The Winnipeg Sea Bears won their first Canadian Elite Basketball League championship by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 [1].
The victory marks a historic milestone for the franchise, establishing the team as a dominant force in Canadian professional basketball. It also validates the city of Winnipeg as a viable hub for championship-level sports.
The championship game took place Saturday evening, Aug. 14, 2026 [2], at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba [3]. The Sea Bears secured the title by outscoring the Honey Badgers in a winner-take-all final [4].
The final score of 98-84 [1] cemented the result for the home crowd. This win represents the first championship in the history of the Sea Bears franchise [5].
Player Simon Hildebrandt played a key role in the victory [6]. The team's performance throughout the game allowed them to maintain a lead over Brampton, eventually securing the trophy on their home court [3].
The CEBL final served as the culmination of the season's competitive push. By winning the one-game final, the Sea Bears have shifted the landscape of the league by bringing the title to Manitoba [4].
“The Winnipeg Sea Bears won their first Canadian Elite Basketball League championship”
The Sea Bears' first title signals a shift in the CEBL's power dynamics, proving that a franchise based in the Prairies can compete with and defeat established teams from Ontario. By winning at the Canada Life Centre, the team has strengthened the local appetite for professional basketball in Manitoba.
