As the Ottawa BlackJacks' season came to an end on August 6 in Brampton, ON, it was a season of reflection, new beginnings and most importantly, great hoops. The Ottawa BlackJacks lost in the Eastern Conference semi-finals to the Brampton Honey Badgers, a team they had yet to beat all season. In a game that came down to the last possession, the BlackJacks just couldn’t rebound before Matthew Moncrieffe did, and just like that, the BlackJacks' season was over. But the season came with a lot of positives, both on the court and in the stands. This year’s BlackJacks squad broke multiple franchise records, including points for Javonte Smart, blocks for Alex Fudge and the first time in franchise history that two players have scored 35 points or over. For Smart, breaking records just seems to be a part of his role in Ottawa. In his second season with the team, he averaged 23.8 points per game, 3.6 three-point shots per game and 6.9 assists per game. Last season, he became the franchise-record holder for points in a single game, and this season he overtook Tyrell Tate for second in total points. By the end of the regular season, he finished 15 points shy of first place with a total of 951 points, just behind current franchise leader Deng Adel, who has 966. A new face for Ottawa and a new record for blocks came with Alex Fudge. The Sioux Falls Skyforce forward came to Ottawa with what seemed like springs in his shoes. He averaged 5.8 rebounds per game along with 1.7 blocks per game. He will now go back to South Dakota knowing he led the league in blocks with a total of 40 on the season. He also officially passed Zane Waterman as the record holder for blocks, and held the franchise record for a portion of the season. He was eventually surpassed by fellow big man Christian Rohlehr. This was Rohlehr’s second season with the BlackJacks and fourth in the CEBL. He previously played for the Montreal Alliance for two seasons before heading closer to his hometown of Toronto. In his first season with the BlackJacks, he finished with a total of 13 blocks. In the 2026 season, he doubled that stat, finishing with a total of 31, and now holds the franchise record for blocks with 44. He became an important part of Ottawa’s game down low, averaging 2.3 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks. He did this while averaging just 8.6 minutes per game. Another dominance in the paint came midway through the season with the return of third-year veteran Isaih Moore. In just 12 games played with the team this season, he was able to rack up 197 points, 110 rebounds and six double-doubles. He calls Ottawa his second home, and he sure plays like it. In his third season with Ottawa, he became the team’s record holder for rebounds with 419, surpassing Deng Adel, who previously held the record with 356. Moore also added to his previous franchise record of total double-double games, and is now sitting at 22 career double-doubles with the Ottawa BlackJacks. He can sit comfortably knowing he’ll hold onto this accolade for a while, as runner-up Javonte Smart sits at seven. What could be called the BlackJacks' biggest win of the season was their game against the Vancouver Bandits on June 2. Justin Harmon and Matthew Cleveland both cemented themselves in BlackJacks history that night, being the first duo to both score 35 points or over. The G League players from the Salt Lake City Stars officially dubbed themselves the Salt Lake City BlackJacks after that historic night. Harmon became an important piece of the BlackJacks puzzle and finished the season averaging 12.6 points, 2.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. He also became quite a character on the bench and was known by fans for his animated celebrations. Cleveland could be called the final piece of the BlackJacks puzzle. The 23-year-old Salt Lake City Star player lit up the Ottawa frontcourt, averaging 21.2 points, 3.1 assists and seven rebounds per game. He also cemented himself in BlackJacks history and is now second in points per game, just behind Javonte Smart. “He’s a menace in a good way,” said Head Coach Justin Mazzulla in his final interview in Brampton. “He’s just a specimen in transition.” Cleveland also got engaged while in Ottawa, so this city will always mean something special to him besides basketball. In his fifth season with the BlackJacks and seventh in the CEBL, Tyrell Tate was able to help out his teammates and prove himself as a veteran leader. A fan-favourite, he averaged 6.3 points per game in his 12 games played due to a rib injury in mid-season. Tate continues to lead the franchise in games played with a total of 85 and 3-point shots made with 146 after this season. Three Ontario-grown stars were able to