Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced 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 Regina portion of Rattlers Training Camp will occur on May 9th and 10th. Fans can spectate for free on Saturday, May 10th, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Regina gymnasium.
“We have a relatively short period to try to develop some cohesion, so the focus throughout training camp will be giving the players every 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 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 in 28 of the 32 games, 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 the NBA Summer League and the NBA Preseason. Most recently, he played with the Valley Suns (Phoenix Suns affiliate) and helped lead them through the playoffs in their inaugural year. Chaplin made his professional debut during the 2024 NBA Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks, leading to an NBA Exhibit-10 contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
Adding length to the frontcourt, 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 record for blocks (30). Ifejeh most recently played alongside Cody John with the Manchester Giants in the BBL. Anticevich holds the all-time games played record for the University of California, Berkeley (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 massive 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 added two NCAA stars with experience from the Seton Hall program, 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 two years. 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 a 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. Before 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 he 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 per cent 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 alumnus was selected in the three CEBL Drafts. During his last three years with Brandon University, Tsegakele averaged 11.5 rebounds per game, the top spot for the team, the top two in all of Canada West, and the top five in U Sports. He was named to ten individual season awards over his U Sports career, which includes the 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 alums 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 the 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. Before 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 the 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, and 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 welcomed back Regina product Isaac Simon of the 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 the University of Alberta Male Rookie of the Year, Canada West All-Rookie Team, and the 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 the 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 in his fourth season with the Rattlers this spring. The Saskatoon-local joined the Rattlers coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season, helping lead them to a quarterfinal berth, the deepest playoff run the Rattlers have seen since their 2019 inaugural Championship. Under Magdanz’s leadership, the Rattlers look to return to Championship Weekend with their main goal being a second championship for the franchise. Before the Rattlers, he was assistant coach of the Edmonton Stingers in 2019, assistant coach of the University of Alberta, head coach of MacEwan University for seven seasons, and played with McMaster University.
Steve Burrows was promoted to Associate Head Coach for his second year with the club. The Regina, Saskatchewan-native grew up playing high school basketball, which led him to play at the U SPORTS level at the 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 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. Before joining the Rattlers Coaching Staff, Lovelace worked alongside the Rattlers and the CEBL as part of the Broadcast Team. He served as the assistant coach of the 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 and three ACAC Final Four appearances, while being named the 2023 ACAC South Coach of the Year.
