FRASER VALLEY BANDITS SOLD TO LOCAL OWNERSHIP, REBRANDED AS VANCOUVER BANDITS

Bandits Staff • September 13, 2022

Rebranded as Vancouver Bandits, club will continue play at Langley Events Centre

LANGLEY, B.C., September 13, 2022 – The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that the Fraser Valley Bandits have been purchased by local business leaders Kevin Dhaliwal and Bryan Slusarchuk and will be rebranded as the Vancouver Bandits.

The team will continue to play at Langley Events Centre (LEC), where the Bandits played the 2022 season following three seasons in Abbotsford. Following its most successful season at the box office to date, the club is currently on sale with season ticket deposits for its 2023 campaign at LEC.

“The CEBL is pleased to welcome Bryan Slusarchuk and Kevin Dhaliwal, two passionate supporters of the Fraser Valley Bandits since their inception, into our league as co-owners of the Bandits,” said CEBL Commissioner and Co-Founder Mike Morreale. “Kevin and Bryan have long been strong supporters of basketball in British Columbia. They share our vision for developing Canadian talent and for being community-based where everyone can engage in basketball as a player, coach, fan, or community or business partner. With the CEBL’s Championship Weekend scheduled to be held at Langley Events Centre in August of 2023, the future for the Bandits is tremendously exciting.”

The Bandits are the founding brand under the umbrella of Bandits Sports & Entertainment (BSE), which is an ownership group jointly led by Dhaliwal, Founder and President of Essence Properties, and Slusarchuk, Co-Founder of K92 Mining Inc. and Principal of SluzCap. Through their shared passion for sport, the two co-owners launched the partnership with a goal of supporting the community through year-round collaborations with partners in the entertainment and sports sectors. BSE is fuelled by Dhaliwal and Slusarchuk’s involvement in local sports as former high school athletes and today as community partners of various events, tournaments and more.

The Bandits join Scarborough as the second league franchise operated by outside ownership and become the first of the original six founding members to be purchased by new owners. The CEBL was founded in 2018 as a single entity owned league with six franchises. Today, the CEBL has 10 franchises located in six provinces stretching from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The CEBL is the most exciting thing to happen in Canadian pro sports in decades and the Bandits are a marquee franchise within the league,” Slusarchuk said. “Being a season ticket member and community partner has allowed me to witness firsthand that the Bandits are focused on building a sustainable footprint in the region by growing all areas of the game from the youth to the pro level. I was fortunate to have great basketball coaches that instilled a drive and work ethic in me that I am grateful for to this day. Kevin and I are excited to build on the strong foundation that has been set by the club and to elevate the Bandits to greater heights by working together with the community to promote these core values that we care about.”

“Bryan and I are thrilled to align to create more opportunities to bring youth and families closer to a sport that has captured the hearts and minds of Canadians. The CEBL is uniting local communities through the power of basketball and we are committed to ensuring that families and friends feel connected and energized by the world-class experience of Bandits games,” Dhaliwal said. “Growing up in the Lower Mainland, I was fortunate to be coached by mentors who taught me the importance of teamwork and collaboration. We are keen to continue deepening our roots in the community and to inspire local youth by giving them an opportunity to be supported by and to be part of one of the best pro sports leagues in Canada.”

Along with the sale and purchase of the Bandits, Tuesday’s announcement also included unveiling new branding for the team, now known as the Vancouver Bandits.

As part of their acquisition, Dhaliwal and Slusarchuk purchased territorial exclusivity for the rights to own and operate a CEBL franchise in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District. Metro Vancouver consists of 21 municipalities and the Fraser Valley is home to six. After moving to Langley Events Centre, the Bandits saw an increased percentage of its fans hail from Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver. This in conjunction with the territorial acquisition informed the club’s decision to incorporate “Vancouver” in its name as a means of better representing the broader scope of cities across the two regions that Bandits fans come from.

Following the purchase of the Bandits, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan region will continue as strong prospects for potential CEBL expansion due to their corporate communities and notable basketball histories.

The updated Bandits logo maintains the original fox icon that has been a key facet of the club’s branding since 2018 while introducing a reimagined wordmark that showcases a sleek font defined by rounded edges and a line that runs through the “Bandits” text. The line represents the trails and roads that are the veins of two regions that are home to youth, commuters and families who live, work and play throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley’s natural beauty and metropolitan hubs. Further enhancing the new logo is the incorporation of the colour black, which will be used as the fourth colour in the club’s brand kit and serves as a subtle nod to the rain and dark skies that the Pacific Northwest is known for.

“Rebranding the name to Vancouver is in line with the CEBL’s move toward Canada’s largest markets,” Morreale added. “We recently relocated one franchise from Guelph to Calgary, and of course last season added teams in Montreal, Scarborough, and in Atlantic Canada’s second-largest city, St. John’s. We have six teams playing within the six largest metropolitan areas in Canada, and all 10 of our teams are located within the 19 largest urban centres in the country.”

The Fraser Valley Bandits were introduced as the sixth CEBL franchise on July 16, 2018. The logo was an orange fox wearing a bandit mask and the team’s primary colours were orange, navy and cream white. Since its inaugural season in which the club ranked among the league’s best in attendance, the Bandits have had continued success at the box office and are a perennial playoff contender. BC’s professional basketball team finished first in the CEBL in average attendance after recording four straight sell-outs during the 2021 season. Its per game attendance rose in 2022; including hosting the highest attended game in league history on June 18 when the Bandits held the inaugural BC Basketball Festival and defeated the Scarborough Shooting Stars 92-89 in front of 4,404 fans.

The team finished 4-2 during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series season and reached the CEBL Championship game and were 7-7 and reached the semifinals of Championship Weekend during the abbreviated 2021 season. The Bandits finished fourth in the regular season standings this summer with a 12-8 record and were eliminated by the Guelph Nighthawks in a postseason play-in game at Langley Events Centre.

Fraser Valley was a founding member of the CEBL when the league launched in 2018 with six teams in four provinces. Since then the league has expanded to 10 teams in six provinces, making it the largest pro sports league in Canada with further expansion planned. The CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its current team rosters being Canadian. 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 May through August.

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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For Vancouver Bandits media inquiries, please contact:

Andrew Savory, Vice President, (604) 217-6213, asavory@thebandits.ca

About the Vancouver Bandits:

The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Langley Events Centre (LEC).

About Bandits Sports & Entertainment (BSE):

Bandits Sports & Entertainment (BSE) is a partnership built around the core belief that sports have the power to unite and inspire communities. BSE’s mission is to create meaningful connections across BC through year-round collaborations with partners that share a common goal of using arts, culture and sports to celebrate and showcase the passion of our fans. The Vancouver Bandits are the fastest growing staple in BC’s professional sports and entertainment ecosystem and are the founding brand under the umbrella of BSE. Each summer, the Bandits welcome fans to the world-class Langley Events Centre for CEBL competition and a riveting presentation of Canada’s top homegrown and professional athletes.

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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.

FRASER VALLEY BANDITS SOLD TO LOCAL OWNERSHIP, REBRANDED AS VANCOUVER BANDITS

Rebranded as Vancouver Bandits, club will continue play at Langley Events Centre

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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