(Interstat) — Canadian Elite Basketball League

Fraser Valley at Winnipeg

Thursday, June 18, 2026, 7 p.m. CT, Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Records: Fraser Valley Bandits 10-4, Winnipeg Sea Bears 8-7.

The Fraser Valley Bandits, leaders of the Canadian Elite Basketball League standings, visit the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Thursday at Canada Life Centre in a battle of conference contenders.

Fraser Valley (10-4) enters on a sour note, dropping a 108-105 home decision to Scarborough on Monday. Forward Mitchell Creek logged 34 minutes, posting 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the loss. The Bandits have won seven of their last nine games overall and boast the league’s top scoring offense, averaging 105.3 points per contest.

Winnipeg (8-7) rides a two-game winning streak after a 107-88 victory at Calgary on Sunday. Center Jeremiah Tilmon dominated that matchup with 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 29 minutes. The Sea Bears have been inconsistent this season, alternating wins and losses over their past eight outings, but have shown explosive potential, as evidenced by a 117-88 rout at Ottawa on June 4.

The teams last met Aug. 3, 2025, when Fraser Valley routed Winnipeg 106-74 on the Bandits’ home floor. The Sea Bears will look to flip that script in front of their home crowd.

Thursday’s game kicks off a pivotal stretch for both clubs. Fraser Valley returns home to face Hamilton on Saturday, while Winnipeg hosts Edmonton the same night. The Bandits and Sea Bears will meet again June 27 in Fraser Valley.

Key individual matchups will likely hinge on the play of Creek and Tilmon. Creek, the Bandits’ leading scorer, has averaged 24.7 points over his last three games. Tilmon, a force in the paint, has recorded double-doubles in two of his past four appearances, including a 13-point, nine-rebound effort in a 92-72 win over Calgary on June 12.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.