The opportunity for Canadians to witness quality basketball this month won’t end with the Toronto Raptors’ quest for the nation’s first-ever NBA Championship.
“These are historic moments for Canadian basketball,” said Canada Basketball President and CEO Glen Grunwald, the former Raptors general manager who was on the team when she joined the NBA in Canada. 1995. “I urge everyone to continue to follow the formidable rise of basketball by tuning in[toCEBLbroadcasts[totheCEBLbroadcasts[auxémissionsdelaCEBL[totheCEBLbroadcasts
“This is a very exciting time for basketball in Canada as CBC and CEBL collaborate to showcase all of the rich national basketball talent this country has to offer and more.
It is only fitting that a truly Canadian league team up with a historic Canadian broadcasting institution like the CBC.– Canadian Elite Basketball League CEO / Commissioner Mike Morreale
The six-team CEBL, which abides by FIBA rules (including 10-minute quarterbacks) and regulations while serving as a Division 1 league, started playing in May in Hamilton, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Guelph , Ont., Fraser Valley (Abbotsford, BC) and St. Catharines, Ont. (Lions of the Niagara River).
Each club has a roster of 10 players requiring at least 70 percent of Canadians.
Morreale, a former CFL receiver, switched to basketball a few years ago after a chance meeting with Richard Petko, owner of the Niagara River Lions of the National Basketball League.
“Canadians are hungry for basketball”
Morreale says CEBL borrowed from CFL and Major League Soccer.
“We have settled on a structure that we believe can be strong in the short and long term, with a business model similar to MLS when it started where the league will operate all six territories and be really fully funded. “, did he declare. Remarks.
The Championship Weekend will feature the top four teams, including the Saskatchewan Rattlers, competing to become the first-ever CEBL Champion.
“Canadians are hungry for basketball and look forward to the sport at the 2020 Olympics,” said Chris Wilson, interim chief of CBC Sports. “CBC Sports is thrilled to be the national coverage destination for our local professional league.
“This is a critical opportunity for fans of the sport across the country to follow the journeys of the new generation of professional basketball players as they represent our communities and the country as a whole.”
CBC Sports coverage begins June 12 at 7 p.m. ET when the Hamilton Honey Badgers host Niagara River at the FirstOntario Center.
