Basketball

Basketball

CEBL PHOTO FILES The last time the Winnipeg Sea Bears faced off against the Edmonton Stingers was on the road in the 2026 season opener, where Winnipeg’s own Mason Kraus (left) won the game on Target Score Time free throws.

Sea Bears expect dog fight

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

There was a short time when Emmanuel Akot couldn’t be convinced that everything was going to be alright.

During those painstaking moments while he writhed on the ground in Ottawa on June 4, the Winnipeg Sea Bears forward thought the hill he would need to climb to return to the court would be much steeper than any other he had faced before.

“I actually thought it was a lot worse than it was, so I was definitely scared, especially having some prior injuries with this ankle,” Akot told the Free Press on Friday.

“But, thankfully, it wasn’t anything too serious.”

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Basketball

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Mason Kraus (right) takes the ball to the net with Vancouver Bandits guard David Mutabazi trying to contain him.

Sea Bears take it to Stingers to sit atop Western Conference

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Sea Bears take it to Stingers to sit atop Western Conference

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Simply put, this was an emphatic statement.

On a night in which the Vancouver Bandits entered as the team to beat in the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Western Conference, the Winnipeg Sea Bears put the rest of the league on notice with a dominant 114-81 victory at Canada Life Centre on Thursday.

Led by a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double from Teddy Allen, the Sea Bears overwhelmed the Bandits offensively for 40 minutes en route to scoring the second-most points in a game in franchise history.

“I don’t know if we sent a message; we just took care of business,” said Allen. “They were missing some guys, but you can only play who’s in front of you, and I feel like we definitely dominated today.”

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Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Basketball

Riley Marra/ Winnipeg Sea Bears Winnipeg Sea Bears head coach and GM Mike Raimbault (left) said that Xavier Moon (right) won’t be making his debut on Thursday as the guard still has to be cleared to play by FIBA, the CEBL’s governing body.

Sea Bears guard not cleared to play by FIBA for Thursday’s contest

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

Sea Bears guard not cleared to play by FIBA for Thursday’s contest

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Mike Raimbault knew he had an ace in his back pocket. The only problem was that he didn’t know when he would be able to use it.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears’ head coach and general manager admits it was tough not thinking about when he would have his Xavier Moon at his disposal.

Not because the Sea Bears — who entered Thursday night’s game against the Vancouver Bandits with a respectable 6-4 record and clicking on offence to the tune of 98 points per game (third-most in the Canadian Elite Basketball League) — were struggling without the star guard, but because Raimbault believes there is another level that his team can reach.

“He’s obviously a dynamic guy. I think we’ve been sort of looking at the things that we’re doing offensively and, to be honest, trying not to think too much about when he gets here, but obviously he’s a playmaker, and he’s gonna make everything easier for everybody else,” Raimbault said following Thursday’s morning shoot around.

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Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Basketball

CEBL PHOTO Sea Bears guard Trey McGowens (right) has started all nine games since arriving in Winnipeg.

Sea Bears going to the Moon?

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

Sea Bears going to the Moon?

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2026

Ask around the Winnipeg Sea Bears, and both players and coaches acknowledge that this is not only a barometer test against one of the best teams in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, but an excellent opportunity to make a statement that they, too, are a team to be reckoned with in the second half of the season.

The Sea Bears (6-4) are riding high after sweeping a home-and-home against the Calgary Surge last weekend, but now a stiff test awaits in the Vancouver Bandits (7-3) with the top spot in the Western Conference up for grabs at Canada Life Centre on Thursday (7 p.m.).

“If you look at all the standings and the rankings, the gurus usually (have them) No. 1 in most of them,” said Simon Hildebrandt. “So, it’s good to know, and we feel like we’re the best team in the league, so it’s good for us to prove a point and get people talking about us that way.”

The Bandits already boast a dangerous offence, averaging a league-best 104.6 points per game, and the club recently added even more firepower with reigning MVP forward Mitch Creek returning to the team.

