Saskatchewan Rattlers

In May, 2018 the fledgling Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced that Saskatoon would be home to one of six charter franchises when the league began play in 2019.{{cite web |last=Kessler |first=Ryan |date=2018-05-02 |title=Saskatoon joins new Canadian Elite Basketball League |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4183266/professional-basketball-saskatoons-sasktel-centre/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703221744/https://globalnews.ca/news/4183266/professional-basketball-saskatoons-sasktel-centre/ |archive-date=2018-07-03 |accessdate=2018-07-03 |website=Global News}} This would bring professional basketball back to the province of Saskatchewan for the first time since 2001, when the Saskatchewan Hawks of the International Basketball Association folded. In July, 2018, the new team announced that it would be called the Saskatchewan Rattlers, named after the prairie rattlesnake.{{Cite news |last=Piller |first=Thomas |date=2018-07-03 |title=Saskatoon's professional basketball team named Saskatchewan Rattlers |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4310563/saskatoon-professional-basketball-team-saskatchewan-rattlers-cebl/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207222837/https://globalnews.ca/news/4310563/saskatoon-professional-basketball-team-saskatchewan-rattlers-cebl/ |archive-date=2019-02-07}}{{cite web |date=2018-07-03 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers Introduced as Founding Member of Canadian Elite Basketball League |url=https://www.therattlers.ca/blog/saskatchewan-rattlers-introduced-as-founding-member-of-canadian-elite-basketball-league |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041526/https://www.therattlers.ca/blog/saskatchewan-rattlers-introduced-as-founding-member-of-canadian-elite-basketball-league |archive-date=2020-11-09 |accessdate=2018-07-03 |website=Saskatchewan Rattlers}} Lee Genier, who helped bring the Saskatchewan Rush to Saskatoon in 2016, was named team president.{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Glenn |date=2019-05-09 |title=Sask.'s latest entry into the world of pro hoops and why this one should succeed where others have failed |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/rattlers-cebl-basketball-1.5128886 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509140938/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/rattlers-cebl-basketball-1.5128886 |archive-date=2019-05-09}} The team's first coach and general manager was Greg Jockims, a former coach of the Saskatchewan Huskies.{{Cite news |last=Heroux |first=Devin |date=2019-08-25 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers complete storybook ending with 1st-ever CEBL Championship |work=CBC Sports |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/canadian-elite-basketball-chamionship-final-rattlers-honey-badgers-1.5259592 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826183007/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/canadian-elite-basketball-chamionship-final-rattlers-honey-badgers-1.5259592 |archive-date=2019-08-26}}

Ahead of their inaugural season, the Rattlers purchased a hardwood court from the Toronto Raptors and installed it at their home in the SaskTel Centre, along with shot clocks and net stands.{{Cite news |last=Larson |first=Scott |date=2019-06-05 |title=Rattlers hope Raptors' old floor still has some wins in it for home team |work=CBC News |url=https://www.therattlers.ca/rattlers-hope-raptors-old-floor-still-has-some-wins-in-it-for-home-team |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024153531/https://www.therattlers.ca/rattlers-hope-raptors-old-floor-still-has-some-wins-in-it-for-home-team |archive-date=2023-10-24 |via=Saskatchewan Rattlers}} Genier said the team purchased the floor due to its "storied history."{{Cite news |last=Bosker |first=Brent |date=2019-05-08 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers show off new court ahead of inaugural game |work=CKOM |url=https://www.ckom.com/2019/05/08/562959/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509203320/https://www.ckom.com/2019/05/08/562959/ |archive-date=2019-05-09}} The CEBL announced in May 2019, that the Rattlers would host the league's first Championship Weekend that August, which guaranteed the Rattlers a birth in the playoffs.{{Cite news |date=2019-05-21 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers to host CEBL's first championship weekend in August |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatchewan-rattlers-to-host-cebl-s-first-championship-weekend-in-august-1.5143914 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523072601/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatchewan-rattlers-to-host-cebl-s-first-championship-weekend-in-august-1.5143914 |archive-date=2019-05-23}}

