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July 25, 2025
Winnipeg, MB — The Winnipeg Sea Bears have announced the signing of American guard Jarron Cumberland, a seasoned professional with NBA experience known for his strong scoring ability, toughness, and versatile playmaking. Cumberland, 6’5”, joins the Sea Bears with an impressive résumé that includes stints with the Portland Trail Blazers, Raptors 905, and the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. He appeared in three games for the Trail Blazers during the 2021–22 season after signing a 10-day contract on Christmas Day in 2021. That same season, he was named MVP of the G League Winter Showcase, recording 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the championship game. “Adding Jarron Cumberland to our backcourt gives us versatility, dynamic playmaking and physicality,” said head coach and general manager Mike Taylor. “We are very excited to add JC into our attack. I believe we have done an excellent job of adding pieces that upgrade our team and put our roster in a great position for the stretch run to championship weekend.”  Originally from Wilmington, Ohio, the 27-year-old guard played four standout seasons at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned AAC Player of the Year honours and AAC Tournament MVP in 2019. After being selected 12th overall in the 2021 NBA G League Draft by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Cumberland spent time with Raptors 905 before being traded to the Delaware Blue Coats, where he has had multiple stints, most recently during the 2024–25 season. His professional career has also taken him overseas, including recent stops with Petro de Luanda (Angola) and Caballeros de Culiacán (Mexico). Cumberland will play on the road in Calgary on July 27 and make his home debut in the club's next home game against the rival Saskatchewan Rattlers on August 1 at 7:30 p.m. ### About the Winnipeg Sea Bears The Winnipeg Sea Bears joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) as an expansion franchise in 2023. The city's only professional basketball team plays out of Canada Life Centre from May to August in a 24-game regular season schedule. Winnipeg businessman and lawyer, David Asper, is the organization's owner and chairman. More information on the Sea Bears can be found at seabears.ca and @wpgseabears on Instagram , X , TikTok , LinkedIn & Facebook . 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 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .
July 21, 2025
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced Friday the signing of Canadian center Jordy Tshimanga, a 6-foot-11 international pro known for his dominant rebounding, rim protection, and interior scoring. Tshimanga most recently played in Taiwan with the Kaohsiung Steelers, where he averaged 15.6 points and 17.0 rebounds per game, showcasing elite production on both ends of the floor. He also suited up earlier this year in Mongolia for Khasin Khuleguud, continuing to demonstrate his value as a high-motor big man with international experience. In the 2024 CEBL season, Tshimanga averaged 8.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 17.8 minutes over 17 games with the Calgary Surge. He also played for the Surge in 2023, putting up 6.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 15 minutes per game across nine appearances. Tshimanga’s strong presence in the CEBL extends back to his 2022 campaign with the Saskatchewan Rattlers, where he averaged 8.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while starting all 22 games. He finished fourth in the league in rebounds and consistently impacted both ends of the floor, notching several double-digit rebounding games and reaching double figures in scoring six times. He also brings extensive NBA G League experience, having played for the Iowa Wolves and Cleveland Charge across two seasons. In 2022–23 with Iowa, he averaged 8.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 assists in 24 games, including four double-doubles and back-to-back monster games of 18 points and 19 rebounds, and 16 points and 18 rebounds. “Jordy Tshimanga is a quality big man who gives us outstanding size, experience and front court depth,” said head coach and general manager Mike Taylor. “We are excited to add Jordy's defensive presence and physicality to strengthen our team.” A product of Dayton and Nebraska, Tshimanga played 112 NCAA games over four seasons. In his senior year at Dayton (2020–21), he averaged 6.7 points and 7.7 rebounds, leading the team in boards and blocks. Tshimanga joins the Sea Bears as the team gears up for CEBL Championship Weekend, hosted in Winnipeg from August 21-24. The Sea Bears return to Canada Life Centre on Friday, July 25 at 7:30 PM against the Edmonton Stingers. Tickets are on sale now.