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Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2026

Basketball

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Newly arrived Sea Bears guard Isiah Osborne shoots as Surge forward Addison Patterson tries to block the shot, Friday, in Winnipeg. Osborne was the catalyst in many ways for the Sea Bears in their victory over the Surge.

New blood Osborne helps power Sea Bears to win over struggling Surge

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

New blood Osborne helps power Sea Bears to win over struggling Surge

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

Welcome to Winnipeg, Isiah Osborne.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears newcomer arrived on Tuesday and wasted no time making his mark on Friday night.

Osborne, in many ways, was the catalyst on both ends of the floor in a 24-point, five-steal debut as the Sea Bears rolled to a 92-72 victory over the Calgary Surge at Canada Life Centre.

“I’ve been calling him the silent assassin. He don’t really say much, but he gets straight to it,” said Jeremiah Tilmon Jr., who has six points and a team-high nine rebounds.

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Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

Basketball

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Sea Bears forward Trevon Scott will be making his regular-season debut with the hometown hoops club on Friday against the Calgary Surge.

Sea Bears return to home court Friday with three new additions

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Sea Bears return to home court Friday with three new additions

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Thursday, Jun. 11, 2026

After a long road trip, the Winnipeg Sea Bears will be happy to play in front of their home crowd once again.

It’ll have been three weeks to the day since the Sea Bears (4-4) last played inside Canada Life Centre when they tip off against the Calgary Surge on Friday night (7 p.m.) — the longest stretch they’ll endure this summer.

While a 1-3 record during their time away from home has left plenty to work on, Winnipeg knows there was still a lot of good to take away from losses to Brampton, Saskatoon and Montreal, and a victory against Ottawa.

Three of their four losses this season have come by less than four points, suggesting the club has been right there with its opponents.

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Thursday, Jun. 11, 2026

Basketball

Ruth Bonneville / FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Sea Bears forward Emmanuel Akot managed to throw some free throws at practise on Tuesday after having suffered a sprained ankle on Friday.

Sea Bears’ hometown forward looks to have avoided lengthy recovery time

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

Sea Bears’ hometown forward looks to have avoided lengthy recovery time

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 9, 2026

The optics of it weren’t great, and the tone that followed Emmanuel Akot’s injury shortly thereafter didn’t exactly inject much hope into the situation either.

All things considered, though, this turned out to be about as good as the Winnipeg Sea Bears could’ve hoped for their homegrown talent.

Head coach Mike Raimbault confirmed Tuesday that Akot suffered a sprained ankle early in last Friday’s 117-88 road victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks.

While ankle sprains can be difficult to prognosticate — they can vary anywhere from one week to three months, depending on the severity — there is hope that the 6-8 forward will be able to return to action at some point this summer.

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Tuesday, Jun. 9, 2026

Basketball

Ryan Marra photo Montreal Allance forward Quincy Guerrier goes above the rim ahead of Winnipeg Sea Bears Nathan Bilamu during CEBL action in Montreal on Friday.

Warren puts dagger in Sea Bears

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Warren puts dagger in Sea Bears

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Davion Warren tasted sweet revenge on Friday night.

The former Winnipeg Sea Bears forward, who was released earlier this week following the signing of fellow import Trevon Scott, didn’t have to wait long to get a crack at his old club — three days to be exact.

Now repping the blue and white of the Montreal Alliance, with whom he signed immediately after Winnipeg let him go, Warren made no mistake with the opportunity to impress his new club and prove his former team wrong, scoring a team-high 23 points off the bench to hand the Sea Bears a 97-91 loss at Quebec’s Verdun Auditorium.

Warren, who scored seven of the Alliance’s final nine points, looked like a man who wanted the game to end on his terms in Target Score time. He got his wish with a routine layup that was the final dagger to the Sea Bears, who dropped to 4-4 and capped a season-long four-game road trip with a third loss.

