Vancouver Bandits Announce Regular Season Schedule for 2023 CEBL Season

Bandits Staff • January 24, 2023

LANGLEY, B.C., January 24, 2023 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday the club’s 2023 regular season schedule, a 20-game slate that will see the club open its fifth Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season on Saturday, May 27 against the Winnipeg Sea Bears.

This will be the Bandits’ second season at Langley Events Centre (LEC) and its first under the ‘Vancouver’ moniker after announcing its rebrand and sale in Sept. 2022.

The Bandits open the upcoming campaign in the Prairies against Winnipeg Sea Bears and the Saskatchewan Rattlers before returning to the Lower Mainland for a highly anticipated home opener on Saturday, June 3 against the newly launched Calgary Surge. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.

Vancouver will play a total of 10 home games during the 2023 season between Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, July 23. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road against the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Sunday, July 30 at 4 p.m. PT.

After achieving its strongest average and total attendance in 2022, the Bandits are primed to welcome even bigger crowds in 2023 as part of an electric season of basketball, which culminates Aug. 9-13 when Vancouver hosts 2023 Championship Weekend at LEC.

As hosts of Championship Weekend, Vancouver receives an automatic berth in the semifinals. Tickets for Championship Weekend are included in the cost of Bandits season tickets, which are slated to be available for sale in the coming days. Fans wishing to learn more about season tickets or speak with a Bandits sales and service representative are encouraged to call (604) 455-8870, email tickets@thebandits.ca, or visit https://www.thebandits.ca/bandits-at-langley-events-centre to register their interest and be notified of upcoming ticket on-sale dates.

“This season is a special one for us. We are celebrating five years of building connections with our community and are eager to continue growing our passionate fanbase, which has supported us since our inaugural season. Our fans are the inspiration behind our goal of being one of the best professional sports and entertainment experiences in B.C.,” said Bandits team president Dylan Kular.

“We can’t wait to host Championship Weekend at Langley Events Centre, which will serve as a great culmination of what will prove to be another exciting year of Bandits basketball. Fans will relish the chance to be part of our season and attend a multi-day playoff festival that offers a fun atmosphere for guests of all ages and showcases a riveting caliber of Canadian professional basketball.”

“In the coming days, our ticket service team and I will present the market with 2023 Vancouver Bandit Ticketing Options featuring great ways fans can take in evenings of professional basketball at the beautiful Langley Events Centre,” added Kular. “Highlights include an introduction of new family friendly pricing throughout our arena bowl, new rows of courtside seating - including one of our centre court seating sections that has extra cushioned seats, in-seat food and drink service and your own personal cup holder. For those who want to bring their youth and adult sports teams together or businesses who wish to thank those important to them, we will offer a specially priced Group Outing Seating Program and opportunities to entertain guests in one of our fully equipped Executive Suites."

Vancouver will play each of its fellow CEBL opponents at least once during the 2023 season and will host each of the Edmonton Stingers, as well as the Calgary Surge and Winnipeg Sea Bears, twice at LEC.

The CEBL will introduce a conference model of competition for the 2023 season. The league’s 10 teams will be divided into an Eastern and Western Conference. The Western Conference includes the Calgary Surge, Edmonton Stingers, Saskatchewan Rattlers, Vancouver Bandits and Winnipeg Sea Bears. The Eastern Conference includes the Brampton Honey Badgers, Montréal Alliance, Niagara River Lions, Ottawa BlackJacks, and Scarborough Shooting Stars. The Bandits, along with the top-ranked team from the Eastern Conference, will automatically be seeded into the semifinals hosted at Championship Weekend.

The CEBL postseason will feature play-in games between the third and fourth-ranked teams in each conference. Winners will advance to the quarterfinals and play the second-best team of their respective conferences. The fifth-ranked team in each conference will be eliminated unless Vancouver places fifth in the west in which case the fourth-ranked west team will get eliminated. Quarterfinal winners in each conference will play their respective conference teams already seeded in the semifinals. The full postseason schedule will be revealed at a later date.

