The Winnipeg Sea Bears won their inaugural game Saturday against the Vancouver Bandits in front of a sold-out crowd at the Canada Life Centre.

The newest team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League&nbsp;beat Vancouver 90-85.

Ahead of Saturday's game, coach Mike Taylor said the team has appreciated fans' excitement for the new team and has been working hard at training camp, which opened on May 19, to capture a win.&nbsp;

"We can feel the enthusiasm, the energy in the city," he said.&nbsp;

Winnipeg-born basketball player returns home to play in Sea Bears' inaugural season

Chad Posthumus is excited to be back in his hometown to play pro basketball.  The 6-11 forward played college ball in the U.S. before short stints with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder. Posthumus recently sat down with Marjorie Dowhos ahead of the Winnipeg Sea Bears' debut in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Winnipeg Sea Bears become 10th Canadian Elite Basketball League franchise

The Winnipeg Sea Bears are the latest team to join the growing Canadian Elite Basketball League, and will kick off their inaugural season in 2023.

The logo for the Winnipeg Sea Bears basketball team is seen in an undated handout image. The Canadian Elite Basketball League introduced the Sea Bears as its newest member during a Wednesday news conference at Canada Life Centre, the team’s home arena when it begins play in the 2023 season.

BKO-CEBL-SEA-BEARS 20221130

"I think the city's welcome for the Sea Bears is going to be a big one and we want to go out there and put our hearts into the game and play as well as we can you know obviously to start off with a win."

A white man with a white basketball jersey with green lettering stands next to a black man with a black jersey with green lettering. 

The Winnipeg Sea Bears practice ahead of their match against the Vancouver Bandits on Saturday, May 27, 2023. 

sea bears practice may 27 

Tickets to Saturday's game were sold out.&nbsp;

Fans gathered for a pre-game party at True North Square Saturday afternoon.&nbsp;

Four kids cheer with two holding signs saying 'go sea bears go', with one boy with medium length brown hair jumping in the air. Two adults dressed in blue green shirts with a bear logo look on.

Basketball fans gathered in True North Square Saturday afternoon ahead of the Winnipeg Sea Bears' first home game. 

sea bears fans May 27 2023

One of those fans was Mike Johnston, who said the new teams means a lot for the city.&nbsp;

"I'm not shy about how much I already like this team," he said.&nbsp;

"I think it's fantastic for the city, and I've been waiting for this since back in the Thunder days, so it's huge for the city."&nbsp;

A white man with short grey hair lets out a cheer. 

Gabriel Langlois, better known as Dancing Gabe, lets out a cheer during a pre-game party in True North Square for the Winnipeg Sea Bears' first home game Saturday, May 27, 2023.

dancing gabe sea bears 

Sea Bear point guard Glen Yang said he's already feeling the love.&nbsp;

"You can tell the city is more than ready for a pro basketball team here and hopefully we give a good product," he said.

"I think it's exciting for everybody because it's new for us, it's new for the fans and everyone feels like they're part of something bigger than themselves."

A man with a goatee stands while speaking to a reporter. 

Winnipeg Sea Bears point guard Glen Yang said he can tell the city is excited to have a new pro-basketball team to root for. 

sea bears glen yang 

The Sea Bears face off against the Brampton Honey Badgers on Thursday.&nbsp;

Their next home game is on June 12, when they play the Edmonton Stingers.

A man shoots hoops during a pre-game party in True North Square Saturday afternoon, ahead of the Winnipeg Sea Bears match against the Vancouver Bandits. 

Winnipeg Sea Bears clinch inaugural game in front of sold-out crowd

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