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Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Basketball

Tim Austen / Freestyle Photography Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Teddy Allen (left) dribbles with Blackjacks guard William Dubinsky defending during Thursday’s CEBL game in Ottawa.

Allen shines in Sea Bears ‘most complete effort’

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Allen shines in Sea Bears ‘most complete effort’

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Thursday, Jun. 4, 2026

This was vintage Teddy Allen.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears’ star guard has been everything the franchise had hoped for when it agreed to bring him back this season, but it could be argued that Allen — who, albeit, is playing a more team-oriented brand of basketball under head coach Mike Raimbault — hadn’t had one of those prolific offensive performances that first captured the hearts of fans and led to his Most Valuable Player nod in 2023.

Any debate was put to rest on Thursday night, as Allen’s 32-point performance lifted the Sea Bears to a convincing 117-88 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks at The Arena at TD Place in the nation’s capital.

“Teddy was just being Teddy tonight,” said Simon Hildebrandt. “That’s what he does. He scores the ball at such a crazy level. We made an emphasis throughout this week to get him the ball in places where he can be successful, and I think we really showed that tonight.”

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Thursday, Jun. 4, 2026

Basketball

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES The Winnipeg Sea Bears signed fan favourite Trevon Scott (left) on Saturday. The forward will be in the lineup as the club concludes its four-game road trip this week.

‘Knows what it takes to win’: Fan favourite Scott back with the Sea Bears

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

‘Knows what it takes to win’: Fan favourite Scott back with the Sea Bears

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2026

Truth be told, Trevon Scott could take the summer off.

If history is at all telling, he’ll have offers to sign a contract with an NBA affiliate in the G League at some point this summer. He also has nothing to prove in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, where he’s been a steady presence wherever he’s gone.

Despite all that, the 6-8 forward chose to sign a deal to return to the Winnipeg Sea Bears last weekend, reuniting him with the organization for the second straight summer.

“I feel like we could do a lot for each other. I can help win games and bring a championship to Winnipeg, and they can just continue to put me in a position to win,” Scott said after Tuesday’s practice at the Sport for Life Centre. “Me being able to showcase my skills and my maturity and what I’m able to do on the basketball court, it’s a win-win situation for me, and for the Sea Bears.”

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Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2026

Amateur

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Former Bison John Loewen (centre) poses with the current men’s basketball team in a ceremony celebrating his $1 million donation to the program Monday morning at the U of M.

Hoops program receives largest single donation in Bisons sports history

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

Hoops program receives largest single donation in Bisons sports history

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Monday, May. 25, 2026

More than 70 people gathered inside the Investors Group Athletic Centre early Monday to celebrate a monumental day for Manitoba Bisons basketball.

John Loewen, a post player for the Herd from 1968-73, has donated $1 million towards the men’s hoops program to help support key initiatives for the next decade.

After his playing career, Loewen went on to become an MLA and a prominent businessman who founded Payworks.

“My time at the University of Manitoba was very formative in everything that happened afterwards,” Loewen told the Free Press on Monday.

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Monday, May. 25, 2026

Basketball

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Sea Bears guard Teddy Allen (right) passes the ball while River Lions forward Kameron Warrens covers him during first quarter action.

Sea Bears feast on River Lions

Ben Little 5 minute read Preview

Sea Bears feast on River Lions

Ben Little 5 minute read Saturday, May. 23, 2026

It was a magical night at Canada Life Centre — both as the theme night, and for the roaring crowd of 6,700. Fans had much to cheer about as the Sea Bears recorded their third win of the season, downing the Niagara River Lions 97-71.

The club remains unbeaten at home this season.

A three-pointer from Winnipeg’s own Simon Hildebrandt opened the first quarter.

From the tip-off, the Sea Bears’ physicality seemed to overwhelm the defending CEBL champions, earning five steals and holding the River Lions to under 30 per cent shooting from the field in the first quarter.

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Saturday, May. 23, 2026

Basketball

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Nathan Bilamu (left) drives against Niagara River Lions forward Nathan Cayo.