Returning as a key part of the Bandits’ regular season calendar is the club’s School Day Game, which will take place on Tuesday, June 6 at 11 a.m. PT when Vancouver tips off against Winnipeg. The sold-out affair was hosted for the first time last season and welcomed 13 schools from across the Lower Mainland for a field trip featuring professional basketball and family-friendly entertainment.

School leaders interested in learning more about the School Day Game or organizing attendance at the event are kindly asked to contact team president Dylan Kular at dkular@thebandits.ca.

The Championship Weekend semifinals will be played on Friday, August 11, followed by the championship on Sunday, August 13. The Bandits have qualified for the CEBL postseason in each of the past three consecutive seasons (2020-22) under the direction of head coach and general manager Kyle Julius.

The 2023 season marks Julius’ return to the CEBL sidelines for the first time since 2020 when he led the Bandits to the finals. COVID-19 restrictions and overlapping schedules resulted in Julius serving solely as the Bandits’ general manager since 2021. After a tremendous run at the 2020 single-site CEBL season, which was played in St. Catharines, Ont., 2023 marks Julius’ first opportunity to coach professionally on B.C. soil.

The Bandits’ longest home stand is in the latter half of the season when the Ottawa BlackJacks, Brampton Honey Badgers and the Montréal Alliance pay visit to LEC on July 9, 14 and 16th, respectively.

All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). The schedule of nationally televised games will be announced at a later date.

Highlights of the 2023 Vancouver Bandits schedule include:

The Bandits will play the Winnipeg Sea Bears more than any other CEBL opponent, totaling four times during the regular season (twice at home, twice on the road)
Vancouver’s longest road swing arrives early in the season when the club travels east for a three-game trip against the Brampton Honey Badgers, Niagara River Lions and Calgary Surge on June 9, 10 and 14th, respectively
They don’t call it the ‘Wild West’ for nothing. The Bandits will play a total of 13 games against opponents from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; including three games each against Albertan rivals in the Calgary Surge and Edmonton Stingers
The 2023 season marks the first time that the Bandits will tip off against the Calgary Surge and Winnipeg Sea Bears. Both clubs were announced as new privately owned CEBL clubs last fall
The Bandits will play four home games in June and six home games in July prior to hosting CEBL Championship Weekend in August, which has previously been held in Ottawa (2022), Edmonton (2021) and Saskatoon (2019)

Vancouver Bandits 2023 CEBL season schedule:

*Note: All times PT | Home dates are in bold

Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Winnipeg | 5:00 p.m. at Canada Life Centre
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at Saskatchewan | 6:00 p.m. at SaskTel Centre
Saturday, June 3, 2023 vs. Calgary | 7:00 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 5:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 vs. Winnipeg | 11:00 a.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 9:30 a.m.)
Friday, June 9, 2023 at Brampton | 4:00 p.m. at CAA Centre
Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Niagara | 4:00 p.m. at Meridian Centre
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at Calgary | 6:00 p.m. at WinSport Event Centre
Saturday, June 17, 2023 vs. Saskatchewan | 7:00 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 5:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at Winnipeg | 5:00 p.m. at Canada Life Centre
Sunday, June 25, 2023 vs. Calgary | 5:00 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 3:30 p.m.)
Saturday, July 1, 2023 vs. Edmonton | 7:00 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 5:30 p.m.)
Monday, July 3, 2023 at Edmonton | 1:00 p.m. at Flair Airlines Hangar at Edmonton ExpoCentre
Sunday, July 9, 2023 vs. Ottawa | 7:00 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 5:30 p.m.)
Friday, July 14, 2023 vs. Brampton | 7:30 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 6:00 p.m.)
Sunday, July 16, 2023 vs. Montréal | 5:00 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 3:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at Saskatchewan | 6:30 p.m. at SaskTel Centre
Friday, July 21, 2023 vs. Edmonton | 7:30 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 6:00 p.m.)
Sunday, July 23, 2023 vs. Winnipeg | 7:00 p.m. at Langley Events Centre (Doors open: 5:30 p.m.)
Thursday, July 27, 2023 at Ottawa | 4:30 p.m. at TD Place
Sunday, July 30, 2023 at Scarborough | 4:00 p.m. at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

