Bandits to Host Sea Bears in Tuesday Matinee

By Josh Kozelj

The Vancouver Bandits (1-2) will look to climb up the Western Conference standings in a rematch with the Winnipeg Sea Bears (2-1) in a nationally televised broadcast on TSN at 1 p.m. CT at the Langley Events Centre.

The game will also be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

The expansion Sea Bears defeated the Bandits 90-85 in front of over 7,000 fans at Canada Life Centre less than two weeks ago.

Since their first meeting, both Winnipeg and Vancouver have split their next two games.

Winnipeg, who is in the midst of a four-game road trip, lost by four points in Brampton on June 1 before knocking off the Scarborough Shooting Stars on June  2 in a game that saw Teddy Allen tie the CEBL record for most points scored in a single game with 42.

On the season, Allen is nearly averaging a double-double. The Phoenix, Ariz. product is recording 24.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, good for third and fifth in the CEBL, respectively. E.J. Anosike is also averaging nearly 20 points per game, and is second on the team in rebounds and field goal percentage through Winnipeg’s first three games.

Vancouver is riding high after handing the Calgary Surge their first loss of the season in their home opener on Saturday night.

Nick Ward led the way for the Bandits with 19 points and nine rebounds in the win, while Diego Maffia earned a double-double in his first CEBL start.

Maffia, a guard from the University of Victoria, was selected by the Bandits in the first round in the CEBL’s U SPORTS Draft in April. The Victoria product saw a combined total of 22 minutes in his first two professional games, but logged over 31 minutes on Saturday night and collected 15 points and 11 assists.

Maffia is currently in the top 10 in the CEBL in assists per game, averaging just under five per game.

The game will be pivotal in the early season standings.

With a win, Vancouver will climb back up to .500 and tie Winnipeg with a 2-2 record. If they lose, however, they risk falling 2.5 games behind the Sea Bears and will have dropped both of their first two meetings on the year.

In total, Winnipeg and Vancouver will play each other four times this year. Their next two meetings will occur on June 21 and July 23.

The afternoon matinee is part of Vancouver’s annual School Day Game. Last year saw almost 4,000 fans from 13 local schools attend the Bandits’ inaugural School Day Game.

Full broadcast schedule of CEBL Games of the Week on TSN can be found here. All games will also be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears will be back home June 12 and June 15. Get your tickets here.

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow @CEBLeague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

Social Media:

Facebook: /wpgseabears

Twitter: @wpgseabears

Instagram: @wpgseabears