July 18, 2025
The Calgary Surge has booked its ticket to the playoffs for the third straight year with a 93-89 win over the Sea Bears in Winnipeg on Thursday night. Calgary has yet to miss the postseason since the franchise relocated from Guelph in 2022. The win moves the Surge to 12–6 on the season, making them the third team to clinch a spot in the 2025 CEBL playoffs. Meanwhile, the Sea Bears drop to 6–10. Greg Brown III led the charge with a double-double, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds. The former G-Leaguer has made an instant impact in his debut CEBL season, climbing past Vancouver’s Mitch Creek to take over second place in league scoring. Brown took over in the first half, keeping the Surge within striking distance during Winnipeg’s early offensive push. “My teammates have been helping me get to my spots and opening up the game for me,” Brown said on what has been the greatest factor in his success. “They keep talking to me, where the angles are, where the space is… they have been helping me this whole season.” “I watched Gremlins growing up, and they run when light comes,” Brown added, explaining his unconventional inspiration. “You always must show up when it matters and when the lights come on. I’ve always had that mentality from when I started playing until now.” While Brown stole the spotlight, the Surge’s success continues to come from balanced contributions across the roster. Four other players hit double figures, including 16 points off the bench from Jamorko Pickett — a testament to Calgary’s status as a multi-headed offensive monster that’s tough to slow down. Winnipeg Head Coach Mike Taylor stressed the importance of strong defensive execution to contain Calgary’s firepower, aiming to force them into transition and create opportunities on the other end. “I think we did a very good job executing our game plan,” Taylor said. “Controlling the tempo and trying to keep them out of transition for the majority of the game . But in terms of those crucial possessions, we’ve got to be better.” Simi Shittu finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, including a valuable last-minute play in target time to set up Jalen Harris beyond the arc to bring the Sea Bears closer to the target score of 92. “I feel like we had the game,” Shittu reflected. “We made it as tough as we can for them, but at the end of the day, we can clean up things.” Although the Surge pulled away late, the Sea Bears made them earn it. Winnipeg scored 28 points off second-chance possessions and kept applying pressure throughout the game. Trevon Scott was limited to 10 points but dominated the boards with 16 rebounds — just three shy of the franchise record of 19 set by Shittu less than three weeks ago. The game stayed tight through three quarters, with both teams trading leads. Calgary led 22–21 after the first quarter, but Winnipeg struck early in the second. The Surge responded with an 11–3 run to regain control. Scott’s rebounding in the third quarter led directly to 11 of Winnipeg’s 21 points in the frame, helping the Sea Bears keep pace heading into the final period. In the fourth, Calgary’s depth and composure showed. The Surge limited Winnipeg to just 10 points before target time and built a six-point cushion before the clocks turned off. Calgary quickly rose to the occasion, extending the lead to 89–79, but Winnipeg surged back, capitalizing on missed shots and late fouls. A Jalen Harris three-pointer brought the Sea Bears within two, 91–89, just short of Harris’s 100th career point. However, Calgary slammed the door as Evan Gilyard Jr. hit a decisive field goal to seal the victory and deny Harris a final shot. “This is a tough loss,” Taylor said. “But it’s a type of loss that can turn into a positive when we use adversity to try to get better.” With the win, the Surge now look ahead to returning to the postseason this August and possibly a return to Canada Life Centre as Winnipeg prepares to host the 2025 Championship Weekend festivities. However, they remain focused on the task ahead: finishing the season strong and motivating each other until the end. “We always iterate from the start that we want to win a championship,” Brown said. “We want to take the mindset of ‘this is normal’ — this is what we’ve been talking about since day one, so don’t look up, keep your head down, and keep grinding.”
July 15, 2025
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced that Canadian guard Cody John will be stepping away from the team for personal reasons for the next several weeks. John has been placed on the club’s suspended list, with the intention to reactivate him later this season. The organization fully supports Cody’s decision and wishes him well during this time. ### 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 73% of its rosters being Canadian and more than 10 players with NBA game experience in 2025. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . About the Winnipeg Sea Bears The Winnipeg Sea Bears joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) as an expansion franchise in 2023. The city's only professional basketball team plays out of Canada Life Centre from May to August in a 24-game regular season schedule. Winnipeg businessman and lawyer, David Asper, is the organization's owner and chairman. More information on the Sea Bears can be found at seabears.ca and @wpgseabears on Instagram , X , TikTok , LinkedIn & Facebook .