The Rattlers hosted the CEBL's first ever game on 9 May 2019. They lost to the Niagara River Lions by a score of 99–97, missing a last second three-point attempt to steal the win.{{Cite news |last=Giles |first=David |date=2019-05-10 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers come up short against Niagara River Lions |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5262246/saskatchewan-rattlers-niagara-river-lions-cebl/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608100154/https://globalnews.ca/news/5262246/saskatchewan-rattlers-niagara-river-lions-cebl/ |archive-date=2019-06-08}} Despite the initial setback, the first season was a successful one for the Rattlers, on and off the court. Saskatchewan led the league in season ticket sales and attendance.{{Cite news |last1=Giles |first1=David |last2=Bidwell |first2=Derek |date=2019-12-26 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers look to build on successful first season |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6338970/saskatchewan-rattlers-cebl-basketball/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227143901/https://globalnews.ca/news/6338970/saskatchewan-rattlers-cebl-basketball/ |archive-date=2019-12-27}} The team entered the Championship Weekend with a 11–9 record, good for 3rd place in the league. They beat the Edmonton Stingers in the semi-final, 85–83, and then the Hamilton Honey Badgers 94–83 in the final to capture the league's first championship.{{Cite news |last=Piller |first=Thomas |date=2019-08-26 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers capture 1st CEBL championship |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5815259/saskatchewan-rattlers-cebl-championship/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826190019/https://globalnews.ca/news/5815259/saskatchewan-rattlers-cebl-championship/ |archive-date=2019-08-26}} It was only the second professional basketball title for a team in Saskatchewan, after the Saskatoon Slam's National Basketball League title in 1993.{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Kevin |date=2018-05-03 |title=City sports checkered pro basketball history |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/saskatoon-starphoenix/20180503/282020442917485 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720221028/https://www.pressreader.com/canada/saskatoon-starphoenix/20180503/282020442917485 |archive-date=2023-07-20 |via=pressreader}} Team captain Alex Campbell was named Most-Valuable-Player of the 2019 playoffs, while the championship final marked the final game of local Michael Linklater's career; the veteran, who had helped lead the Huskies to a national U Sports basketball title in 2010 alongside Jockims, announced his retirement after the game.

After the season, Jockims announced that he was stepping down from his roles as head coach and manager, but would stay with the organization as an advisor.{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Kevin |date=2019-11-05 |title='Hard to step away': Rattlers seek new coach, GM after Jockims resigns |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/basketball/greg-jockims-resigns-as-head-coach-general-manager-of-saskatchewan-rattlers/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106134057/https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/basketball/greg-jockims-resigns-as-head-coach-general-manager-of-saskatchewan-rattlers |archive-date=2019-11-06}} In January 2020, the team hired Huskies coach Barry Rawlyk as its new general manager.{{Cite news |date=2020-01-10 |title=Rattlers will have new GM in quest to repeat as CEBL champions |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/rattlers-new-gm-cebl-1.5422189 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111235444/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/rattlers-new-gm-cebl-1.5422189 |archive-date=2020-01-11}} Rawlyk then promoted assistant Chad Jacobson, with whom he had worked with the Huskies, to head coach.{{Cite news |last=Zary |first=Darren |date=2020-01-29 |title=Chad Jacobson is new head coach of CEBL's Saskatchewan Rattlers |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/local-sports/chad-jacobson-is-new-head-coach-of-cebls-saskatchewan-rattlers/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130134845/https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/local-sports/chad-jacobson-is-new-head-coach-of-cebls-saskatchewan-rattlers |archive-date=2020-01-30}}

The CEBL's second season was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was ultimately played as a 6-game round-robin tournament in St. Catharines, Ontario; the Rattlers finished in last place with a 1–5 record, eliminated from contention with a loss to the expansion Ottawa BlackJacks.{{Cite news |date=2020-08-05 |title=Expansion BlackJacks eliminate defending champion Rattlers in blowout victory |work=CBC Sports |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/cebl/cebl-summer-series-recap-aug-5-1.5675774 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807115354/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/cebl/cebl-summer-series-recap-aug-5-1.5675774 |archive-date=2020-08-07}} The Rattlers were able to return to hosting games in Saskatoon during a shortened 14-game 2021 season.{{Cite news |last=Flaherty |first=Ryan |date=2021-06-10 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers happy to be back home for 2021 CEBL season |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7939106/saskatchewan-back-home-2021-cebl-season/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611171511/https://globalnews.ca/news/7939106/saskatchewan-back-home-2021-cebl-season/ |archive-date=2021-06-11}} However, public health restrictions meant the team played without fans until 12 July, when a change in restrictions enabled a return of fans.{{Cite news |last=Atter |first=Heidi |date=2021-07-13 |title=Rattlers first Sask. professional sports team to welcome fans back after COVID-19 restrictions lift |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-rattlers-fans-1.6100944 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714214402/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-rattlers-fans-1.6100944 |archive-date=2021-07-14}} The team continued to struggle on the court, again winning just once during the season and missing the playoffs for a second straight year.{{Cite news |date=2021-08-10 |title=Fraser Valley rallies late to defeat Saskatchewan, head into playoffs on high note |work=CBC Sports |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/cebl/cebl-fraser-valley-bandits-saskatchewan-rattlers-recap-august-10-1.6136568 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812000030/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/cebl/cebl-fraser-valley-bandits-saskatchewan-rattlers-recap-august-10-1.6136568 |archive-date=2021-08-12}} In the midst of the losing season, Jacobson resigned as coach, and the team named assistant Conor Dow the interim head coach.{{Cite news |date=2021-07-09 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers head coach steps down, interim coach named |work=CTV News |url=https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/saskatchewan-rattlers-head-coach-steps-down-interim-coach-named-1.5504153 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710190650/https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/saskatchewan-rattlers-head-coach-steps-down-interim-coach-named-1.5504153 |archive-date=2021-07-10}}

