Calgary Surge players got to know the people of Red Deer ahead of their matchup against the Edmonton Stingers at the Marchant Crane Centrium next week.
The two Canadian Elite Basketball League teams will face off in the Battle of Alberta in Red Deer on Thursday, June 19. This regular season game is something people won't want to miss, said Surge senior vice-president Dylan Howe.
"If this is going to be your first introduction to CEBL basketball, you're going to be in for a treat. Anyone who is unfamiliar with the CEBL can expect some of the best talent that the country has to offer," said Howe.
"One thing that isn't widely known is that, because we play in the summertime, a lot of these athletes play in the top leagues in Europe, the NBA G-League, and are former NBAers. With us playing in the summertime, this is kind of an amalgamation of the top leagues around the world. It's a much higher level of basketball than people might anticipate."
Surge players, front office staff and coaches made the trip down to Red Deer on Thursday, June 12 to meet the people they will play in front of next week. Some members of the organization went to the Marchant Crane Centrium for a meet and greet during Westerner Park's Stanley Cup Final watch party, while others participated in a all-ages basketball clinic at St. Lorenzo School.
The Surge are currently sitting second in the CEBL Western Conference with a record of 6-2, just a single game behind the Vancouver Bandits, while the Edmonton Stingers are tied for third with a record of 3-5. The Surge won the only game between the two teams so far this season.
"Ever since our launch in October 2022, our goal was to become a community team. We've focused in Calgary, going to all four quadrants of the city, to be Calgary's team. We're extending that to become Alberta's team — but I know the Stingers might argue that," Howe said.
"For us, our goal has always been about expanding basketball, no matter where we were. Red Deer is the perfect intersection between the two cities, while also touching on Central Alberta, which I think sometimes gets passed over for Edmonton and Calgary. For us to bring a real meaningful game to the area allows us to bring basketball to different parts of the province."
For more information or to purchase tickets for the upcoming game in Red Deer, visit www.Surge2RedDeer.ca.