July 14, 2025
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced the signing of Canadian forward Maurice Calloo, a 6-foot-10 scorer from Windsor, Ont., who brings international experience, proven CEBL production and high-level NCAA pedigree to the roster. Calloo joins the Sea Bears following a strong start to the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season with the Saskatchewan Rattlers, where he averaged 14.1 points and 6.2 rebounds over 10 games. The 24-year-old also played for the Calgary Surge in 2023 and the Guelph Nighthawks (now Calgary) in 2022, reaching the CEBL Championship Final with Calgary in their inaugural season. “Maurice gives us size, athleticism, and scoring versatility, but also valuable CEBL and international experience,” said head coach and general manager Mike Taylor. “He’s proven he can contribute at every level, and we’re excited to bring his presence to our lineup.” Calloo has built a well-traveled professional resume that includes stints with the Windy City Bulls and Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League, as well as standout seasons overseas in Luxembourg and Taiwan. Most recently, he averaged 27.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game with Taiwan. Prior to that, he averaged 26.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in 14 games with Grengewald Hostert in Luxembourg’s top league, including a career-high 44 points on Jan. 27, 2024. A product of Oregon State University, Calloo averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in his senior year with the Beavers. He played a pivotal role in their 2021 Pac-12 championship run and NCAA Elite Eight appearance, leading the team in scoring in the Pac-12 title game and again in the Elite Eight with 13 points against Houston. His clutch performances earned him a place on Team Canada for the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup. Known for his ability to stretch the floor and step up in big moments, Calloo brings size, shooting and versatility to the Sea Bears frontcourt as the team pushes toward Championship Weekend, hosted in Winnipeg this August. The Sea Bears return to Canada Life Centre on July 17 to host the Calgary Surge at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at seabears.ca. 
July 8, 2025
Winnipeg, MB – The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced the signings of Trevon Scott and Will Richardson, who will join the team for the upcoming road trip and continue with the club through July 20, while Terry Roberts and Jaylin Williams participate in NBA Summer League. Roberts will suit up for the Brooklyn Nets' Summer League roster, while Williams will join the Dallas Mavericks. Scott will take the roster spot of Williams, bringing a wealth of professional experience across the NBA, NBA G League, and international competition. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 11.6 points per game this past season with the Long Island Nets, where he played alongside Sea Bears guard Terry Roberts. Since turning pro in 2020, Scott has played in the NBA G League with the Greensboro Swarm, Salt Lake City Stars, Cleveland Charge, San Diego Clippers, Osceola Magic, and Long Island Nets. He also appeared in two NBA games with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2021–22 season. In 2023, he added international experience to his resume with Fos Provence Basket in France's LNB Pro B. “Tre Scott is a long, versatile athlete with a track record of positively impacting teams like he did this season in the G League where he helped turn Long Island around,” said head coach and general manager Mike Taylor. “Tre knows the CEBL well after a good season in Calgary and we look forward to adding his experience.” Scott played 12 games with the Calgary Surge in 2023, where he averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. That same year, he posted a 25-point performance against Raptors 905 in the G League, showcasing his scoring ability. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Scott earned All-AAC First Team honours and was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Known for his two-way versatility, rebounding presence and defensive IQ, Scott adds experience and depth to a Sea Bears roster making its push through the second half of the season. Will Richardson will fill in for Terry Roberts at the guard position. The 6-foot-5 guard spent the last two seasons with the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, where he played alongside Jaylin Williams. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists 2024–25. “Will is a talented big point guard who caught my eye this season with Grand Rapids in the G League,” said Taylor. “Will is a crafty left handed playmaker who scores and sets up his teammates well. Will played with Tevian and Jaylin this season so we hope that connection helps his transition into our team in Winnipeg.” Richardson played five collegiate seasons at the University of Oregon, developing a reputation as a steady floor general with great shooting and excellent decision-making. He finished his NCAA career ranked top-10 in program history in assists, three pointers made and steals. Both Scott and Richardson will be active for the Sea Bears' game on the road against the Saskatchewan Rattlers on July 11, and will remain with the team through the conclusion of NBA Summer League on July 20. Scott will rematch his former CEBL team in his first home appearance with Winnipeg. The Sea Bears tip off against the Calgary Surge at Canada Life Centre on Thursday, July 17 at 7 PM. Tickets are available now at seabears.ca.