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7 Bandits Players Named to 2026 NBA G League Training Camp Rosters

By Bandits Staff • October 27, 2026

Seven players who have previously suited up for the Vancouver Bandits, including five from the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season, have been named to NBA G League training camp rosters ahead of the start of the 2026-27 season on November 6, 2026. The NBA G League serves as the NBA’s official minor league and features 31 teams, with 30 clubs having one-to-one affiliations with NBA franchises. Surrey, B.C.’s James Karnik will join the Portland Trail Blazers’ affiliate, Rip City Remix. Karnik has participated in 36 regular season games across four seasons dating back to 2022, including four games in 2026. This marks the first time that he has been named to an NBA G League training camp squad. Jaelen House, a former NBA G League All-Star who played in 10 games for the Bandits during the 2026 season, will be competing for a roster spot on the Utah Jazz’s affiliate, Salt Lake City Stars. He set the Bandits’ single-game scoring record, recording 42 points against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on June 18, 2026. The Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate and defending NBA G League champion, Greensboro Swarm, will feature Jarkel Joiner. Joiner played 21 games for the Bandits in 2026, leading the team in points per game (17.8), before being named to the Hornets’ training camp roster and logging minutes in four NBA preseason games. Joining Joiner on the Swarm is Kyle Mangas, who appeared in 16 games with 14 starts for the Bandits during the 2025 season. John Knight III, who logged 18 games for the Bandits in 2026, joins the Houston Rockets’ affiliate, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a club he has played for since 2023. D’Andre Davis, who appeared in three games for the Bandits in 2026, looks to secure a roster spot with the Boston Celtics’ affiliate, Maine Celtics. A member of the 2023 Bandits roster, Georgian-born forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili will take the court with the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate, College Park Skyhawks. The opening night rosters for all 32 NBA G League teams must be submitted by Sunday, November 5.

Former Bandits Forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili Signs Exhibit 10 Contract With Atlanta Hawks

By Bandits Staff • October 15, 2026

Former Vancouver Bandits forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks. The news was announced by the Hawks via social media on Wednesday. Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.

Vancouver Bandits & I SPARC Host Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

By Bandits Staff • October 7, 2026

HAIDA GWAII, BC - October 6, 2026 - This past weekend, Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, and the Bandits Community Foundation hosted a series of youth basketball clinics on Haida Gwaii, continuing its ongoing series of community visits across the province in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC). The community visits and youth camps on Haida Gwaii were also made possible through the generous support of Langara Island Lodge and Skidegate Band Council. Led by Bandits Team President Dylan Kular and Community Manager Pavan Kalair, local youth athletes aged 10 to 17 from across Haida Gwaii participated in free-of-charge workshops and basketball camps, furthering the Bandits Community Foundation’s goal of bringing more basketball to more people across the province. "Haida Gwaii has an incredible passion for basketball, and it was an honour for our staff to spend time on the court with so many talented young athletes," said Vancouver Bandits Team President Dylan Kular. "Our partnership with I·SPARC through the Indigenous Basketball Collective is about building lasting relationships with communities across the province and making sure every young player has access to the game. We are grateful to Langara Island Lodge, the Skidegate Band Council and everyone in Old Massett, Masset and Skidegate who welcomed us, and we cannot wait to come back." “Programs like this show what is possible when partners come together for Indigenous youth,” said I·SPARC’s Chief Executive Officer Rick Brant. “We are proud to work with the Vancouver Bandits to bring high-quality basketball coaching to Haida Gwaii, where the game is so deeply loved." Bandits staff led PHE classes with students at Chief Matthews School in Old Massett, and ran skill development clinics for local youth athletes aged 13 to 17 across three communities at Kwiiyaans Community Hall (Old Massett), Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School (Masset) and George Brown Recreation Centre (Skidegate). “We are grateful for the opportunity for the Vancouver Bandits and I·SPARC to come in and work with our youth,” said Trevor Russ, head coach of the Old Massett Raiders boys basketball team. “Basketball plays a big role for our youth in Masset, and the Bandits coming to town provides an opportunity for them to work with some high-level coaches at the professional level. Our youth are very happy to have this opportunity.” “To be able to have the Vancouver Bandits come to Skidegate and Haida Gwaii is very important,” said Desi Collinson, Recreation Coordinator and elected representative to the Council of the Haida Nation. “Basketball means a lot to Haida Gwaii; it brings excitement, hope and inspiration to our communities. Organizations like the Bandits and I·SPARC give us different insights and outlooks that our young athletes have not experienced before, and we are happy to have them here to uplift our youth.” The camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, previous community visits hosted through the Collective since its inception include Ahousaht, Bella Coola (Nuxalk First Nation), Kitimat (Haisla Nation), Nanaimo (Snuneymuxw First Nation), Victoria, West Vancouver and Williams Lake with future youth camps and coaching seminars currently being planned for 2027.