In January 2022, the Rattlers signed veteran NBA assistant Dean Demopoulos as its new head coach.{{Cite news |last= |date=2022-01-19 |title=CEBL's Rattlers hire former NBA assistant Demopoulos as head coach |work=Toronto Star |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/cebl-s-rattlers-hire-former-nba-assistant-demopoulos-as-head-coach/article_2e602dc7-5564-5f57-bcbc-a3eb226c0b61.html? |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720211134/https://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/cebl-s-rattlers-hire-former-nba-assistant-demopoulos-as-head-coach/article_2e602dc7-5564-5f57-bcbc-a3eb226c0b61.html |archive-date=2023-07-20}} The team's play improved in the 2022 season, the league's first full season since 2019, as the Rattlers finished with a 11–9 record, securing home court for a playoff match-up with the two-time defending champion Stingers. Saskatchewan defeated Edmonton 94–91, led by 20 points from Tony Carr, to advance.{{Cite news |last=Sumner |first=Rory |date=2022-08-05 |title=Rattlers eliminate 2-time defending CEBL champion Stingers, advance to quarter-finals |work=CBC Sports |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/cebl/cebl-roundup-play-in-august-4-1.6541666 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807034112/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/cebl/cebl-roundup-play-in-august-4-1.6541666 |archive-date=2022-08-07}} The Rattlers were then eliminated by the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the quarter-finals despite a triple-double from Carr.{{Cite news |last=Lammerding |first=Jaime |date=2022-08-07 |title=Rattlers knocked out of CEBL playoffs by Shooting Stars |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/basketball/rattlers-knocked-out-of-cebl-playoffs-by-shooting-stars |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808090601/https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/basketball/rattlers-knocked-out-of-cebl-playoffs-by-shooting-stars |archive-date=2022-08-08}}File:BanditsVsRattlers19Jul2023.png at SaskTel Centre during the 2023 season]]

The Rattlers struggled through the first half of the 2023 season, and after losing seven games in a nine-game stretch, the team fired Demopoulos on 6 July. Assistant Tanner Massey took over the head coach position on an interim basis.{{Cite news |last=Roblin |first=Scott |date=2023-07-06 |title=Sask. Rattlers make mid-season coaching change, move on from Demopoulos |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9816283/sask-rattlers-coaching-change-demopoulos-fired/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711145820/https://globalnews.ca/news/9816283/sask-rattlers-coaching-change-demopoulos-fired/ |archive-date=2023-07-11}} The team had a 4–3 record under Massey, but were eliminated from playoff contention with a 92–89 loss in their final regular season game against the Calgary Surge.{{Cite news |last=Zary |first=Darren |date=2023-07-29 |title=Season-ender: Surge three-pointer puts an end to Rattlers' playoff hopes |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/local-sports/season-ender-surge-three-pointer-puts-an-end-to-rattlers-playoff-hopes |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807000550/https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/local-sports/season-ender-surge-three-pointer-puts-an-end-to-rattlers-playoff-hopes |archive-date=2023-08-07}} The team hired Larry Abney as its new coach for the 2024 season.{{Cite news |date=2024-02-16 |title=Abney named head coach of Rattlers |url=https://www.tsn.ca/larry-abney-named-head-coach-of-saskatchewan-rattlers-1.2077216 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422192927/https://www.tsn.ca/larry-abney-named-head-coach-of-saskatchewan-rattlers-1.2077216 |archive-date=2024-04-22 |access-date=2024-09-09 |work=TSN}} The team got off to a 5–2 start, which featured a league record 45-point performance from Jalen Harris. However, the Rattlers finished the season winning only one of their final thirteen games to miss the playoffs for a second straight season.{{Cite news |last=Zary |first=Darren |date=2024-08-01 |title=CEBL Saskatchewan Rattlers vow to return after disappointing finish to 2024 season |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/cebl-saskatchewan-rattlers-vow-to-return-after-disappointing-finish-to-2024-season |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801205317/https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/cebl-saskatchewan-rattlers-vow-to-return-after-disappointing-finish-to-2024-season |archive-date=2024-08-01 |access-date=2024-09-09 |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix}}

• {{flagicon|CAN}} Michael Linklater
• {{flagicon|USA}} Tony Carr
• {{flagicon|USA}} JaKeenan Gant
• {{flagicon|USA}} Jalen Harris

CEBL Championships

:

CEBL Community Ambassadors Award

In 2023, the Rattlers announced that they would be replacing the netting at basketball courts across Saskatoon throughout the summer.{{Cite news |date=2023-06-20 |title=Saskatchewan Rattlers sprucing up basketball courts across Saskatoon |work=CKOM |url=https://www.ckom.com/2023/06/20/saskatchewan-rattlers/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024155125/https://www.ckom.com/2023/06/20/saskatchewan-rattlers/ |archive-date=2023-10-24}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.therattlers.ca/ Official website]

{{Canadian Elite Basketball League}}

{{Saskatchewan Sports}}

Category:Basketball teams established in 2018

Category:2018 establishments in Saskatchewan

Category:Basketball in Saskatchewan

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Saskatoon

Category:Canadian Elite Basketball League teams

Category:Basketball teams in Canada