The CEBL Summer Series, which will be televised nationally by CBC and live streamed globally on cbcsports.ca and on the CBC Gem App, brings all seven CEBL teams to St. Catharines for a 15-day competition that will showcase some of the best Canadian professional basketball talent. It begins Saturday, July 25 with a doubleheader featuring Hamilton versus Niagara and Ottawa versus Guelph and runs through August 9 with the championship game.

“Basketball enthusiasts who watched the last NBA All-Star Game and this week’s ‘The Basketball Tournament’ games embraced the Elam Ending because it ensures that every contest ends on a winning basket,” said CEBL Commissioner Mike Morreale. “We will have 26 heroes for all 26 of our CEBL Summer Series games. It greatly enhances the viewing experience for fans, and the game experience for players and coaches.”

Nick Elam, a university professor at Ball State University and member of Mensa, created the Elam Ending to maintain the normal flow of a game late in a contest when deliberate fouling and rushed possessions by the trailing team, stalling on offense by the leading team, and little hope for late comebacks tarnished the experience for fans and teams. His system improves the chances of a late comeback, eliminates late-game clock controversies, and provides more memorable game-ending moments. The Elam Ending was played during the fourth quarter of the 2020 NBA All-Star Game and received extensive praise from players, coaches, media, and fans. The NBA will be exploring expanded use of the Elam Ending in the coming years.

“I am excited about the CEBL’s bold vision to implement the Elam Ending, and to be the first to do so in FIBA play,” Elam said. “Whether at the NBA All-Star Game, TBT: The Basketball Tournament, or countless grassroots-level leagues and events throughout the basketball world, the Elam Ending continues to prove its ability to preserve high-quality, fluid, and intense play all the way through the end of the game. I can’t wait to watch and see who steps up to win the CEBL Summer Series. The championship-winning shot will be a defining moment that lives on in CEBL lore for years to come.”

Here is how the Elam Ending rule works:

• At the first stoppage of play at or under 4:00 of the 4th quarter of each game, timed play will end and a target score will be set, equal to the leading team’s score plus nine (9). Example: at the stoppage, if the game’s score is 77-71, then the target score after adding 9 points is 86.
• If the first stoppage at/under 4:00 is a foul shot resulting in free throws, the free throw(s) will be administered before setting the target score
• The Shot Clock will remain intact and used for the entire duration of the 4th quarter of the game as it normally would be.
• Only two (2) time-outs may be used by each team during the untimed portion of the 4th quarter.
• The first team to reach the target score wins the game.

“The Canadian Basketball Officials Commission (CBOC) has worked with the CEBL to determine how to incorporate the Elam Ending into the FIBA game,” said Mike Thomson, Manager, Officials Development for Canada Basketball. “The considerations were to ensure the rules related to the “last 2 minutes” are respected. We are comfortable that by applying all FIBA rules related to the last two minutes to all of Elam time the integrity of the rules is maintained. We are keen to watch and learn more about the impacts on the game as a result of the use of the Elam Ending rule.”

The teams from Ottawa, Hamilton, Guelph, Edmonton, Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), and Fraser Valley (Abbotsford) will join hometown Niagara at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines for a round robin competition leading to a playoff bracket and title game. The Saskatchewan Rattlers defeated the Hamilton Honey Badgers to win the 2019 champioship in the league’s inaugural season.

“As Canada looks to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic there has never been a more important time to use the power of sport to help heal our nation,” said Glen Grunwald, President & CEO of Canada Basketball. “In addition to showcasing world-class men’s professional basketball through the CEBL Summer Series, the CEBL will leverage its national media, branding, and digital assets to “Connect Canada.” People across Canada and beyond are eager for the return of live sports, and the CEBL is leading the way in that regard. The Elam Ending adds to that excitement.”

The CEBL is the only First Division Professional League partner of Canada Basketball. It has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional sports league in the country, with 80 percent of its current rosters comprised of Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National Team program, and top NCAA programs as well as from U SPORTS.

John Lashway

Executive Vice President, Strategy & Communications

Canadian Elite Basketball League