NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA RIVER LIONS
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St. CATHARINES – The Niagara River Lions announced today their final roster presented by Viritus Vodka for the 2020 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Summer Series set to take place in St. Catharines, Ont. from July 25 to Aug. 9.
The roster includes six returning players from the inaugural 2019 CEBL season, with several new additions that will add balance and strength as the team competes for the championship at Meridian Centre.
“We’ve assembled a very good group of basketball players who are also good people,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “It’s been a blast going through training camp and watching them compete. We have the pieces to make a successful run in this tournament and we’re excited to get started.”
Returning players include Ryan Anderson, Trae Bell-Haynes, Guillaume Boucard (2019 CEBL Canadian Player of the Year), Sam Muldrow (2019 CEBL Defensive Player of the Year), Dorian Pinson and Kassius Robertson, all key members of the 2019 team that saw the most success in franchise history, finishing the regular season with 15 wins and 5 losses.
The additions of Daniel Mullings, Tyrone Watson, Ryan Ejim and Grandy Glaze compliment the returning players as they each bring a unique offensive skill set to the team.
Daniel Mullings, a starting guard at New Mexico State for four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, brings a wealth of experience having won championships at both the NCAA and professional levels.
Tyrone Watson, a former teammate of Mullings at New Mexico State, was drafted by the River Lions in the inaugural CEBL draft, but missed the season recovering from knee surgery. Tyrone brings a veteran presence to the team as an exception passer, defender, and rebounder.
Ryan Ejim was a key piece of the Saskatchewan Rattlers CEBL Championship run in 2019. Ejim played in seven games for the River Lions in 2018 and is a U SPORTS National Champion.
Known for his superior rebounding, former Edmonton Stinger, Grandy Glaze will bring a mixture of energy and experience to the team.
Rounding out the group is U SPORTS developmental player, Emmanuel Owootoah of Brock University.
The CEBL Summer Series tips off on Saturday, July 25 with a nationally broadcast double-header, including the Niagara River Lions versus the Hamilton Honey Badgers at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Summer Series will culminate with the CEBL Championship on Aug. 9.
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