5 things you need to know about the Saskatchewan Rattlers

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The Saskatchewan Rattlers are looking to get back into the win column with a pair of games over the Canada Day long weekend.

Here are five things to know about the Rattlers this weekend.

1) Rattlers with the longest service record

The Rattlers have added a familiar face to their roster.

The Rattlers have extended the contract of veteran 2.03-metre forward D’Andre Bernard in preparation for their Canadian Elite Basketball League game on Saturday evening (7:30 p.m. game time) at the SaskTel Center against the visiting Niagara River Lions.

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The Ajax native returns to the CEBL for his fourth season and adds athleticism and size to the Rattlers front court. Bernard earned the 2024 Rattlers Man of the People Award for his work in the community. He is the longest-tenured player in franchise history.

“D’Andre has always demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Rattlers organization, both on and off the court,” said Barry Rawlyk, Rattlers general manager and vice president of basketball operations.

“We had to do the right thing and reward that loyalty by re-signing him to the team this year. His character and veteran experience will be a great asset to the team.”

2) Extended season in 2025

The CEBL announced this week that the league will expand its regular season to a 24-game format in 2025, increasing from 100 to 120 regular-season games next summer.

In addition, next year the season will start about a week earlier in early May and end two weeks later in August.

“It’s clear that our fans and partners want more CEBL basketball and our players deserve more opportunities to showcase their skills and earn more,” said CEBL Commissioner and Co-Founder Mike Morreale.

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For the Rattlers, that means four additional regular season games and two more home games.

Since the inaugural season in 2019, CEBL teams have played a 20-game schedule.

This season, more than 50 CEBL games will be broadcast nationally on TSN or the Game+ channel.

3) 3-game losing streak

The Rattlers (5-5) are looking to break their longest losing streak of the season this weekend.

Saskatchewan has lost its last three games. They lost at home to Calgary Surge and away they lost heartbreakingly to Vancouver Bandits and Winnipeg Sea Bears.

Niagara (6-4) comes to Saskatoon coming off a 94-82 loss to the Sea Bears on Thursday night in Winnipeg. From there, the Rattlers head to Edmonton for a July 1 game in Edmonton against the Stingers (7-3).

4) Harris leads team

Saskatchewan is still led by former NBA Toronto Raptor guard Jalen Harris, who averages 26 points per game, along with 4.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game.

NBA G League Clipper guard Elijah Harkless is next, averaging 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and a team-leading 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

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Maurice Calloo averages 14.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

Saskatchewan has allowed 925 points in 10 games while scoring 893 points in that span.

The Rattlers are tied for fifth in rebounding (393) and seventh in scoring (893 points). Saskatchewan ranks last in the CEBL with 169 assists.

5) Second half of the season

The Rattlers have nine games scheduled for the month of July, during which they will play the second half of the season.

Four of those matches will be played at home.

Saskatchewan will host the Scarborough Shooting Stars on July 5, Winnipeg Sea Bears on July 11, Calgary Surge on July 14 and Edmonton Stingers on July 20.

The Rattlers close out the regular season with an Eastern Road Swing with games in Ottawa against the Blackjacks and Montreal against the Alliance.

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