Magic Night at the Den: Sea Bears Welcome Back the Defending Champs

The Winnipeg Sea Bears are back at Canada Life Centre on Friday night, hosting the defending CEBL champion Niagara River Lions in a 7:00 p.m. tip. After dropping a 103-101 heartbreaker in Scarborough on Tuesday morning, the Sea Bears (2-1) flip the page quickly with a chance to take the season series lead against the team that last walked off this floor as champions.

It’s a fast turnaround, but the locker room knows what Friday means. Niagara hasn’t played in Canada Life Centre since hoisting the 2025 CEBL trophy in our building. They’ll arrive on Friday with the target still on their backs.

The Sea Bears have not lost to Niagara at home. Period. Winnipeg is 3-0 all-time against the River Lions at Canada Life Centre, and the last meeting on this floor — August 6, 2025 — went to the Sea Bears 86-81. 

Tuesday’s loss in Scarborough was tough to swallow, but not for a lack of effort. The lesson from that final frame is the one the group is carrying into Friday.

“Obviously, we know he wanted to take the last shot, and we missed the defensive rebound to go the other way,” Chaney said after the game. “Definitely a situation where I feel like we kind of lost a little focus in that moment. We still fought back and took a 10-point lead, and then we gave it away. We just need to learn how to hold on to the leads and figure out what we need to do when we have the advantage.”

McGowens echoed it from the floor general’s perspective. “Just being stagnant on offense, especially a couple possessions down the stretch, not getting movement,” he said. “Down the stretch we’ve got to get people organized, get better actions, and make sure the pace is there.”

Head coach Mike Raimbault’s group will get its first chance to apply those lessons in front of a home crowd Friday night.

Forward Nathan Bilamu makes his 2026 home debut at Canada Life Centre after suiting up for the first time this season Tuesday in Scarborough. The 6-foot-5 Hamilton, Ontario product returns for his second year with the franchise after spending the winter playing professionally for Esgueira Basket in Portugal, where he averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 2025-26. His versatility and energy off the bench give Raimbault another option as the schedule starts to stack up.

The Challenge Ahead

Head coach and general manager Kimbal Mackenzie brings back a familiar group of CEBL veterans. Nathan Cayo, the 2024 CEBL Championship Game star at Canada Life Centre, Elijah Lufile — owner of the most rings in league history with three, Connor Vreeken shot 42.9 per cent from three a season ago. There are no soft spots in this rotation.

Niagara opened the season with a 91-85 loss at home to the Ottawa BlackJacks on Monday, but make no mistake — this group has seen the biggest moments and won them.

“We want to play with some grit and we want to have a defensive toughness about us. Prairie Dirt,” Raimbault said earlier this week. “We want to play unselfishly, play with heart, and be the team that doesn’t quit no matter what the circumstances.”

Friday at Canada Life Centre is the chance to prove that against the team holding the trophy.



Friday is Magic Night at Canada Life Centre, and the halftime show will leave you speechless. Mentalist Jeff Newman is taking over Magic Night at halftime — and trust us, you’ll want to see this one live. Stay in your seats and keep your eyes on the floor. Get your tickets today.