Vancouver Bandits to Host Free-of-Charge Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

By Bandits Staff • October 2, 2026

This weekend, youth across Haida Gwaii will have the opportunity to learn and sharpen their basketball skills from British Columbia’s professional basketball team. Through the generous support of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and Langara Island Lodge, the Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation will be hosting free-of-charge youth basketball camps across Haida Gwaii, marking the organization’s first community visit to the North Coast region. “Haida Gwaii means a great deal to us, and we know how much basketball means to these communities. The game gives young people a place to grow, brings families together, and creates opportunities for teams to proudly represent where they come from,” said Yos Gladstone, Sales Coordinator, Langara Island Lodge. “The young players, coaches, families, and teams here deserve every opportunity we can help bring their way. We are grateful to the Vancouver Bandits, I∙SPARC and the Bandits Community Foundation for their commitment to make this program happen, and especially to those in Haida Gwaii who give so much of their time, energy, and efforts to basketball year-round.” “For us, supporting this program is personal. We care about the communities and the people who make them so special. If this visit from the Vancouver Bandits gives local players more time on the court, encouragement to keep going, and a chance to connect through the game, that is something we are proud to be part of.” The camps are hosted in collaboration with I∙SPARC, Bandits Community Foundation, Haida Gwaii Recreation and School District 50 Haida Gwaii. Across three days, over 200 youth athletes aged 10 to 17 and their families will gather in gymnasiums across Haida Gwaii for camps and workshops led by Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation staff members. Youth participants will also receive complimentary Vancouver Bandits merchandise. "Haida Gwaii holds a legendary place in this province and Indigenous basketball culture and being on the ground in Masset and Skidegate truly showcases how powerful this sport is," said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. "The competitive drive and skill level of these youth are incredible, but what is even more inspiring is how basketball acts as a heartbeat for the entire region. Seeing the immediate connection between the youth, the coaching staff, and the local fans highlights exactly why we wanted to bring the Bandits to Haida Gwaii.” “We want to extend our deepest thanks to the Haida Nation and our partners at I∙SPARC and Langara Island Lodge for hosting us and sharing their incredible hospitality. This visit marks an exciting milestone for our organization, and we look forward to building on this relationship for years to come." The camp schedule for this weekend is as follows: Friday, October 2 Kwiiyaans Community Hall, Old Massett 12:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School, Masset 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The forthcoming camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits, and build upon recent previous community visits to Williams Lake and Bella Coola earlier this year. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.

Vancouver Bandits Announce Regular Season Schedule for 2023 CEBL Season

7 Bandits Players Named to 2026 NBA G League Training Camp Rosters

Former Bandits Forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili Signs Exhibit 10 Contract With Atlanta Hawks

Vancouver Bandits & I SPARC Host Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

Vancouver Bandits to Host Free-of-Charge Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

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