July 7, 2025
Winnipeg, MB – The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced today that Tevian Jones has been released from the team as he pursues other professional opportunities. “The CEBL is a stepping-stone league, and we often see players come and go. We appreciate Tevian’s time with us in Winnipeg and wish him success in the next steps of his career,” said head coach and general manager Mike Taylor. Jones appeared in 14 games for the Sea Bears this season. The organization thanks Tevian for his time in Winnipeg and wishes him the very best in the next chapter of his career. With Jones’ departure, the Sea Bears now have an open import roster spot and are actively exploring options to strengthen the lineup heading into the final stretch of the season. The Sea Bears return home to Canada Life Centre on July 17 against the Calgary Surge at 7:00 p.m.
July 5, 2025
In the battle between struggling Niagara and Winnipeg, one team was assured of a get-right win. The River Lions made sure it was them. Niagara dispatched of the Sea Bears 93-82 on Friday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., snapping its two-game skid and padding its lead atop the Eastern Conference. Winnipeg, meanwhile, suffered its fourth consecutive loss. Niagara now sits at 8-5, while Winnipeg falls to 5-9. “I mean, it was the bounceback that we needed,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said. “I thought we played hard the entirety of the game. We played better basketball than we have been in the past, so that was a big step in the right direction.” The River Lions controlled most of the game, leading by double digits much of the way, until the Sea Bears injected a scare with a fourth-quarter run that cut their deficit to five. It was as close as they would get. Niagara led 83-74 when the clock stopped for Target Score Time, which began explosively. After Jalen Harris hit a two-pointer to start the proceedings, the teams traded three-pointers on four straight possessions with Khalil Ahmad and Ron Curry hitting for Niagara, while Harris hit both for Winnipeg. Shortly after, Ahmad reinforced yet again why he has become known as the Target Score King, splashing home a step-back three-pointer to seal the River Lions victory. “it's all about continuity and putting together that game after game after game after game, so if we can stay continuous, then we'll be alright,” Ahmad said. For Niagara, the long-awaited win came on the back of its defence. The River Lions entered Friday’s action allowing the most points against per game in the league and having given up a combined 193 points in its two losses. But on Friday, they held the Sea Bears to just 34 points in the middle two quarters and forced 19 total turnovers. “We defended really well, especially for the first three quarters up in the game, really up until the points of the game where Jalen Harris started making shots, I thought we were defending quite well,” Raso said. Ahmad led the way for Niagara with 26 points to go with four assists and three rebounds. He made nine of 17 field-goal attempts, and two of his three triples came during Target Score Time. Elijah Lufile came off the bench for a near-double-double of 10 points and nine rebounds, while do-it-all guard Kimbal Mackenzie contributed 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. Ahmed Hill, the CEBL’s all-time leading scorer, had 12 points to move within five of becoming the first player in league history to reach the 1,500-point plateau (including playoffs). Ron Curry returned for the River Lions after a five-game absence, scoring eight points and dishing three assists. But Ahmad also credited his team’s defence for the win. “Defensive toughness, defensive intensity, just being together on defence because offence isn't really our problem. We just got to stay consistent defensively,” he said. On the flip side, Winnipeg’s defence — which entered just one-tenth of a point better than Niagara per game and will exit with the dubious title of league’s worst defence — continued to struggle. Niagara’s offence made 45 per cent of its three-point attempts and five different players scored in double digits. Head coach Mike Taylor pinpointed focus as the reason for his team’s losing streak. “We really had a spirited comeback, put ourselves in a good position, but there were too many possessions in the early part of the game where we kind of got in our own way. And it's been a theme at times. We've been inconsistent,” he said. “And today that put us behind the eight ball to 19 turnovers. We've been a team that's taken care of the basketball really well all year. Unfortunately, today, we were a little bit disorganized.” Sea Bears leading scorer Simi Shittu was ejected from the game early in the fourth quarter after picking up his fifth personal foul. In his place, Winnipeg native Emmanuel Akot paced his squad with 22 points to go with six rebounds and two assists. Harris ended with 21 points after his Target Time splurge. Akot said Winnipeg let Niagara build too big of an early lead, but he was happy with his team’s spirit to fight back. “But at the end of the day, winning is what matters, and we just got to go back to the office and figure things out,” Akot said. Canadian Olympian Dillon Brooks, who was recently traded from the NBA’s Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns, attended the game. The River Lions led 28-24 after a fast-paced first quarter and extended their lead to 51-38 by halftime. They took a 73-58 advantage into the final frame. But in the end, it was Ahmad — as per usual — coming up clutch when it mattered most, and Niagara was able to leave its home arena with a win.
