SEA BEARS CHASE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP AS CEBL FINALS COME TO CANADA LIFE CENTRE

WINNIPEG, MB, August 11, 2026 – The Winnipeg Sea Bears will play for a championship for the first time in franchise history, and the deciding games are coming to Canada Life Centre. Winnipeg hosts Game 2 of the CEBL Finals on Saturday, August 15 at 2:30 p.m., and Game 3, if necessary, on Sunday, August 16 at 2:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. for both games.

Tickets for both home games are on sale now through Ticketmaster. The first 5,000 fans through the doors for each game will receive a free rally towel. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to grab one and help build the best home-court atmosphere in the CEBL.

The Sea Bears earned their place in the Finals with a 107–96 win over the Vancouver Bandits in the Western Conference Final on Saturday, August 8. They now face the Brampton Honey Badgers, with Game 1 in Brampton on Wednesday, August 12. Fans can watch Game 1 of the series on TSN, CBC or stream on CEBL+ or CBC Gem. 

GAME DAY IN DOWNTOWN WINNIPEG

The party starts before tip-off. The MNP pre-game party opens in True North Square at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, giving fans a place to gather ahead of the doors opening at 1:30 p.m. Vocalist and tribute artist TJ Pepper performs at halftime.

Fans riding downtown can use the MNP Bike Valet, free for all Sea Bears ticket holders. Located on Graham Avenue across from True North Square, the valet is staffed throughout the game and opens 90 minutes before tip-off. Drop off a bike, take a claim stub, and pick it up on the way out. No lock required.

A NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT

The 2026 postseason introduced a new structure across the league. Ten teams, split into two conferences, opened with single-elimination Conference Semifinals on August 6, followed by single-elimination Conference Finals on August 8, with the higher seed hosting in both rounds.



The championship round is where the format changes most. The CEBL Finals are now a best-of-three series running August 12 to 16, the first multi-game playoff series in league history, replacing the single-weekend championship model the league used previously. Hosting is also inverted: the lower seed hosts Game 1, while the higher seed hosts Games 2 and 3.

Winnipeg holds the higher seed on a tiebreaker over Brampton. That sends the Sea Bears east for Game 1 on Wednesday and brings the series home to Canada Life Centre for the weekend, with a championship on the line in Winnipeg if the series goes the distance.

GAME INFORMATION

Game 2 — CEBL Finals
Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 2:30 p.m. CT
Canada Life Centre | Winnipeg, MB
MNP pre-game party, True North Square: 1:00 p.m.
Doors open: 1:30 p.m.
Halftime performance: TJ Pepper

Game 3 — CEBL Finals (if necessary)
Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 2:30 p.m. CT
Canada Life Centre | Winnipeg, MB
Doors open: 1:30 p.m.