Saskatchewan Rattlers
Saskatchewan Rattlers logo
LeaguesCEBL
Founded2018
HistorySaskatchewan Rattlers
(2018–present)
ArenaSaskTel Centre
LocationSaskatoon, Saskatchewan
Team colours     
General managerBarry Rawlyk
Head coachTanner Massey (interim)
Championships1 (2019)
Websitetherattlers.ca

The Saskatchewan Rattlers are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, that competes in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). They play their home games at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon.

History

In May, 2018 the fledgling Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced that Saskatoon would be home to one of six charter franchises when the league began play in 2019.[1] This would bring professional basketball back to the province of Saskatchewan for the first time since 2001, when the Saskatchewan Hawks of the International Basketball Association folded. In July, 2018, the new team announced that it would be called the Saskatchewan Rattlers, named after the prairie rattlesnake.[2][3] Lee Genier, who helped bring the Saskatchewan Rush to Saskatoon in 2016, was named team president.[4] The team's first coach and general manager was Greg Jockims, a former coach of the Saskatchewan Huskies.[5]

Early success

Ahead of their inaugural season, the Rattlers purchased a hardwood court from the Toronto Raptors and installed it at their home in the SaskTel Centre, along with shot clocks and net stands.[6] Genier said the team purchased the floor due to its "storied history."[7] The CEBL announced in May 2019, that the Rattlers would host the league's first Championship Weekend that August, which guaranteed the Rattlers a birth in the playoffs.[8]

The Rattlers hosted the CEBL's first ever game on 9 May 2019. They lost to the Niagara River Lions by a score of 99–97, missing a last second three-point attempt to steal the win.[9] Despite the initial setback, the first season was a successful one for the Rattlers, on and off the court. Saskatchewan led the league in season ticket sales and attendance.[10] The team entered the Championship Weekend with a 11–9 record, good for 3rd place in the league. They beat the Edmonton Stingers in the semi-final, 85–83, and then the Hamilton Honey Badgers 94–83 in the final to capture the league's first championship.[11] It was only the second professional basketball title for a team in Saskatchewan, after the Saskatoon Slam's National Basketball League title in 1993.[12] Team captain Alex Campbell was named Most-Valuable-Player of the 2019 playoffs, while the championship final marked the final game of local Michael Linklater's career; the veteran, who had helped lead the Huskies to a national U Sports basketball title in 2010 alongside Jockims, announced his retirement.[5]

After the season, Jockims announced that he was stepping down from his roles as head coach and manager, but would stay with the organization as an advisor.[13] In January 2020, the team hired Huskies coach Barry Rawlyk as its new general manager.[14] Rawlyk then promoted assistant Chad Jacobson, with whom he had worked with the Huskies, to head coach.[15]

Post-championship struggles

The CEBL's second season was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was ultimately played as a 6-game round-robin tournament in St. Catharines, Ontario; the Rattlers finished in last place with a 1–5 record, eliminated from contention with a loss to the expansion Ottawa BlackJacks.[16] The Rattlers were able to return to hosting games in Saskatoon during a shortened 14-game 2021 season.[17] However, public health restrictions meant the team played without fans until 12 July, when a change in restrictions enabled a return of fans.[18] The team continued to struggle on the court, again winning just once during the season and missing the playoffs for a second straight year.[19] In the midst of the losing season, Jacobson resigned as coach, and the team named assistant Conor Dow the interim head coach.[20]

In January 2022, the Rattlers signed veteran NBA assistant Dean Demopoulos as its new head coach.[21] The team's play improved in the 2022 season, the league's first full season since 2019, as the Rattlers finished with a 11–9 record, securing home court for a playoff match-up with the two-time defending champion Stingers. Saskatchewan defeated Edmonton 94–91, led by 20 points from Tony Carr, to advance.[22] The Rattlers were then eliminated by the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the quarter-finals despite a triple-double from Carr.[23]

The Rattlers face the Vancouver Bandits at SaskTel Centre during the 2023 season

The Rattlers struggled through the first half of the 2023 season, and after losing 7 games in a 9-game stretch, the team fired Demopoulos on 6 July. Assistant Tanner Massey took over the head coach position on an interim basis.[24] The team had a 4–3 record under Massey, but were eliminated from playoff contention with a 92–89 loss in their final regular season game against the Calgary Surge.[25]

Roster

Current roster

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

Saskatchewan Rattlers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
G 1 Canada Nuga, Mike 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 26 – (1997-12-27)27 December 1997
F 9 United States Collins, Marquise 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 26 – (1998-01-01)1 January 1998
F 11 United States Benlevi, Malik Injured 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 26 – (1997-03-20)20 March 1997
G 21 Canada Simon, Isaac 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 19 – (2004-04-20)20 April 2004
G — Canada Bandoo, Devonté 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 27 – (1996-09-12)12 September 1996
Head coach
  • Canada Tanner Massey (interim)
Assistant coach(es)
  • Canada Eric Magdanz
  • Canada Rob Lovelace
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (P) Practice
  • (U) Current U Sports Athlete
  • Injured Injured
Updated: December 27, 2023