By Aaron Gogishvili July 3, 2025
Haviah Mighty, The Funk Hunters, and other top Canadian acts also set to perform at Championship Weekend
By Alex Lough July 2, 2025
On a day of celebration in the Nation’s Capital, Javonte Smart gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about, tying the Ottawa BlackJacks franchise record with 37 points in a dominant 104-80 win over the visiting Winnipeg Sea Bears — the team’s fourth straight victory. The crowd had plenty to get behind early as the BlackJacks got off to a 9-0 lead early thanks to the stifling defense they’ve become known for over their winning streak, having now held their last four opponents to 80 points or fewer. It was more of the same from Ottawa in the first quarter, holding Winnipeg to just 6-of-17 shooting from the floor and taking a 29-16 lead into the break. While the BlackJacks got all their points the old-fashioned way in the first quarter – failing to make a three-pointer – they found their shooting stroke in the second, hitting 4-of-6 from deep. For their part, the Sea Bears managed to push the pace and get the home squad to get away from their preferred playing style but were unable to take advantage hitting just nine of their 24 shots. “I thought our guys did a tremendous job,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said following the win. I thought they followed the plan and executed the plan really well. We had the little hiccup in the second quarter where we didn’t lock in defensively. But after that, we just locked in and did a good job making life really tough for their top three guys.” Those three players for Winnipeg – Tevian Jones, Jalen Harris and Simin Shittu – were held to 15, 11 and 11 points, respectively, though Shittu did finish with a franchise record 19 rebounds, just one behind the league record. Emmanuel Akot had 17 points and five rebounds, while Jaylin Williams had 15 and seven rebounds. “The first thing is giving credit to Ottawa” Seas Bears head coach Mike Taylor said. “Javonte was outstanding, they had a great team game. I felt like our defensive effort was inconsistent. I think that we did not pressure the ball and contain the ball like we needed to, and that gave them some easy baskets in transition that got them feeling good. It comes down to the things… on the road you have to work hard, defend, rebound – all the fundamental parts of the game. Today we were a little bit soft with that and Ottawa took advantage. Credit to them, they played a great team game. But especially from our starting five, we expect a little bit more defensive effort.” Winnipeg would make a passionate push early in the third quarter, scoring 14 consecutive points to cut a 58-41 lead down to just three. But Smart would take over once again and the BlackJacks pulled away for the rest of the game. “He’s a scorer. He’s a legitimate scorer,” DeAveiro said. “He’s done this consistently for four games. How many guys can do that consistently for four games when teams are prepping trying to stop you. We’re lucky to have him. He’s also unselfish and will pass the ball to find his teammates to get a good shot. “You put two people on the ball to stop Javonte and you just throw it up and Isaih is athletic enough to go up and finish it. Javonte puts a lot of pressure on teams’ defenses, so you have to come up with strategies to defend Javonte. Any time they put two bodies on him, it’s either a lob up to Isaih or a kick out for a three.” Smart aside, there were a number of impressive performances from the home side. Isaih Moore had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Deng Adel had 14 points, and Tyrell Tate and Zane Waterman both chipped in with 11. The game was the 100th in the history of the BlackJacks, combing both regular season and postseason games. For a player like Adel, it’s been a great experience seeing the team grown, both on the court and off it, during his extended time with the club. “It’s been dope seeing the fanbase grow each year, people coming out and enjoying themselves,” Adel said. “It’s a great area, and it’s just fun to be a part of. Guys want to come here and play here which has been important, and it’s been good.” On top of being their fourth win in a row, it was also the BlackJacks second win over the Sea Bears this season. For the Sea Bears, it was their third straight loss, and second in as many games giving up 100 points.
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