The Saskatchewan Rattlers opened their 2025 C-E-B-L training camp Wednesday morning at Merlis Belsher Place on the USask campus with 20 hopefuls taking part.
The Snakes don’t have a long time to get game ready as they’ll open the 24-game season a week from tomorrow at SaskTel Centre against the Vancouver Bandits. Following is the news release from the Rattlers…..
May 7, 2025
SASKATCHEWAN RATTLERS ANNOUNCE 2025 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
Saskatoon, Sask. – The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
announced Wednesday that their 2025 Training Camp Roster will get to work starting on
Wednesday May 7th 2025 at Merlis Belsher Place on the University of Saskatchewan campus
ahead of their home opener on Thursday May 15th 2025 when they meet conference-rivals, the
Vancouver. The Rattlers announced Friday May 2nd that the team will travel to Regina to
complete two of their nine-days of CEBL Training Camp at the University of Regina campus.
The Regina portion of Rattlers Training Camp is proudly presented by Hoop Life, taking place on
May 9th and 10th. An opportunity for fans to spectate for free will happen on Saturday May
10th from 1PM until 3PM at the University of Regina gymnasium. The Rattlers welcome media
to attend with opportunity for Media Availability with Rattlers players and personnel happening
on May 10th from 3PM until 4PM.
During the Saskatoon portion of Rattlers Training Camp, media are welcome to attend Media
Availability on Thursday May 8th at 11:45AM, and Tuesday May 13th at 11:45AM at Merlis
Belsher Place.
“We have a relatively short period of time to try to develop some cohesion, so the focus
throughout training camp will be giving the players evert opportunity to become familiarized
with each other,” said Rattlers General Manager Barry Rawlyk. “We have a number of new faces
that we are very excited about, and getting all of them on the same page will be very important.
We already have a pretty good idea of what each player is capable of and what role they can fill,
so getting each of those parts to work together is what we hope to accomplish.”
The Rattlers made noise around the league when signing to NBA-experienced players, Nate
Pierre-Louis and Jamir Chaplin. As a rookie pro, Pierre-Louis joined the Lakers organization. In
his rookie year with the South Bay Lakers, he appeared in the starting line-up 28 of the 32
games played while averaging 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks in
27.7 minutes. During three seasons with the Lakers, Pierre-Louis made appearances in NBA
Summer League, and NBA Preseason. Most recently, he played with Valley Suns (Phoenix Suns
affiliate) and helped lead them through playoffs in their inaugural year. Chaplin made his
professional debut during the 2024 NBA Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks which led
to an NBA Exhibit-10 contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
Adding length to the front court, the Rattlers signed CEBL-experienced big Elijah Ifejeh and
Australian forward Grant Anticevich. Ifejeh returns for his fourth season in the CEBL after
playing three consecutive seasons with the Montreal Alliance where he ranks fifth all-time for
points (301), second all-time for rebounds (207), and holds the all-time record for blocks (30).
Ifejeh most recently played with the Manchester Giants in the BBL, where he played alongside
Cody John. Anticevich holds the all-time games played record for University of California,
Berkley (139), and appeared in three NBA preseason games with the New Zealand Breakers
(NBL) against the Utah Jazz. As a rookie in the NBL, he appeared in the starting line-up in all 18
games averaging 14.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 33.4 minutes.
Anticevich brings three years of professional experience playing with three teams in the NBL,
BBL, and Lega A.
The province of Saskatchewan will see the return of familiar faces with 2024 stand out player
Cody John, and 2019 CEBL Champion Shane Osayande returning to the franchise. John returns
after concluding his fifth season in the CEBL while ranked eighth all-time for most regular
season games played in league history. He stepped up in his Rattlers debut in 2024 playing a
huge role in the last half of the season averaging 16.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 33.0
minutes in 10 games. Osayande returns for his third season with the Rattlers and fifth in the
CEBL. Osayande played a key role during the 2019 CEBL Championship final with 14 points,
nine rebounds, and one steal in 27 minutes while shooting 45.5 per cent from the field.
Rattlers add two NCAA stars with experience from the Seton Hall program with Takal Molson
and returning big Jaden Bediako. Molson will make his CEBL debut after playing 32 professional
games averaging 18.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and 35.7 minutes while
shooting 51.6 per cent from the field over a two year span. The New York product was named
All-Swiss SBL Player of the Year as a rookie pro. Molson played five seasons in the NCAA
averaging collegiate career average of 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks
and 27.3 minutes in 141 games. Bediako returns for his second season in the CEBL after playing
six games with the Rattlers while averaging a team-best 2.0 blocks per game. Prior to his
professional debut, he played five seasons in the NCAA averaging 6.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.6
assists, and 20.1 minutes in 148 games.
