CEBL announces new playoff format
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The CEBL is introducing a new playoff format this season.
They’ve scrapped their annual single-site Championship Weekend — which saw the host guaranteed a spot in the final four — and replaced it with single-elimination conference semifinals (Aug. 6) with the top four teams in the East and West qualifying. The conference final (Aug. 8) will also be a single elimination, and the higher seed will host each round. The CEBL Finals will now be decided in a best-of-three series (Aug. 12-16).
The lower seed will host Game 1 and the higher seed will host Games 2 and 3 (if necessary).
BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES
The Canadian Elite Basketball League announced a new playoff format along with the 2026 season schedule Thursday. The Winnipeg Sea Bears hosted the 2025 Championship Weekend last August.
“These historic changes to our playoff format represent a major milestone for the CEBL and our fans, and they mark a natural progression as the league continues to grow and evolve,” said CEBL President Tyler Mazereeuw in a statement.
“Our focus remains on delivering the best possible experience for our teams, players, and fans, and this is another step forward in fulfilling that mission.”
The entire 2026 season schedule was released Thursday. The Winnipeg Sea Bears will open the 24-game campaign on the road on May 9 against the Edmonton Stingers. Winnipeg will tip off at home for the first time on May 16 when they host the Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club (formerly known as the Rattlers). The Sea Bears are scheduled to play half of their home games in July.
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Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
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Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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