After the global pandemic shut down the sports world in March 2020, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) managed to accomplish what no other major sports league in Canada had been able to do—safely return to competition just three months later. One year later, only the NHL and CPL have followed the CEBL’s lead in being able to return to play in Canada. On Saturday, May 29 at 1 p.m. ET, the behind-the-scenes documentary OUR GAME premieres on CBC TV, revealing how the CEBL ushered live sports back to Canada. In addition to the broadcast, OUR GAME will be live streamed via the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca and the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices.
Produced in partnership with Guelph-based video production company Ward 1 Studios, OUR GAME takes an exclusive look into how Canada’s professional basketball league, the CEBL, set up a crucial second season amidst a global pandemic. The feature-length documentary showcases intense story arcs, and compelling never-before-seen footage from the CEBL Summer Series, the single-site league competition that featured 26 games over 15 days beginning in July 2020, one week before the NHL returned to the ice.It will also be available as a three-part series on CBC Gem, as well as the CEBL’s new OTT platform, set to launch in June.
OUR GAME is Directed by Alex Vander Vlugt, who also serves as co-producer and Garrett Smith (of Ward 1 Studios). Ansh Sanyal (Director, Brand & Marketing, CEBL) is also co-producer. The documentary’s official trailer can be found here.
The 2021 CEBL season tips-off on June 24 when the Niagara River Lions travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Ottawa BlackJacks at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the defending CEBL Champion Edmonton Stingers beginning their title defence against the Fraser Valley Bandits, the team they defeated in the 2020 CEBL Championship game. Both games will be live streamed in Canada via CBC Gem and globally on cbcsports.ca.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Linkedin, Facebook & YouTube.
Quotes:
“The CEBL Summer Series was the result of an excruciating amount of hard work from all our league and team staff, volunteers, players, doctors, coaches, broadcast teams, and partners during a very challenging time and we are grateful that Ward1 Studios was there to capture some of these historic moments,” said Mike Morreale, CEO & Commissioner, CEBL. “It’s hard to put into words how important and crucial it was for the CEBL to put on its second season despite a global pandemic, and thankfully this documentary will be a living example of #OurGame and will inspire more basketball in this country at all levels.”
“Our Game was a year in the making from the planning to the filming and editing, and we can’t wait to finally share this incredible story of a homegrown league (CEBL) who laid it all on the line to make sure they didn’t fade away when facing such an enormous challenge,” said Alex Vander Vlugt, co-director, Our Game. “More than that, the players themselves never let up in the face of the pandemic and made tremendous sacrifices last summer. Telling their stories was an absolute privilege, of which Canadians can be proud of.”
“Documenting this experience went beyond capturing game footage from the sidelines. It not only pins a unique time in Canadian sport history, but also demonstrates how quickly basketball is taking centre stage up North,” said Garrett Smith, co-director, Our Game. “We want this film to show Canadians that there is exciting basketball happening in our own backyard and that nothing can stop the explosion of our game.”
