The Canadian Elite Basketball League has reverted to a single-game championship following the cancellation of the best-of-three final between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and the Brampton Honey Badgers due to unsafe playing conditions caused by court condensation. The decision was made swiftly after the game was halted, with the safety of players, officials, and fans being the top priority for the league.
Initially, Brampton took an early 6-0 lead before Winnipeg caught up. The game came to a stop when Sea Bears’ Xavier Moon slipped on the court, leading to the cancellation of the match. The one-game championship final will now take place in Winnipeg on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on CBC-TV, CBCSports.ca, and CBC Gem.
The league explained that due to the inability to complete the best-of-three series within the set timeframe, a single-game championship was deemed the most fair and practical approach to crown a champion, returning to the format used in previous years. Honey Badgers CEO Al Whitley expressed regret over the cancellation of the game.
While Brampton had won the first two encounters of the season against Winnipeg, the Sea Bears demonstrated an impressive playoff run, securing a spot in the finals. The Sea Bears defeated the Saskatoon Mamba and then shocked the Vancouver Bandits in the West final. On the other hand, the Honey Badgers triumphed over the Ottawa BlackJacks and the Niagara River Lions to advance to the championship.
The championship final not only promises an exciting on-court battle but also features an intriguing off-court narrative, with both teams being owned by siblings – David Asper owning the Sea Bears and Leonard Asper leading the Honey Badgers. The upcoming showdown will determine the 2026 CEBL champion, showcasing the competitive spirit and determination of both teams.