Expansion remains top of mind for Canadian Elite Basketball League

Perhaps no one is more confident in the present and future of the Canadian Elite Basketball League than its commissioner and CEO Mike Morreale.

Four seasons in with 10 teams, there is increasing curiosity in the current health of the league and the timeline to bring on more expansion franchises.

Morreale accepts that those questions come with the territory for a league continuing to push for global recognition in the basketball landscape.

"We are now the largest professional league in Canada, so I expect us to have more attention and with that comes more - I'm not going to say stress - but more pressure to make sure we're doing things right," said Morreale ahead of the CEBL's Championship Weekend in Ottawa.

"But that's okay. That's what we wanted from the get-go. The goal was not to be a six-team league that just scooted by. This is to be a major league and we want to be one of the top five FIBA leagues in the entire world. You only get there by growing and becoming better and better every year."

The Hamilton Honey Badgers, Niagara River Lions, host Ottawa BlackJacks and the expansion Scarborough Shooting Stars will vie for the league title from Aug. 12-14.

Following a season of increased parity and talent on the court, Morreale says there is a tremendous amount of excitement as the league prepares to crown a champion from Ontario for the first time.

"Especially coming off back-to-back COVID years and this really being one of the first sports to set the tone for a return to sport from a fan perspective, we didn't know exactly what to expect," said Morreale.

"We knew there would be some pent up energy. We also knew there'd be some COVID hangover. I think we've exceeded our goals in terms of attendance and viewership and