Notable players

Honours

Champions (1): 2019

Season-by-season record

= Indicates League Championship
LeagueSeasonCoachRegular seasonPost season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
CEBL 2019Greg Jockims119.5503rd201.000Won CEBL Championship
2020Chad Jacobson15.1677thDid not qualify
2021Chad Jacobson/Conner Dow113.0717thDid not qualify
2022Dean Demopoulos119.5505th11.500Lost quarter-finals
2023Dean Demopoulos/Tanner Massey812.4005th WestDid not qualify
Totals3248.400—31.750

Community involvement

In 2023, the Rattlers announced that they would be replacing the netting at basketball courts across Saskatoon throughout the summer.[26]

References

  1. ↑ Kessler, Ryan (2018-05-02). "Saskatoon joins new Canadian Elite Basketball League". Global News. Archived from the original on 2018-07-03. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  2. ↑ Piller, Thomas (2018-07-03). "Saskatoon's professional basketball team named Saskatchewan Rattlers". Global News. Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  3. ↑ "Saskatchewan Rattlers Introduced as Founding Member of Canadian Elite Basketball League". Saskatchewan Rattlers. 2018-07-03. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  4. ↑ Reid, Glenn (2019-05-09). "Sask.'s latest entry into the world of pro hoops and why this one should succeed where others have failed". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  5. 1 2 Heroux, Devin (2019-08-25). "Saskatchewan Rattlers complete storybook ending with 1st-ever CEBL Championship". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on 2019-08-26. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  6. ↑ Larson, Scott (2019-06-05). "Rattlers hope Raptors' old floor still has some wins in it for home team". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-07-20 – via Saskatchewan Rattlers.
  7. ↑ Bosker, Brent (2019-05-08). "Saskatchewan Rattlers show off new court ahead of inaugural game". CKOM. Archived from the original on 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  8. ↑ "Saskatchewan Rattlers to host CEBL's first championship weekend in August". CBC News. 2019-05-21. Archived from the original on 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  9. ↑ Giles, David (2019-05-10). "Saskatchewan Rattlers come up short against Niagara River Lions". Global News. Archived from the original on 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  10. ↑ Giles, David; Bidwell, Derek (2019-12-26). "Saskatchewan Rattlers look to build on successful first season". Global News. Archived from the original on 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  11. ↑ Piller, Thomas (2019-08-26). "Saskatchewan Rattlers capture 1st CEBL championship". Global News. Archived from the original on 2019-08-26. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  12. ↑ Mitchell, Kevin (2018-05-03). "City sports checkered pro basketball history". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-07-20 – via pressreader.
  13. ↑ Mitchell, Kevin (2019-11-05). "'Hard to step away': Rattlers seek new coach, GM after Jockims resigns". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  14. ↑ "Rattlers will have new GM in quest to repeat as CEBL champions". CBC News. 2020-01-10. Archived from the original on 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  15. ↑ Zary, Darren (2020-01-29). "Chad Jacobson is new head coach of CEBL's Saskatchewan Rattlers". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  16. ↑ "Expansion BlackJacks eliminate defending champion Rattlers in blowout victory". CBC Sports. 2020-08-05. Archived from the original on 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  17. ↑ Flaherty, Ryan (2021-06-10). "Saskatchewan Rattlers happy to be back home for 2021 CEBL season". Global News. Archived from the original on 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  18. ↑ Atter, Heidi (2021-07-13). "Rattlers first Sask. professional sports team to welcome fans back after COVID-19 restrictions lift". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  19. ↑ "Fraser Valley rallies late to defeat Saskatchewan, head into playoffs on high note". CBC Sports. 2021-08-10. Archived from the original on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  20. ↑ "Saskatchewan Rattlers head coach steps down, interim coach named". CTV News. 2021-07-09. Archived from the original on 2021-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  21. ↑ "CEBL's Rattlers hire former NBA assistant Demopoulos as head coach". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. 2022-01-19. Archived from the original on 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  22. ↑ Sumner, Rory (2022-08-05). "Rattlers eliminate 2-time defending CEBL champion Stingers, advance to quarter-finals". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  23. ↑ Lammerding, Jaime (2022-08-07). "Rattlers knocked out of CEBL playoffs by Shooting Stars". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  24. ↑ Roblin, Scott (2023-07-06). "Sask. Rattlers make mid-season coaching change, move on from Demopoulos". Global News. Archived from the original on 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  25. ↑ Zary, Darren (2023-07-29). "Season-ender: Surge three-pointer puts an end to Rattlers' playoff hopes". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  26. ↑ "Saskatchewan Rattlers sprucing up basketball courts across Saskatoon". CKOM. 2023-06-20. Archived from the original on 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
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