Brampton Honey Badgers

Lore & Background

The franchise was announced on May 2, 2018, as one of the original six teams for the CEBL's inaugural season beginning May 2019. On June 12, 2018, the team's logo and name—Hamilton Honey Badgers—were unveiled, inspired by the world's most fearless animal. Former Toronto Raptors executive John Lashway was named team president, and on December 19, 2019, Jermaine Anderson was appointed general manager. The Honey Badgers won their first game on May 12, 2019, defeating Edmonton 103–86 at home. They made the playoffs that season, beating the Niagara River Lions before losing in the CEBL Finals to the Saskatchewan Rattlers. The team won their first CEBL championship on August 14, 2022, defeating the Ottawa BlackJacks.

Reader's Guide

The Brampton Honey Badgers represent a significant chapter in the growth of professional basketball in Canada, particularly within the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Their 2022 CEBL championship, a 90–88 victory over the Scarborough Shooting Stars on August 14, 2022, earned them a berth in the 2022–23 BCL Americas, marking the franchise's first international competition. The team's relocation from Hamilton to Brampton in November 2022, prompted by renovations to the FirstOntario Centre, solidified their presence in the Greater Toronto Area. In March 2025, the Honey Badgers were purchased from the CEBL by Canadian businessman Leonard Asper, becoming the eighth privately owned team in the league. The team's history includes notable players such as Elijah Mitrou-Long, Christian Vital, and Brianté Weber, and they continue to compete under head coach Alex Cerda.

Did You Know?

• The Honey Badgers were originally founded as the Hamilton Honey Badgers in 2018.
• They won their first CEBL championship on August 14, 2022, against the Ottawa BlackJacks.
• Their nickname was inspired by the world's most fearless animal.

Origins & Identity in Hamilton

The Brampton Honey Badgers trace their roots back to May 2, 2018, when the Canadian Elite Basketball League revealed that Hamilton, Ontario, would be home to one of its six founding franchises for the league's inaugural 2019 season. Just over a month later, on June 12, 2018, a press conference unveiled the team's identity: the Hamilton Honey Badgers, a moniker drawn from the reputation of the honey badger as the most fearless creature on Earth. That same event introduced John Lashway, a former Toronto Raptors executive, as the franchise's president. The organization would later bring in Jermaine Anderson as general manager in December 2019. The team called the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton home from their debut season through 2022, building their competitive identity in that original market before the eventual permanent move westward to Brampton.

Competitive Journey & First Championship

The Honey Badgers' inaugural campaign in 2019 kicked off with a statement: a 103–86 home victory over Edmonton on May 12. That season they advanced to the playoffs, knocking out the Niagara River Lions before falling short in the CEBL Finals against the Saskatchewan Rattlers. The frustration of that near-miss set the stage for redemption. On August 14, 2022, the franchise captured its first championship, edging the Scarborough Shooting Stars 90–88 in a nail-biter. That title also secured a berth in the 2022–23 BCL Americas, elevating the team onto an international stage. Over the years, the Honey Badgers have accumulated a deep shelf of honours, including Eastern Conference titles, regular-season top-team finishes, and multiple All-CEBL selections. Individual accolades have spanned the CEBL Finals MVP, Coach of the Year, Canadian Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year, and Community Ambassador Award, reflecting a culture that values both on-court excellence and off-court engagement.

Relocation & New Ownership

The Honey Badgers' move from Hamilton to Brampton was not a matter of choice but of circumstance. On November 28, 2022, the CEBL announced that renovations to the FirstOntario Centre would force the franchise to relocate permanently to Brampton, Ontario, where they now compete at the CAA Centre. The transition marked a new chapter for a team that had spent its formative years in Hamilton. Ownership dynamics shifted again on March 4, 2025, when Canadian businessman Leonard Asper purchased the Honey Badgers from the CEBL. Prior to that sale, the team had been league-owned, but Asper's acquisition made the Honey Badgers the eighth privately owned franchise in the CEBL. Notably, Leonard is the older brother of David Asper, who owns the Winnipeg Sea Bears, linking two Canadian basketball franchises through a single family. The team is now led on the sideline by head coach Alex Cerda, who was hired in 2026.

Notable Players & Roster Legacy

The Honey Badgers have attracted a steady stream of talent that has helped define their competitive identity. Among the most recognizable names to wear the franchise's colours are Elijah Mitrou-Long, Christian Vital, and Brianté Weber, each bringing a distinct skill set that contributed to the team's playoff runs and championship success. The roster's depth has been a factor in the organization's ability to contend consistently in the CEBL, earning multiple All-CEBL Team selections across both the First and Second All-Star Teams, as well as All-Canadian Team honours. The team's culture, shaped by leadership figures like former Raptors executive John Lashway and general manager Jermaine Anderson, has emphasized both competitive intensity and community connection, as evidenced by the Community Ambassador Award on the franchise's honour list. Under the current coaching regime of Alex Cerda, the Honey Badgers continue to build on that foundation from their Brampton home at the CAA Centre.