RECENT NEWS
By Farrah Philpot
•
June 13, 2026
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the team has signed Kobe Elvis for the 2026 Season. The 6’2 guard originally from London, ON will join the BlackJacks after playing five seasons in the NCAA and most recently competing with the Olomoucko Prostejov in the Czech National Basketball League. In the 2025-26 season with the Olomoucko Prostejov, and his first professional season, he averaged 17 points and 3.7 rebounds. Throughout his college career, Elvis played at three schools in the NCAA Division I. His last season, in the 2024-25 season with Oklahoma, he averaged 7.7 points and two rebounds. He began his college career at DePaul University during the 2020-21 season. There, he averaged 5.2 points and two assists per game. The majority of his college career was spent at the University of Dayton in Ohio. Across his five years in the NCAA he averaged eight points and 2.8 assists. In the 2023-24 season with the University of Dayton, Elvis received two Atlantic 10 Player of the Week Awards. Elvis has previous CEBL experience, last year playing with the Scarborough Shooting Stars. There, he averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 assists per game. Born on March 16, 2001, the 25 year old played his high school years at Bill Crothers Secondary, in Unionville, ON. During his high school playing career he participated in the All Canadian Games and the Canadian Showcase. Single-game tickets are currently available to purchase by visiting theblackjacks.ca/tickets . BlackJacks 2026 season-seat memberships are available now. For additional details, fans are encouraged to email ticketing@theblackjacks.ca or call 613-294-1133.
By Farrah Philpot
•
June 3, 2026
The Ottawa BlackJacks just beat the number-one seeded team in the Western Conference, and made history in the process. The 114-105 win over the Vancouver Bandits was dominated by G-League stars Justin Harmon and Matthew Cleveland. Harmon finished the game with 36 points, and Cleveland finished with 35. This is the first game in BlackJacks history where two players have finished with 35 points or over. “It's history. Harmon's a great player,” said Cleveland about his dual teammate. “[They] did a great job of opening up the floor for us.” Harmon and Cleveland both come from the Salt Lake City Stars, the G-League affiliate of the Utah Jazz. “Salt Lake City BlackJacks,” dubbed Harmon as his new name for the duo. Their experience playing with each other and their personal connection could be a big reason that the energy was so high on the bench. “I ain't never had another person score 30 with me. So it was just super fun,” continued Harmon. “It felt like we were just trading baskets out there.” When asked about what the historic moment meant to him on a personal level, Harmon responded, “Everybody dreams of scoring 30 points.” Head Coach Justin Mazzulla confirmed that a big reason for the BlackJacks dominant win was the chemistry radiating from the Salt Lake duo. “They want to see each other win,” said Mazzulla. “That locker room is really tight-knit right now, and that's what's clicking.” Another bright spot joining the team was Drew Cisse, a center who played his first game at home tonight. After a dominant game in Montreal on Sunday, he was here to show BlackJacks fans what he can do on home court. “I just want to keep building and keep going and winning with everybody,” said Cisse about his next steps to finding his place on the BlackJacks team. One place where the BlackJacks have struggled in the past, was the rebounding game, and Cisse is proving to be the solution they’ve been looking for. With eight boards on the night, and nine on the road on Sunday he’s looking to continue to fill this gap. “I feel like that's the key to win. That’s a big recipe for us. And if I do that at a consistent level, I think we can win consistently,” said Cisse.
By Farrah Philpot
•
June 2, 2026
On Tues., June 2 , the Ottawa BlackJacks will host a Women in Sports night , celebrating all the women behind-the-scenes, that allow the BlackJacks to be successful. A big part of that is Jessica Zarowny, the Operations Executive of Community and Basketball. Zarowny has been with the team for three seasons, starting as an intern and quickly getting promoted to her position now. “It should be the norm that anyone who’s capable of doing the job, can do the job,” said Zarowny. “Whether it’s male sports, female sports, or not sport-related.” As the only female on the bench during games, Zarowny’s success as a woman is a prominent view for fans to see. But for her, she just sees it as a job, regardless of her gender. “I think the assumption is that a man is probably doing my job,” said Zarowny. She says the next step in equality for women in sports is just that, not assuming a man is doing the job, but asking the question beforehand. “Ultimately that should be the only thing that matters in building your career, is your capability. Not male or female,” she said. Another woman who stands behind Zarowny on the bench is Head Athletic Therapist, Finley Miller. Miller has been with the team since 2024, when she started as a fresh grad. She says that while her experience with the BlackJacks has been good, she can sometimes still struggle with imposter syndrome. “It's a very male dominated sport and lots of healthcare professionals are also male,” said Miller. “Sometimes it's hard to be like, ‘oh, can females even work in this sport and survive in this sport?’” She says the biggest key to overcoming the challenge of a male-doinated industry is to be confident and show you belong in the room. Dahlia Ali, the BlackJacks Media and Merchandise Coordinator, says that while her experience with the BlackJacks and in sports in general has been rewarding, she believes that women often feel the need to work harder. “They feel they need to prove their expertise, to prove their abilities, and their experience in order to earn the same amount of recognition that their other [male] peers would be receiving,” said Ali. The BlackJacks have also hired a female operations intern to support the team this summer. Isabel Langridge feels honoured to have been hired by the BlackJacks, what she assumes to be a competitive internship program. Langridge agrees with Zarowny, that it shouldn't matter the gender of the person doing the job, as long as it gets done right. She notes that many times during games, she’ll have to run to get the food for players after the game and entering the locker room to drop it off, hasn’t been a problem. “There’s not really a barrier,’” said Langridge. “There’s no, ‘you shouldn’t be here, you’re a woman.’ It’s like ‘you have to be there’.” She has noticed the double standard that comes with being a woman in sports, both as a career, and an athlete herself. “A guy can be rude, because he's just tired, he's had a long day, but if a girl does it, then she's being very moody,” Langridge explained. She believes part of this is due to both the stigma of women’s health as well as the lack of knowledge about it. For her, that’s the next step to complete equality in the industry. So while strides have definitely been made in the sports industry, there are still steps to be taken, like nights like these. The BlackJacks are proud to hire and showcase the talents of women and celebrate them. Join us tonight for Women in Sports night! BlackJacks 2026 season-seat memberships are available now. For additional details, fans are encouraged to email ticketing@theblackjacks.ca or call 613-294-1133.
By Farrah Philpot
•
May 29, 2026
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the team has signed Marko Maletic for the 2026 Season. The 6 '4 guard originally from London, ON will join the BlackJacks after playing four seasons in the NCAA and most recently competing with the Keila Coolbet in the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League. In the 2025-26 season with Keila Coolbet, Maletic averaged 13 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2 assists. Throughout his college career, Maletic played at four schools and averaged 14.2 points throughout the four years. He started at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming, which plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). In his first season in 2020-21, Maletic averaged 12.4 points and 2.8 rebounds. Maletic then transferred to Long Island University in the NCAA for the 2022-23 season. There, he averaged 16 points and three rebounds per game. In the 2023-24 season, Maletic played at the University of Toledo, in Ohio. There, he averaged 2.3 points. In Maletic’s last college season, he played at Western Illinois University. He averaged 16.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He received many accolades in his last year of college, including All-OVC Second Team, OVC Player of the Week, and three OVC new-comer of the week awards. Born March 27, 2001, the 25 year old played his high school years at Saunders Secondary School in London, ON. Single-game tickets are currently available to purchase by visiting theblackjacks.ca/tickets. BlackJacks 2026 season-seat memberships are available now. For additional details, fans are encouraged to email ticketing@theblackjacks.ca or call 613-294-1133. About the Ottawa BlackJacks The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks are a professional men’s basketball team competing out of The Arena at TD Place. The club is committed to excellence on-and-off the court and aims to inspire community pride, foster grassroots development and deliver an unparalleled fan experience. For more information, visit theblackjacks.ca. About the CEBL The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide. The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL’s ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball’s cultural footprint across Canada. The CEBL is where elite performance meets homegrown talent. In 2025, 17 players with NBA experience hit the court, while nearly 70% of the league’s roster was Canadian, the highest concentration of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. Running from May through August, the CEBL’s season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement. Interact with 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
By Farrah Philpot
•
June 13, 2026
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the team has signed Kobe Elvis for the 2026 Season. The 6’2 guard originally from London, ON will join the BlackJacks after playing five seasons in the NCAA and most recently competing with the Olomoucko Prostejov in the Czech National Basketball League. In the 2025-26 season with the Olomoucko Prostejov, and his first professional season, he averaged 17 points and 3.7 rebounds. Throughout his college career, Elvis played at three schools in the NCAA Division I. His last season, in the 2024-25 season with Oklahoma, he averaged 7.7 points and two rebounds. He began his college career at DePaul University during the 2020-21 season. There, he averaged 5.2 points and two assists per game. The majority of his college career was spent at the University of Dayton in Ohio. Across his five years in the NCAA he averaged eight points and 2.8 assists. In the 2023-24 season with the University of Dayton, Elvis received two Atlantic 10 Player of the Week Awards. Elvis has previous CEBL experience, last year playing with the Scarborough Shooting Stars. There, he averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 assists per game. Born on March 16, 2001, the 25 year old played his high school years at Bill Crothers Secondary, in Unionville, ON. During his high school playing career he participated in the All Canadian Games and the Canadian Showcase. Single-game tickets are currently available to purchase by visiting theblackjacks.ca/tickets . BlackJacks 2026 season-seat memberships are available now. For additional details, fans are encouraged to email ticketing@theblackjacks.ca or call 613-294-1133.
