CEBL Appoints Michael Cvitkovic Interim Team President of Ottawa BlackJacks

Cvitkovic will help build the front office staff and basketball operations leadership team, while developing the business plan for sustainability. Searches have begun for the permanent team president, and also for the team general manager and head coach, with announcements expected by the end of the year and early in 2020. 

The game of basketball always seems to find Cvitkovic. He started his career as sports information director at York University, promoting Yeomen basketball programs led by Canadian coaching legends Bob Bain and Bill Pangos – father of national team guard Kevin Pangos. 

A member of the Toronto Raptors communications staff, Cvitkovic served for six NBA seasons under then senior vice-president John Lashway, who now leads the CEBL’s Hamilton franchise as team president and also serves as executive vice-president of the league. Following a stint as a director with Tennis Canada and the internationally-renown Rogers Cup, Cvitkovic returned to basketball to hold the position of executive director for Ontario Basketball. He led the creation of the provincial basketball high performance training centre at the Abilities Centre in Whitby.

Cvitkovic was the general manager of the successful Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games and served as a member of the senior management team who opened the world-class Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

An Olympic broadcaster and former sports radio host, Cvitkovic worked closely with government, sport and community leaders in an attempt to bring the North American Indigenous Games to Ottawa. He returns to the nation’s capital during the infancy of the Ottawa BlackJacks to serve as the conduit between the CEBL and the community while the foundation of the franchise is being built. 

The BlackJacks open the CEBL campaign on the road May 7 against the Niagara River Lions. One week later, the Arena at TD Place will be the site of the BlackJacks’ first home game as the team plays host to the Hamilton Honey Badgers on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. 

Since the BlackJacks launch on November 20, basketball fans in the Ottawa/Gatineau region have been joining the action through the BlackJacks first season ticket deposit drive. A $50 non-refundable deposit guarantees fans front of the line access to celebrity, courtside and lower bowl tickets in the Arena at TD Place, in addition to a limited-edition Ottawa BlackJacks official New Era team T-shirt. The deposit drive ends January 20, 2020. Flex and Voucher Packs, Group Tickets and Single-Game Tickets will go on sale in early 2020. For more information or to secure your part of Ottawa basketball history, visit www.theBlackJacks.ca. 

Quotes

“Michael has been a great asset to the CEBL leadership team. He understands the business model that has allowed the CEBL to enjoy a successful start and possesses the values we promote with all executives. Michael will prove invaluable during this transition period as we look to fill our office and basketball staff positions, build community relationships and develop corporate partners.”

- Mike Morreale, Commissioner and CEO, Canadian Elite Basketball League

“Professional basketball belongs in Ottawa. Not only our nation’s capital, Ottawa is also a Canadian basketball hub. With thousands of grassroots participants, national champion post secondary institutions, engaged basketball mavens and the perfect meeting place for business leaders, the Ottawa BlackJacks join an incredible basketball community. I am honoured to help build the BlackJacks foundation for long-term success.” 

- Michael Cvitkovic, Interim President, Ottawa BlackJacks

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Media Contact:

Ansh Sanyal,

Sr. Marketing Manager, CEBL

416-579-0988

About Canadian Elite Basketball League 

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is a new basketball experience that features world class professional basketball in a fan-friendly entertainment environment across seven cities in Canada. The 2019 inaugural season saw more than 100 Canadian and international players take to the court, culminating with the Saskatchewan Rattlers earning the first CEBL championship trophy. CEBL players come from NBA G-League clubs, top NCAA programs, the Canadian national program, U SPORTS and other Division 1 FIBA leagues. As the First Division Professional League partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL is set to start its second season in May 2020. All games are live streamed on the CBC Gem app, CEBL.TV and the Island Sports Network. Head to cebl.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to learn more.