Ottawa BlackJacks
Ottawa BlackJacks logo
LeaguesCEBL
Founded2019
HistoryOttawa Blackjacks
(2019–present)
ArenaTD Place Arena
Capacity~9,500 (10,585)
LocationOttawa, Ontario
Team coloursBlack, Grey, Red
     
Vice-president(s)Carrie McKay
General managerJevohn Shepherd
Head coachJames Derouin
Websitetheblackjacks.ca

The Ottawa BlackJacks are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Ottawa, Ontario.[1] The BlackJacks compete in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). They play their home games at TD Place Arena, an arena shared with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League.

Background

The BlackJacks are the second professional basketball team in Ottawa, the Ottawa Skyhawks played at Canadian Tire Centre in 2012 to 2014.

Team history

2020 Season

Dave Smart was named the inaugural General Manager of the Blackjacks on December 18, 2019.[2]

2021 Season

On July 17, the BlackJacks signed former CEBL champion and NBA G-Leaguer Negus Webster-Chan after he was released by the Saskatchewan Rattlers.[3] On July 19, guard Johnny Berhanemeskel was inactivated due to his contractual obligations with the French team Chorale Roanne Basket. On July 23, the BlackJacks signed three new players, Jadon Cohee, Mamadou Gueye, and Antonio Williams. Additionally, forward Eric Kibi was released after appearing in only one game.[4] On July 27, the BlackJacks secured a playoff spot for the second straight season with an 82-69 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers.[5] In August, the BlackJacks signed former Saskatchewan Rattler center Chad Posthumus. In the playoffs, the Blackjacks upset the 3rd seeded Hamilton Honey Badgers 96-94 in the quarter-finals. However, they went on to lose to the eventual champion Edmonton Stingers in the semi-finals for the second straight year.[6]

2022 Season

In August 2021, the BlackJacks announced Jevohn Shepherd had signed a contract extension to return as the general manager.[7] In November, they announced that Charles Dubé-Brais would also return as head coach.[8] On February 16, 2022, they re-signed Chad Posthumus, who had previously joined the Edmonton Stingers for the 2021–22 BCL Americas.[9] After a disappointing 0-3 start to the season, the team parted ways with Head Coach Charles Dubé-Brais.[10] Ottawa Gee-Gees Men's Basketball Head Coach and BlackJacks Director of Basketball Strategy and Analytics James Derouin was appointed Interim Head Coach and lead the team to five wins in its last six games.

2023 Season

Prior to the beginning of the season, the BlackJacks announced James Derouin would remain Head Coach of the team, removing the Interim title from his position.[11] During the 2023 CEBL–U Sports Draft, Ottawa selected UBC Thunderbird Sukhman Sandhu and University of Ottawa star Guillaume Pepin.[12] Former Washington State Cougars sharpshooter Michael Flowers and Toronto Raptors Summer League team member Abu Kigab were among the new signings joining the team.[13][14] On July 15, in the midst of an 8-game win streak, the BlackJacks clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot with a victory on the road against the Scarborough Shooting Stars.[15] After finishing the regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, the BlackJacks were eliminated from the playoffs by the Shooting Stars in the Conference Semi-Final.[16]

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Ottawa Blackjacks roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
F 14 Canada Boursiquot, Maxime 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 211 lb (96 kg) 26 – (1997-06-14)14 June 1997
G/F 16 Canada Syllas, Cole (U) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 23 – (2000-08-02)2 August 2000
G 17 Canada Tate, Tyrrel 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 31 – (1992-02-12)12 February 1992
G 22 Canada Stajic, Dragan (U) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 23 – (2000-12-12)12 December 2000
Head coach
  • Canada James Derouin
Assistant coach(es)
  • Canada Jamil Abiad
  • Canada Damian Buckley
  • Canada David DeAveiro
  • Canada Mike L'Africain
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Inactive
  • (U) Current U Sports Athlete
  • Injured Injured
Updated: October 30, 2023

Notable players

Season-by-season record

LeagueSeasonCoachRegular seasonPost season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
CEBL
2020Osvaldo Jeanty33.5004th11.500Lost semi-finals
2021Charles Dubé-Brais410.2866th11.500Lost semi-finals
2022James Derouin812.4008th01.000Lost semi-finals
2023James Derouin128.6002nd East01.000Lost Quarter-finals
Totals2633.441—24.333

References

  1. ↑ Ottawa Blackjacks to leap into action next spring CBC News, November 20, 2019
  2. ↑ "Ottawa Blackjacks Name Dave Smart General Manager". Ottawa Blackjacks. December 18, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Former CEBL Champion Negus Webster-Chan". Ottawa Blackjacks. July 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Ottawa BlackJacks Add Three New Players to its Roster". Ottawa Blackjacks. July 23, 2021.
  5. ↑ "BlackJacks Secure Playoff Berth With Win over Rattlers". Ottawa Blackjacks. July 27, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Stingers Steal The Win Over Ottawa, Return to CEBL Title Game". Ottawa Blackjacks. August 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Jevohn Shepherd to Return as Ottawa BlackJacks General Manager for the 2022 Season". Ottawa Blackjacks. August 20, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Charles Dubé-Brais Returns as Ottawa BlackJacks Head Coach". Ottawa Blackjacks. November 22, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Ottawa BlackJacks Re-Sign Canadian Forward Chad Posthumus". Ottawa Blackjacks. February 16, 2022.
  10. ↑ "CityNews". ottawa.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  11. ↑ "James Derouin to Remain as Ottawa BlackJacks Head Coach". www.theblackjacks.ca. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  12. ↑ "Ottawa BlackJacks Announce 2023 CEBL U SPORTS Draft Picks". www.theblackjacks.ca. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  13. ↑ "Ottawa BlackJacks Sign American Guard Michael Flowers". www.cebl.ca. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  14. ↑ "Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Canadian Forward Abu Kigab". www.theblackjacks.ca. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  15. ↑ "BlackJacks clinch playoff berth withwin over Shooting Stars". www.cebl.ca. 2023-07-15. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  16. ↑ "Shooting Stars head back to Championship Weekend after 77-72 comeback over BlackJacks". www.cebl.ca. 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-08-07.


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