Former Brandon Bobcats, Elisha Ampofo and returning Rattlers wing Anthony Tsegakele will
reunite. Ampofo will be making his professional debut after joining the Winnipeg Sea Bears
during the 2024 season for CEBL Training Camp, and continued to train with the team during
the season. In his fourth and final season with the Bobcats, Ampofo averaged career highs in all
stat categories with 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 34.0 minutes while
shooting 48.5 per cent from the field and 47.6 from behind the arc. The 2023 Rattlers Defensive
Player of the Year, Anthony Tsegakele returns for his fifth CEBL season after setting a record for
all-time games played in franchise history with 57 games. The Brandon University-alumni was
selected in the three CEBL Drafts, during his last three years with Brandon University, Tsegakele
averaged 11.5 rebounds per game which was the top spot for the team, top two in all of Canada
West, and top five in U Sports. He was named to ten individual season awards over his U Sports
career; which includes 2023 Canada West Defensive Player of the Year. Anthony most recently
represented the Gabon National Team.
AUS Champions Deon Ejim and Dondre Reddick will reunite after the St. Francis Xavier alumni
won the 2023 AUS Championship and finished in second place during the 2024 U SPORTS
National Final. Both Ejim and Reddick played with the Calgary Surge. Reddick made his
international debut in 2024 playing with Tkibuli Orbi in Georgian Super Liga averaging 19.5
points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 33.8 minutes while shooting 44.3%
from the field. Deon Ejim joining the Rattlers is celebrated as the third Ejim brother to join the
Rattlers in franchise history; Ryan Ejim won a CEBL Championship in 2019, and Kenny Ejim
played during the CEBL Summer Series in 2020. Prior to playing with St. Francis Xavier, Ejim
played three seasons in the NCAA.
Rounding out the team with high-level talent from U Sports programs – Declan Peterson, Easton
Thimm, and returning Isaac Simon.
Declan Peterson from University of Calgary, Canada West Conference Champion was the third
pick overall. He made his U SPORTS debut with the Dinos playing in 22 games he averaged 8.0
points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 18.8 minutes with 21 starts. Declan ranked first on the
team for rebounds per game (7.2), field goal percentage (67.5%), and total blocks (44). With the
eighth pick in the second round, the Rattlers chose to welcome back Regina-product Isaac Simon
of University of Alberta for his third season. In his most recent season with the Golden Bears, he
set a new career high of 34 points. During his collegiate career, he has been named to University
of Alberta Male Rookie of the Year, Canada West All-Rookie Team, and 2025 Canada West
Second Team All-Star. With the third pick in the third round, Easton Thimm from Saskatoon, SK
was selected from the University of Saskatchewan after two successful seasons with the
Huskies. Over two years with the Huskies, he averaged 11.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists,
and 26.6 minutes starting in all 39 games. As a rookie, he was named to U SPORTS All-Rookie
Team and named Canada West Rookie of the Year.
Under the leadership of Rawlyk, the newly promoted all-prairie based coaching will get to work.
Head Coach Eric Magdanz was promoted this spring in his fourth season with the Rattlers. The
Saskatoon-local joined the Rattlers coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season helping lead the
Rattlers to a quarterfinal berth, the deepest playoff run the Rattlers have seen since their 2019
inaugural Championship. Under Magdanz’ leadership the Rattlers look to return to
Championship Weekend with their main goal being a second championship for the franchise.
Prior to the Rattlers, he was assistant coach of the Edmonton Stingers in 2019, assistant coach of
University of Alberta, head coach of MacEwan University for seven seasons, and played with
McMaster University.
For his second year with the club, Steve Burrows was promoted to Associate Head Coach. The
Regina, Saskatchewan-native Steve Burrows grew up playing high school basketball which led
him to play at the U SPORTS level at University of Regina. He has served as Head Coach of the
University of Regina Cougars since the 2013-14 season. Under Coach Burrows, the Cougars have
competed in a Canada West Final Four (2022) and they advanced to the conference
quarterfinals in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022.
Celebrating his third season with the Rattlers, Rob Lovelace was promoted to Lead Assistant
Coach. Prior to joining the Rattlers Coaching Staff, Lovelace worked alongside the Rattlers and
the CEBL as part of the Broadcast Team. He served as assistant coach of University of
Saskatchewan for two seasons after playing for the team for five. Lovelace is the current
President of Basketball Saskatchewan. Rounding out the coaching staff in his CEBL debut,
Anthony Skepple was named Apprentice Coach. Skepple brings experience as the current head
coach of the Briercrest Women’s basketball program since 2020. During his time with
Briercrest, he’s helped lead them to two ACAC bronze medal finishes, three ACAC Final Four
appearances, while being named 2023 ACAC South Coach of the Year.
The full 2025 Rattlers schedule has been released, which features a new 24-game slate. The
2025 CEBL Playoffs are scheduled to begin Thursday, August 14 with the Conference Play-In
games, followed by the Conference Semifinals on Saturday, August 16. The winners will advance
to CW25 to join the Winnipeg Sea Bears (host team) and the top-ranked team from the Eastern
Conference who are automatically seeded into the Conference Finals. The full playoff schedule
with tipoff times will be announced at a later date.
