WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced Wednesday that their entire 2023 coaching staff will return for the 2024 season. The six specialists will resume their roles under head coach and general manager Mike Taylor after helping the team to a West-leading 12-8 record in its inaugural season. Winnipeg’s Mike Raimbault will re-join the team as an assistant coach after leading his University of Winnipeg Wesmen men’s team to a Canada West silver medal and the U SPORTS elite eight in both 2023 and 2024. Raimbault, a product of Brandon, MB, was a standout for the Bobcats before making his coaching debut there. He also earned a CCAA championship and CCAA Coach of the Year award in 2010 with the University of Northern British Columbia. 

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday they have signed Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, a Winnipegger who has garnered major accolades overseas. Most recently, the skilled guard averaged 18.9 points per game for Tsmoki-Minsk, good for third in the VTB United League, often considered one of the top five international leagues. This past winter, he also became the seventh player in VTB United history to score more than 600 points in a season. Ogungbemi-Jackson’s roots trace back to Winnipeg, where he led his Garden City Collegiate Gophers to back-to-back provincial titles. The humble and hard-working guard established a standard for work ethic while bussing to the school hours before the morning bell to get hundreds of shots up each day. “I am estatic to be joining the Winnipeg Sea Bears this season! Playing professionally in my hometown where I was born and raised is a dream come true and something I never knew would be possible. I can’t wait to play in front of my friends and family and this amazing fanbase. I plan to bring my leadership, my talent and competitiveness to help us compete at the highest level every night,” said Ogungbemi-Jackson. Ogungbemi-Jackson played his post-secondary ball with the Calgary Dinos, where his coach described his impact as “ridiculous.” The team-first workhorse still holds the record for steals in program history with 197 and ranks third all-time in points (1799). From there, the 5-foot-10 guard launched into a successful pro career, using his dedication, work ethic and high IQ to rocket him through several top-tier European leagues. 

Buckets & Borders, the Winnipeg Sea Bears, and Payworks will work together to restore the outdoor basketball court at Mayfair.

Winnipeg Sea Bears reveal three picks in 2024 CEBL U SPORTS draft

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced the dates of the team’s community celebration games for 2024. This year, the organization will host special activities at their June 19, June 22 and June 27 games in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Pride and Filipino Heritage Month respectively. Fans can expect special performances at the team’s MNP pre-game parties, community-based concourse activations, celebratory music and food offerings, and captivating halftime shows. The team will release the game’s headliners closer to each game. The Sea Bears will also celebrate Father’s Day on their only afternoon game Sunday, June 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Canada Life Centre with MNP pre-game festivities getting underway at 11 a.m. at True North Square. Celebration Nights June 19 @ 7:00 PM – celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day June 22 @ 7:30 PM – celebrating Pride presented by Johnston Group June 27 @ 7:00 PM – celebrating Filipino Heritage Month The Sea Bears open the 2024 campaign on the road in Saskatoon, SK on May 22. They return to Winnipeg for their home opener on May 24 against the defending CEBL champions, Scarborough Shooting Stars. Flex packs and season tickets are available now. For more information on single game tickets, visit seabears.ca/2024-game-tickets

WINNIPEG – The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that the Winnipeg Sea Bears, in collaboration with the Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg, have secured hosting rights for the league’s 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25). For the first time ever, fans at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg will witness the crowning of a CEBL Champion in August 2025. A celebration of culture, music, community and Canadian basketball, the CEBL’s Championship Weekend has become Canada’s biggest annual basketball event. The weekend includes the top CEBL teams competing to win the league championship trophy, a concert lineup showcasing exciting musical performers, minor basketball events, and an array of activities designed to engage a cross-section of the local community. “The basketball community in Winnipeg has demonstrated overwhelming support for the Sea Bears and the CEBL since day one, and they continue to establish Winnipeg as a basketball hotbed, quickly setting the standard for excellence in our league,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “The decision to award Winnipeg as host of 2025 Championship Weekend was an easy one and we can’t wait to celebrate the biggest Championship Weekend ever with our fans and partners at Canada Life Centre next summer.“ The Sea Bears set multiple CEBL attendance records at Canada Life Centre in 2023, including the single-game record of 10,580 fans on August 4 against Edmonton in the Play-In round of the playoffs, the single-game regular season record of 8,230 fans on July 29 against Edmonton, and the full-season attendance record of 65,609 over 11 total games. Now the franchise will make history again by hosting Winnipeg’s first-ever professional basketball championship final in 2025.