Sea Bears feast on River Lions

Ben Little 4 minute read Preview

Sea Bears feast on River Lions

Ben Little 4 minute read Friday, May. 22, 2026

It was a magical night at Canada Life Centre — both as the theme night, and for the roaring crowd of 6,700. Fans had much to cheer about as the Sea Bears recorded the third win of the season, downing the Niagara River Lions 97-71.

The club remains unbeaten at home so far this season.

From the tip-off, the Sea Bears’ physicality seemed to overwhelm the defending CEBL champions, earning five steals and holding the River Lions to under 30 per cent from the field in the first quarter.

Winnipeg recorded 38 points in the opening frame, shooting 58.3 per cent the field. Teddy Allen’s three first quarter assists led a total of nine for the Sea Bears, who recorded nine points off of turnovers.

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Friday, May. 22, 2026

Basketball

CEBL PHOTO Winnipeg Sea Bears’ Simon Hildebrandt (right) looks to make a pass to teammate Trey McGowens Tuesday. Hildebrandt drained two three-point shots in the contest against the Scarborough Shooting Stars.

Sea Bears look to rebound on home court

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

Sea Bears look to rebound on home court

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2026

The Winnipeg Sea Bears took one on the chin, and now they will try to dust themselves off and find the bounce-back trail for the first time this season.

After dropping a hard-fought 103-101 contest against the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Toronto on Tuesday, the Sea Bears (2-1) will return to the court on Friday to host the two-time reigning Canadian Elite Basketball League champion Niagara River Lions (0-1) at Canada Life Centre (7 p.m.).

The Sea Bears know they were a play or two away from boasting an unblemished record through three games. Instead, they left with a sour taste in their mouth after blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter in Target Score time.

A short memory is imperative.

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Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Basketball

CEBL PHOTO Winnipeg Sea Bears’ Davion Warren (3) has his shot blocked by Scarborough Shooting Stars’ Javan Johnson on Tuesday. Scarborough’s Powell delivered the game-winning basket in Target Score Time for the home club.

Sea Bears fall to Shooting Stars

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

Sea Bears fall to Shooting Stars

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

This was one Shooting Star the Winnipeg Sea Bears would never wish upon.

Riding high off consecutive victories to open the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League campaign, the Sea Bears were stopped in their tracks by a one-man wrecking crew on Tuesday, as Scarborough Shooting Stars’ guard Myles Powell delivered a sensational 41-point effort to hand Winnipeg its first loss of the year in a 103-101 decision at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

Powell’s game-winning bucket was one of nine three-pointers by the former Philadelphia 76er, and it may have been his easiest one to make.

With the Sea Bears leading 101-100 (the Target Score was 102), Powell missed on his first attempt from deep, but the ball found its way back to him following an offensive rebound, and he made no mistake on the open second look.

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Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

Basketball

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Winnipeg Sea Bears point guard Armani Chaney (No. 11) drives to the hoop with the ball while Saskatoon Mamba guard/forward Jamal Fuller covers him during first quarter action on Saturday.

Offensive rebound propels Sea Bears to second straight win

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Offensive rebound propels Sea Bears to second straight win

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Saturday, May. 16, 2026

The Winnipeg Sea Bears were quick to fix their mistakes.

One week after overcoming some early-season offensive woes to eek out a victory, the Sea Bears’ offence took a much more efficient shape in a convincing 108-96 victory over the Saskatoon Mamba before 7,920 fans at Canada Life Centre on Saturday.

It’s the first time since July 23, 2024, that the club eclipsed the century mark, but more importantly, for head coach Mike Raimbault, it was that his team committed just nine turnovers after coughing up the ball 20 times in their season-opener.

“We finished the game with, I think, 20 assists and nine turnovers, so obviously we did a pretty good job of cleaning up some of our offensive decision making,” said Raimbault, whose club fired 50 per cent from the field.

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Saturday, May. 16, 2026

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