, noting his team didn't have “control” over the game. “It’s frustrating when it’s not all in (the player’s) hands. There were some calls that were questionable,” said Brempong. The Bandits led by seven in the fourth quarter but watched their lead dwindle as the Surge went on a 21-7 run in the final seven minutes of the game. Vancouver led the game in bench points (34-25) and points in the paint (44-36), led by Jarkel Joiner’s 19 points. His 19.0 points per game this season lead the Bandits. Armani Chaney led the way for Calgary with 16 points and nine assists. Former Bandit Marlon Johnson Jr. put the final touches on the game when his three pointer was the game winner. Next, the Bandits will travel to Winnipeg for the second and final game of the road trip on Thursday. Brempong said his team is focused on finishing the season strong as they eye homecourt advantage in the playoffs. “We still control our destiny,” said Brempong. The Bandits (12-8) and the Sea Bears (13-7) are currently separated by one game for first place in the Western Conference. “We’re on a hunting expedition and we’ve got to find and hunt down the Sea Bears.”
Trailing by 22 points, it looked like it simply wasn't the Vancouver Bandits' night. To their credit, the Bandits chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to 10 heading into Target Score Time before eventually pulling even at 91 against the visiting Montreal Alliance. The Alliance then went to the free throw line with a chance to seal the victory. Instead, Jack Hemphill made the first but missed the second, leaving the door open. Vancouver's Jarrell Eddie grabbed the defensive rebound to ignite the fast break before Shamar Givance knocked down the game-winning jumper, sending the Country Night crowd at Langley Events Centre home celebrating an improbable 93-92 victory, the largest comeback in franchise history. With the victory, the Bandits have qualified for the CEBL playoffs for a seventh season in a row.  The win moves Vancouver into a tie for first place atop the Canadian Elite Basketball League's Western Conference at 12-7, while Montreal falls to 8-11 and remains fifth in the Eastern Conference, just outside the playoff picture. “Our mindset, our will to not lose,” said Bandits coach Rans Brempong about what changed with the team trailing 68-46 with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter. “That’s what I’ve told the team is the gift and the curse: we can be as good as we want to be. I'm proud of them. They showed what we could do, how we could play defense and how that translates to offense, but we got to be able to do that consistently. It takes discipline.” “One stop at a time, one possession at a time. You can't get it all back at one time. So just go out there, get a stop, hopefully get a bucket. Get a stop, get a bucket, get a stop, get a bucket,” said Vancouver’s Tyrese Samuel, who led the team with 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. “And I think we did that at a really high rate, especially going into the fourth. It showed the fight that we actually have and we need to continue going into every game, starting with the fight that we ended the game with.” Samuel was one of three Bandits to score in double figures, joined by Eddie with 18 points and James Karnik, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Both were making their Bandits debuts, although Karnik had previously played for the organization and only arrived the morning of the game. For Alliance coach Jermaine Smalls, the loss felt like déjà vu. “I’ve said to them and I’ve said to other people, we win the four quarters, but we don’t win the fifth quarter,” he said, alluding to Target Score Time. “But at the end of the day, I'm just proud of the effort we gave. And you know what? We missed the free throw to win the game, so it's part of the game.” Montreal had five players score in double figures, led by 17 points apiece from Jack Hemphill and Blondeau Tchoukuidgno. Kevin Osawe, Prince Oduro and Keeshawn Barthelemy each added 13. Next: The Bandits head out on a two-game road trip, visiting the Calgary Surge on July 21 before facing the Winnipeg Sea Bears on July 23 in a matchup between the teams tied for first place in the Western Conference. The team’s next home game at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre is on July 25 (6:00pm) against the Saskatoon Mamba. Click here for tickets.
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Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.