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that they have re-signed six-foot-seven Canadian forward Shane Osayande. Osayande became a reliable figure for the Sea Bears last season, starting on seven occasions in the team’s Western conference leading regular season run. Osayande finished the season tenth in the league for average blocks at 0.9 per game in 13.4 minutes played, establishing himself not only as a rim protector, but effective rebounder. The international pro has averaged 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his career, which spans Germany, Spain, Lebanon, Venezuela, Canada and Qatar. After leaving the Sea Bears, the Toronto, ON product put up five straight double-doubles to start his season with Al Shamal of the Qatar Basketball League (QBL). “I am delighted to announce my decision to re-sign with the Winnipeg Seabears. The opportunity to continue my journey with this amazing organization fills me with great satisfaction. I am eager to contribute to our collective pursuit of excellence alongside my dedicated teammates and esteemed coaches. I can’t wait to see all the fans and familiar faces soon,” said Osayande. Osayande brings championship experience with him, already having won the CEBL trophy with the Saskatchewan Rattlers in 2019 and earning the Palestinian Basketball League championship in 2022. “We are happy to re-sign Shane Osayande for the 2024 CEBL season. Joining us mid-season last summer, Shane made a positive impact for us doing the dirty work defensively. Shane was an excellent teammate, adds athleticism and CEBL Championship experience to our front court and provides important roster continuity. We are very excited to have Shane Osayande back in a Sea Bears uniform this summer!” said Sea Bears head coach and general manager, Mike Taylor. Osayande has also garnered several personal accolades as an All-Star in the QBL (2023) and a Canada West First Team All Star (2017). The latter accolade came in his third year with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, when he averaged 17.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He is also a member of the Palestine National Team. Osayande is now the fifth Canadian signed by the Sea Bears this season, after Chad Posthumus , Alex Campbell , Mason Bourcier , and David Muenkat . Under CEBL rules, all teams must have at least two Canadians on the court at all times and a minimum of six to eight Canadians on their active roster (depending on the size of their full active roster). The team also signed 2023 CEBL MVP, import Teddy Allen on Feb. 7. The Sea Bears open the 2024 campaign on the road in Saskatoon, SK on May 22. They return to Winnipeg for their home opener on May 24 against the defending CEBL champions, Scarborough Shooting Stars. Flex packs and season tickets are available now. For more information on single game tickets, visit seabears.ca/2024-game-tickets

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that beginning in 2024, the newly rebranded and expanded ‘CEBL Draft’ will serve as the league’s annual entry draft for eligible Canadian U SPORTS and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) student-athletes. The priority of selection in round one will be in the reverse order of how each team finished the 2023 regular season, thus the Winnipeg Sea Bears will have the draft's eighth overall pick. The following rounds will revert to a 'snake format' in reverse order of the previous round, giving Winnipeg the 13th and 28th overall picks in rounds two and three. Results of the 2024 CEBL Draft will be announced Thursday, April 11. The CEBL’s amendments to its roster composition rules in 2024 adds CCAA athletes alongside U SPORTS athletes as eligible developmental players (recognized Canadians with experience as a student-athlete with remaining eligibility). CEBL teams are incentivized to have developmental players on their active roster as up to a maximum of three will not count against a club’s per game active roster salary cap. The first opportunity for a developmental player to join a CEBL team is via the 2024 CEBL Draft. Beginning this year, the CEBL Draft will expand to three rounds with each club making three selections total (one in each round) of either returning or graduating Canadian post-secondary players. All developmental players will become free agents at the conclusion of the CEBL season and can maintain eligibility to be selected in the 2025 CEBL Draft and/or sign with a CEBL club and re-enter the league as a developmental player next season. The full 2024 CEBL Draft order is as follows:

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that they have signed Canadian forward and award-winning defender, David Muenkat. The six-foot-seven Brampton, ON product returns to the CEBL after averaging more than 10 points and six rebounds in under 25 minutes per game in the German Pro A league. The former first overall draft pick (2022 to Scarborough) was a university stand-out, finishing his U SPORTS career in 2023 with several major accolades. Muenkat was named the country’s Defensive Player of the Year and an AUS first-team all star. The high-flying forward is also known for his acrobatic dunks and gravity-defying drives. “I’m excited to bring my game to Winnipeg. The love that the fans show their team is one of the main reasons why I wanted to play here. I look forward to winning games and giving them a lot to cheer for,” said Muenkat. “We have all seen Vince Carter in his Toronto Raptors days marketed as 'half man, half amazing'. Now we have our own 'half Muenkat, half amazing' in Winnipeg. David is an exciting player capable of highlight plays with his elite athleticism and we are looking forward to seeing him reach new heights at Canada Life Centre,” said Sea Bears head coach and general manager, Mike Taylor. Muenkat was a member of the championship-winning Scarborough Shooting Stars last season, where he averaged 7.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game. “David has played very well in Germany this season, a country I know well. I have enjoyed following David's development in Frankfurt and several of my coaching friends have given us excellent recommendations,” said Taylor. Muenkat was a runner-up for the CEBL U SPORTS Player of the Year award (the same award won by Simon Hildebrandt last season) in 2022. Muenkat is now the fourth Canadian signed by the Sea Bears this season, after Chad Posthumus , Alex Campbell , and Mason Bourcier . The team signed 2023 CEBL MVP, import Teddy Allen on Feb. 7. For Muenkat's full stats and bio, please click here. “Now our fantastic Sea Bears fans can get excited about more eye-catching entertainment this summer with Teddy Buckets’ threes, the Beast from River East’s offensive rebounds, three and D production from high-character Alex Campbell, winning plays on both ends by hard-nosed Mason Bourcier and elite dunks from Half Muenkat, Half Amazing. I can't wait for training camp to begin,” said Taylor. The Sea Bears open the 2024 campaign on the road in Saskatoon, SK on May 22. They return to Winnipeg for their home opener on May 24 against the defending CEBL champions, Scarborough Shooting Stars. Flex packs and season tickets are available now. For more information on single game tickets, visit seabears.ca/2024-game-tickets