A championship game in Brampton lasted less than two minutes Wednesday night before unsafe conditions at the CAA Centre forced the contest to be cancelled, leaving the Brampton Honey Badgers without a chance to host the opening game of their Canadian Elite Basketball League final.

The CEBL championship series between the Honey Badgers and Winnipeg Sea Bears got underway at the CAA Centre, but condensation on the basketball court made the playing surface unsafe.

League officials said the decision to cancel the game was made after consultation with both teams, game officials and venue staff, with the safety of players, officials and fans taking priority.

The game was initially delayed as officials addressed the moisture on the court. Play eventually began, but the conditions quickly proved problematic.

A known dehumidification issue that causes condensation has been a problem at the CAA Centre.

Winnipeg jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Sea Bears, and Honey Badgers traded three-pointers to make it 6-6. The game was then halted for good after just one minute and 46 seconds of action.

The cancellation was particularly disappointing for Brampton, which was supposed to have home-court advantage for Game 1 of the championship series.

The CAA Centre, a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena that opened in 1998, has been home to the Honey Badgers since 2023.

The venue was packed with fans expecting to watch the opening game of the championship series, only to see the contest called off because the court could not be kept safe for play.

The CEBL subsequently announced that the championship will now be decided in a single game in Winnipeg on Saturday.

The league said the three-game championship series could not be completed within the scheduled window following Wednesday’s cancellation. As a result, it is reverting to the single-game championship format used from 2019 through 2025.

The Saturday game had originally been scheduled as Game 2, with a third game in Winnipeg on Sunday if necessary.

For Brampton, the abrupt change means the Honey Badgers have lost the opportunity to play a championship game in front of their home crowd and will now have to win the title on Winnipeg’s home court.

The Honey Badgers enter the matchup with a recent edge over the Sea Bears. Brampton defeated Winnipeg 96-92 at the CAA Centre in May and then edged the Sea Bears 88-86 in Winnipeg on July 25.

Brampton finished second in the Eastern Conference during the regular season with an 11-13 record. The Honey Badgers then defeated the Ottawa BlackJacks in the East semifinal before knocking off the two-time defending champion Niagara River Lions in the conference final.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, advanced through the Western Conference after defeating the Saskatoon Mamba and then upsetting the Vancouver Bandits in the West final.

The Honey Badgers are seeking their second CEBL championship in four seasons, while Winnipeg is looking for the first title in franchise history.

All tickets for Wednesday’s cancelled game are being refunded.


INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies

Last 30 Days: 38,440 Votes

All Time: 1,468,067 Votes

1305 VOTES
Should Canada make more concessions to try to get a trade deal with the U.S.?

WIN A $100 GIFT CARD

Subscribe to INsauga’s daily email newsletter for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.