| Ottawa BlackJacks BlackJacks d'Ottawa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leagues | CEBL |
| Founded | 2019 |
| History | Ottawa BlackJacks (2019–present) |
| Arena | TD Place Arena |
| Capacity | 8,585 |
| Location | Ottawa,Ontario |
| Team colours | Black, Grey, Red |
| President | Mark Wacyk |
| General manager | James Derouin |
| Head coach | David DeAveiro |
| Website | theblackjacks.ca |
TheOttawa BlackJacks (French:BlackJacks d'Ottawa) are a Canadian professionalbasketball team based inOttawa,Ontario.[1] The BlackJacks compete in theCanadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). They play their home games atTD Place Arena, an arena shared with theOttawa 67's of theOntario Hockey League.
The BlackJacks are the second professional basketball team in Ottawa; theOttawa Skyhawks played atCanadian Tire Centre in 2012 to 2014.
2020 Season
Dave Smart was named the inaugural General Manager of the Blackjacks on December 18, 2019.[2]
2021 Season
On July 17, the BlackJacks signed former CEBL champion andNBA G-Leaguer Negus Webster-Chan after he was released by theSaskatchewan Rattlers.[3] On July 19, guardJohnny Berhanemeskel was inactivated due to his contractual obligations with the French teamChorale Roanne Basket. On July 23, the BlackJacks signed three new players, Jadon Cohee, Mamadou Gueye, andAntonio Williams. Additionally, forwardEric Kibi was released after appearing in only one game.[4] On July 27, the BlackJacks secured a playoff spot for the second straight season with an 82-69 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers.[5] In August, the BlackJacks signed former Saskatchewan Rattler centerChad Posthumus. In the playoffs, the Blackjacks upset the 3rd seededHamilton Honey Badgers 96-94 in the quarter-finals. However, they went on to lose to the eventual championEdmonton Stingers in the semi-finals for the second straight year.[6]
2022 Season
In August 2021, the BlackJacks announcedJevohn Shepherd had signed a contract extension to return as the general manager.[7] In November, they announced that Charles Dubé-Brais would also return as head coach.[8] On February 16, 2022, they re-signed Chad Posthumus, who had previously joined the Edmonton Stingers for the2021–22 BCL Americas.[9] After a disappointing 0-3 start to the season, the team parted ways with Head CoachCharles Dubé-Brais.[10]Ottawa Gee-Gees Men's Basketball Head Coach and BlackJacks Director of Basketball Strategy and AnalyticsJames Derouin was appointed Interim Head Coach and lead the team to five wins in its last six games.
2023 Season
Prior to the beginning of the season, the BlackJacks announced James Derouin would remain Head Coach of the team, removing the Interim title from his position.[11] During the2023 CEBL–U Sports Draft, Ottawa selectedUBC Thunderbird Sukhman Sandhu andUniversity of Ottawa star Guillaume Pepin.[12] FormerWashington State Cougars sharpshooterMichael Flowers andToronto RaptorsSummer League team memberAbu Kigab were among the new signings joining the team.[13][14] On July 15, in the midst of an 8-game win streak, the BlackJacks clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot with a victory on the road against theScarborough Shooting Stars.[15] After finishing the regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, the BlackJacks were eliminated from the playoffs by the Shooting Stars in the Conference Semi-Final.[16]
2024 Season
In January 2024, the BlackJacks announcedJames Derouin would serve as both Head Coach and General Manager of the team for the 2024 Season.[17] The BlackJacks selected a trio ofU Sports players with ties to Ottawa during the2024 CEBL Draft, adding guardDragan Stajic and forwardJustin Ndjock-Tadjoré from theOttawa Gee-Gees and forwardMichael Kelvin II of theQueen's Gaels.[18] Notable signings include formerIowa Hawkeyes wingPeter Jok, formerChicago Bulls andNewfoundland Growlers guardBrandon Sampson, andAtlanta HawksSummer League participant andDayton Flyers standoutIbi Watson.[19] The BlackJacks experienced significant roster turnover throughout the season, with season-ending injuries and players departing for other commitments, resulting in a CEBL-record 24 players suiting up for the club over the summer. Ottawa clinched a playoff berth following their win againstSaskatchewan on July 25,[20] and upset the reigning champion Scarborough in the Eastern Conference Play-In[21] before falling to theNiagara River Lions in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final.[22]
2025 Season
On May 23, 2025, theMontreal Alliance will host the Ottawa Blackjacks in a CEBL game outdoors atIGA Stadium. According to the league, "It will be the frst professional five-on-five basketball game held outdoors in Canadian history."[23]
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility atFIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
| Ottawa BlackJacks roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: September 26, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Season | Coach | Regular season | Post season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | |||
| CEBL | ||||||||||
| 2020 | Osvaldo Jeanty | 3 | 3 | .500 | 4th | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost semi-finals | |
| 2021 | Charles Dubé-Brais | 4 | 10 | .286 | 6th | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost semi-finals | |
| 2022 | James Derouin | 8 | 12 | .400 | 8th | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost semi-finals | |
| 2023 | James Derouin | 12 | 8 | .600 | 2nd East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost Quarter-finals | |
| 2024 | James Derouin | 9 | 11 | .450 | 3rd East | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost Quarter-finals | |
| Totals | 36 | 44 | .450 | — | 3 | 5 | .375 | |||
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