make their mark on the Ottawa BlackJacks this season as well. Wilson Dubinsky from Ottawa, ON, Kobe Elvis from Brampton, ON, and Marko Maletic from London, ON all consistently contributed to the BlackJacks when it came to points on the board. Dubinsky averaged 4.2 points per game in his professional debut. He also signed his first professional contract in his hometown coming out of Marshall University, which was really meaningful to him. Elvis and Maletic averaged 6.4 and 5.4 points per game, and started 11 and seven games each. The 25-year-olds spent last season playing overseas, but got to come back to play in Canada for their summer. Another Canadian local from across the bridge in Gatineau that made an impact, especially in their Eastern Conference semi-finals, was Justin Ndjock-Tadjore. The University of Ottawa alum averaged four points and 2.7 rebounds per game. His best game came when it was needed in their conference semi-finals match against Brampton, when he had 17 points and eight rebounds. He was personally mentioned in the CEBL’s profile on coach Mazzulla as someone coach saw potential in and wanted to help grow his game. Coach Mazzulla was also a record-breaking coach. The 27-year-old was the youngest head coach in CEBL history. But when it comes to his accolades and the successes he had this season, he credits the staff he had to support him. “There's countless learning lessons, but I think most importantly, relationships and the people that you surround yourself with are super important, and here at Ottawa, we're surrounded by such great people,” said Mazzulla.

The Ottawa BlackJacks clinched the playoffs in a game (and season) that came down to the wire. In their final game of the regular season out in Edmonton, it was simple. Win or go home. The BlackJacks came out strong, creating a deficit of as many as 10 points heading into the halftime break. Javonte Smart was leading the offence, in typical fashion, heading into the quarter break with 18 points. “He’s our engine; he brings energy on both sides of the basketball,” said Head Coach Justin Mazzulla at the halftime sideline interview with reporter Sarah Ryan. Smart finished with his fifth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 assists. Coming out of the halftime break, the BlackJacks certainly revved their engine, turning the deficit against Edmonton into as many as 18 points. But when it came to Target Score Time, the BlackJacks seemed to coast a little bit, and the Stingers were able to tie it up, despite the BlackJacks going into Target Score Time with a 10-point lead. The Target Score was 96, and they were back to square one, tied at 87. The Stingers were looking to end the BlackJacks' season, but Ottawa knew they could make it to the finish line. Sitting at 94 points for a couple more possessions than they probably would’ve liked, the BlackJacks couldn’t seem to get anything to fall. But then here comes Isaih Moore with a layup to take the win against his former team, and bring his current team straight to the playoffs. The BlackJacks will now head to Brampton for the first round of playoffs, Thursday at 7 p.m. A win there means they’d have the possibility of hosting an Eastern finals game. But first, they have to tackle a monster they have yet to slay this season. “It’s tough to beat a team [five] times, and so we’re gonna just give them our best shot,” said Mazzulla. The BlackJacks faced the Brampton Honey Badgers four times in the regular season, and Brampton took every one of those games. So now, with an Eastern Conference finals spot on the line, the BlackJacks look to do what they haven’t been able to do all season long. But first, it’s important to reflect on what the BlackJacks overcame to make the playoffs. Coming off a five-game losing streak before facing Edmonton, and another five-game losing streak previously in the season, the BlackJacks now sit in third in the Eastern Conference. The wins that mattered really mattered because when it came down to differentials between the Niagara River Lions and the Montreal Alliance, the BlackJacks were able to take that win, despite all three teams sitting at a 10-14 record. “Quite the journey,” said Mazzulla. “We were faced with a lot of ups and downs, more downs on the back stretch.” “I didn't want the guys to experience six losses in a row,” continued Mazzulla. Mazzulla credits the final playoff push to the togetherness and the care that the team has for each other. If the BlackJacks beat Brampton, they will face either the number-one-seeded Scarborough Shooting Stars or the number-four-seeded Niagara River Lions, depending on who wins that Thursday night game in Scarborough. And if the River Lions can somehow upset the currently 19-4 Shooting Stars, they would travel to Ottawa, and the BlackJacks would host their second playoff game, Saturday at 1 p.m. Join us on social media Instagram: ottawablackjacks X: Ott_BlackJacks Facebook: OttawaBlackJacks TikTok: ottawablackjacks For further information, please contact: Alex Forbes Brand and Creative Manager Ottawa BlackJacks Professional Basketball Club aforbes@theblackjacks.ca