By Farrah Philpot
•
June 3, 2026
The Ottawa BlackJacks just beat the number-one seeded team in the Western Conference, and made history in the process. The 114-105 win over the Vancouver Bandits was dominated by G-League stars Justin Harmon and Matthew Cleveland. Harmon finished the game with 36 points, and Cleveland finished with 35. This is the first game in BlackJacks history where two players have finished with 35 points or over. “It's history. Harmon's a great player,” said Cleveland about his dual teammate. “[They] did a great job of opening up the floor for us.” Harmon and Cleveland both come from the Salt Lake City Stars, the G-League affiliate of the Utah Jazz. “Salt Lake City BlackJacks,” dubbed Harmon as his new name for the duo. Their experience playing with each other and their personal connection could be a big reason that the energy was so high on the bench. “I ain't never had another person score 30 with me. So it was just super fun,” continued Harmon. “It felt like we were just trading baskets out there.” When asked about what the historic moment meant to him on a personal level, Harmon responded, “Everybody dreams of scoring 30 points.” Head Coach Justin Mazzulla confirmed that a big reason for the BlackJacks dominant win was the chemistry radiating from the Salt Lake duo. “They want to see each other win,” said Mazzulla. “That locker room is really tight-knit right now, and that's what's clicking.” Another bright spot joining the team was Drew Cisse, a center who played his first game at home tonight. After a dominant game in Montreal on Sunday, he was here to show BlackJacks fans what he can do on home court. “I just want to keep building and keep going and winning with everybody,” said Cisse about his next steps to finding his place on the BlackJacks team. One place where the BlackJacks have struggled in the past, was the rebounding game, and Cisse is proving to be the solution they’ve been looking for. With eight boards on the night, and nine on the road on Sunday he’s looking to continue to fill this gap. “I feel like that's the key to win. That’s a big recipe for us. And if I do that at a consistent level, I think we can win consistently,” said Cisse.
By Farrah Philpot
•
June 2, 2026
On Tues., June 2 , the Ottawa BlackJacks will host a Women in Sports night , celebrating all the women behind-the-scenes, that allow the BlackJacks to be successful. A big part of that is Jessica Zarowny, the Operations Executive of Community and Basketball. Zarowny has been with the team for three seasons, starting as an intern and quickly getting promoted to her position now. “It should be the norm that anyone who’s capable of doing the job, can do the job,” said Zarowny. “Whether it’s male sports, female sports, or not sport-related.” As the only female on the bench during games, Zarowny’s success as a woman is a prominent view for fans to see. But for her, she just sees it as a job, regardless of her gender. “I think the assumption is that a man is probably doing my job,” said Zarowny. She says the next step in equality for women in sports is just that, not assuming a man is doing the job, but asking the question beforehand. “Ultimately that should be the only thing that matters in building your career, is your capability. Not male or female,” she said. Another woman who stands behind Zarowny on the bench is Head Athletic Therapist, Finley Miller. Miller has been with the team since 2024, when she started as a fresh grad. She says that while her experience with the BlackJacks has been good, she can sometimes still struggle with imposter syndrome. “It's a very male dominated sport and lots of healthcare professionals are also male,” said Miller. “Sometimes it's hard to be like, ‘oh, can females even work in this sport and survive in this sport?’” She says the biggest key to overcoming the challenge of a male-doinated industry is to be confident and show you belong in the room. Dahlia Ali, the BlackJacks Media and Merchandise Coordinator, says that while her experience with the BlackJacks and in sports in general has been rewarding, she believes that women often feel the need to work harder. “They feel they need to prove their expertise, to prove their abilities, and their experience in order to earn the same amount of recognition that their other [male] peers would be receiving,” said Ali. The BlackJacks have also hired a female operations intern to support the team this summer. Isabel Langridge feels honoured to have been hired by the BlackJacks, what she assumes to be a competitive internship program. Langridge agrees with Zarowny, that it shouldn't matter the gender of the person doing the job, as long as it gets done right. She notes that many times during games, she’ll have to run to get the food for players after the game and entering the locker room to drop it off, hasn’t been a problem. “There’s not really a barrier,’” said Langridge. “There’s no, ‘you shouldn’t be here, you’re a woman.’ It’s like ‘you have to be there’.” She has noticed the double standard that comes with being a woman in sports, both as a career, and an athlete herself. “A guy can be rude, because he's just tired, he's had a long day, but if a girl does it, then she's being very moody,” Langridge explained. She believes part of this is due to both the stigma of women’s health as well as the lack of knowledge about it. For her, that’s the next step to complete equality in the industry. So while strides have definitely been made in the sports industry, there are still steps to be taken, like nights like these. The BlackJacks are proud to hire and showcase the talents of women and celebrate them. Join us tonight for Women in Sports night! BlackJacks 2026 season-seat memberships are available now. For additional details, fans are encouraged to email ticketing@theblackjacks.ca or call 613-294-1133.
