Hibernation is over, and the Winnipeg Sea Bears are so back!
Following a record-breaking inaugural season, the Winnipeg Sea Bears look to make an even bigger splash in their sophomore season. In 2023, the franchise made waves, clinching four out of six major player/coach awards, including Teddy Allen being named Most Valuable Player and Mike Taylor being recognized as Coach of the Year.
The accolades didn't stop there. The Sea Bears were named the 2023 CEBL Franchise of the Year after setting multiple CEBL attendance records at Canada Life Centre, including the single-game record of 10,580 fans.
The excitement continued into this season's home opener on May 24. In front of a sell-out crowd of 9,116 fans—the second-largest attendance ever for a CEBL regular-season game. The night featured a halftime performance by Canadian rapper Classified and a thrilling come-from-behind win against the reigning champs, the Scarborough Shooting Stars. Alex Campbell's bucket secured the victory and marked his 1,002 career point, while Allen's assist reached his 100 in the league. As Teddy Allen told TSN reporter Nikki Reyes in a post-game interview, "The atmosphere was electric."
Exciting News for 2025: Hosting the Finals Weekend
In thrilling news for basketball fans, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) has announced that the Winnipeg Sea Bears will host the 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25).
The event will feature top CEBL teams competing for the championship trophy, an exciting concert lineup, minor basketball events and a variety of engaging activities. Learn more here!
***
For those of you that are new to the CEBL scene, here's what you need to know:
What is a Sea Bear?
The Sea Bear is a fitting moniker for a club playing in the city that has claimed the title of Canada's "True North," not only as a reference to the mighty Polar Bears of Northern Manitoba — whose Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means "Sea Bear." but also as an ode to the Dene people who, for thousands of years, have stewarded Treaty 10 lands with unmatched tenacity, ferocity, and resilience.
Who is the mascot?
Churchill is the official mascot of the Winnipeg Sea Bears. Fans who attended the Sea Bears' inaugural game witnessed our city's newest mascot descend from the rafters at Canada Life Centre to a roaring and record-breaking crowd.
This season, the Winnipeg Sea Bears have teamed up with Travel Manitoba to offer the "See the Bears" in-game contest. Fans can win an all-inclusive trip to see polar bears in Churchill, MB, by scanning an in-game QR code and playing the "Where's Churchill?" picture game on the Jumbotron. The contest runs throughout the summer with one entry opportunity per home game.
In a league of their own
The Winnipeg Sea Bears are part of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), which features ten teams in six provinces, making it Canada's largest professional sports league. The CEBL also boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any Canadian league, with an astounding 71 per cent of its rosters being Canadian.
The CEBL season runs May through August, and players bring experience from national and international markets like the NBA, BBA, the Canadian National team, and NCAA.
New players, new energy!
Headlining the 2024 Sea Bears roster are eight new players, six of whom are Canadian. The new additions include Winnipeggers Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson and rookie Shawn Maranan. Ogungbemi-Jackson returns to Winnipeg from the prestigious VTB United League, where he ranked second in points per game with an impressive 18.9 PPG.
Here are a few of our favourites to look out for this season
First, we have the reigning 2023 CEBL MVP, Teddy Allen, better known as Teddy Buckets, at guard. Allen is a West Virginia product with a knack for getting buckets inside and out. He is currently leading in scoring in the entire CEBL, averaging 40.5 PPG. Allen is one of two players to score 40 points in the CEBL, boasting 3 of the four occurrences. Simply put, Teddy Allen is him!
Next, we have Byron Mullens, a savvy NBA vet with a wealth of experience, having played for NBA teams like the Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Clippers. Mullens is poised to make an immediate impact with his presence in the paint and his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting, adding a new dimension to the Sea Bears' game plan.
Last but by no means least, Winnipeg's very own Simon Hildebrandt or Mr. Manitoba Jr. is a player to watch this season. As the reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year, Hildebrandt has already made a name for himself with his exceptional skills and tenacity on the court. His ability to make clutch plays and his dedication to the game make him a hometown hero and a crucial part of the Sea Bears' lineup.
To learn more about the incredible roster, visit seabears.ca.
What happened to the game clock?
If you've watched a CEBL game after 2021, you've probably noticed the clock shut off in the fourth quarter — don't fret. You see, the CEBL adopted the Elam Ending or Target Score system for their games to ensure optimal excitement at all times.
The clock is turned off after the first play stoppage in the game's final four minutes. The game ends when one team reaches the target score, equal to the leading team's point total plus nine.
The Elam ending helps maintain the normal flow of a game. It eliminates deliberate fouling and rushed possessions by the trailing team or stalling on offence by the leading team — meaning the game is in full throttle when it matters most.
Where do they play?
The Winnipeg Sea Bears share a home with the Winnipeg Jets and play at Canada Life Centre at 300 Portage Ave. Here are some directions , accessibility information, parking and transit information.
Where is the pregame fun?
Nothing excites Winnipeg like summer weather, so the best way to take advantage of that sunshine is to head to the outdoor Plaza at True North Square for the "We Got Next" Tip-Off Parties before most home games.
The Winnipeg Sea Bears have partnered with Hargrave Street Market, Academy Hospitality and Downtown Winnipeg BIZ to help contribute to a vibrant and inclusive downtown. These parties are FREE of charge and feature DJs, local vendors and family-friendly games.
Each event will begin 2.5 hours before tip-off and end half an hour before the scheduled game. You'll want to take advantage of that time because the Sea Bears have partnered with 6 Degrees Photo Booth, who have set up shop on the main concourse loaded with props and instant digital photos. You'll be able to spot them as they'll have a lineup of people waiting to get their custom gif or photograph taken. These booths are fun for fans of all ages.
Where can I watch Sea Bears games live?
If you can't make it to Canada Life Centre, don't stress. TSN is the official broadcast partner of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), meaning all 107 CEBL games will be broadcasted on TSN's all-new direct-to-consumer streaming platform, TSN+. Not only that, TSN will broadcast 14 CEBL games, including four Winnipeg Sea Bears games, the next one being an away game against their Western rivals, the Vancouver Bandits, on June 13 at 8 p.m. ET.
The league also offers free streaming of all CEBL games, bonus highlights, and behind-the-scenes content on their streaming service, CEBL+. You can sign up for CEBL+ here.
For the full schedule of games and ticket availability, head to seabears.ca.
Where can I buy merch?
A new team means new swag for Winnipeggers! Right now, you can don the Sea Bears colours by visiting the Sea Bears Shop Online or one of the following local spots: CNTRBND (Located in True North Square, 223 Carlton St #110) and Two Rivers at The Forks Trading Company (Main floor, 1 Forks Market Road).