The Ottawa BlackJacks head on the road to Winnipeg as they get ready to play their second last game of the regular season. Currently placed in fifth in the Eastern Conference and in a tight race to clinch the playoffs, a win tonight for the BlackJacks is crucial for moving up into a playoff spot. Seeding would be dependent on the Niagara River Lions game against the Calgary Surge. The Smart vs Allen battle Javonte Smart will be the key to winning tonight’s game. He’s set to face the current league leader for points in a single game, points per game and total points this season, Teddy Allen. The battle for top-scorer in the league has been a consistent battle between Smart, Allen and Niagara’s Khalil Ahmed. The same names could be mentioned in the race for CEBL MVP. Allen and Ahmed already have that trophy in their case, so the battle for Smart’s first piece of recognition from the league won’t be easily fought. Smart is currently second in the league for total points this season with 476, just under Allen, who has 644. Where Smart outshines Allen is beyond the arc. Smart is currently third in the league for total three-point shots on the season with 72, compared to Allen climbing to overtake him with 70. But Smart easily wins the consistency battle from deep, sitting in fourth place in the league at 3.6 three-pointers per game, compared to Allen’s 3.2 in eighth place. If Smart can stay consistent in Winnipeg from the outside perimeter, the BlackJacks have a good chance of shutting Allen down. The block party Another place where the BlackJacks shine is at the rim. Alex Fudge and Christian Rohlehr are high on the scale of blocks per game, averaging 1.7 and 1.5 per game, making them third and fifth in the league. But just behind them on the list is Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. for the Sea Bears. The third-year veteran is currently seventh in the league for total blocks per game with 1.3. But when it comes to total blocks, the battle is a hard-fought one. Fudge has held on to the number-one spot since early in the season and now has a total of 36 blocks on the season. Shortly behind him is Tilmon Jr. with 29 blocks on the season. Rohlehr counts in shortly behind the two of them, with 25 total. Since the BlackJacks have struggled to find their defensive rebounding guy for the entire season, they have started to depend on guys like Fudge and Rohlehr for their rim protection from blocks, rather than rebounds. Once they smack it out, a BlackJack is usually there to retrieve it and force a turnover. This late in the season, they’ll want to continue with the game plan they’ve been executing, so they’ll most likely be continuing to trade d-boards for blocks. The BlackJacks clean-up crew One place where the BlackJacks could take advantage of the Sea Bears is their tendency to play messy basketball. The team is currently averaging 12.9 turnovers per game, and Allen leads the league in total turnovers with 70. They are also averaging 18.7 team fouls per game, and Tilmon Jr. is third in the league for total fouls with 69. If the BlackJacks can bring the mop and bucket and clean up the mess the Sea Bears make, that will be an important step to their western road trip win. The BlackJacks are currently last in the league for steals per game, only averaging 6.2. This could be the next step they’d need to bring their game to the next level and look playoff-ready. The steal game will most likely be led by Smart and Justin Harmon, who are averaging 1.2 and 1.1 steals per game. They’ll be facing Xavier Moon from the Sea Bears, who is currently second in the league for steals per game, averaging two. The race for a playoff spot continues in the West Once the BlackJacks are done in Manitoba, they head deeper into Western Canada to face the Edmonton Stingers on Sunday night. This will be their last game of the season. If the BlackJacks fall to Winnipeg, the playoff dream will not be lost. They can take a win against Edmonton and clinch a fourth-place spot (If Niagara beats Calgary). The Stingers are currently fourth in the Western Conference, also having a 9-13 record on the season. They are sitting comfortably in a playoff spot, though, as Calgary is guaranteed not to clinch. The Western Conference playoff push was rather uneventful, but the competition out there is still no joke.