The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Vernon, Surge excited to make noise
Year 2 is new again.
Not quite like Year 1 — the maiden voyage of the Calgary Surge.
But in what often is the case because of so much turnover in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, it’s a fresh look for the city’s professional basketball club in its second season …
Right from the opening tip-off.
“Just excited to be here,” said newly appointed head coach Tyrell Vernon, on the eve of the campaign at hand. “Just being a part of the fabric of Calgary basketball and trying to grow the Surge in the city is going to be exciting.”
That excitement began Tuesday night with the host Surge tipping off the CEBL campaign against the archrival Edmonton Stingers at Scotiabank Saddledome.
It’s a different home venue for the team — at least for one game before returning to the cozy confines of Winsport — as the Surge try to expand their reach within the city.
So call it a new year for the Surge, starting in a new home, with a new coach.
And a new lineup for the most part, with just three familiar faces returning from last year’s roster that made it all the way to the CEBL’S championship game.
“We already kind of all get along,” said one of those returning talents in guard Sean Miller-moore, the leader of the Surge. “Guys that are returning are keeping that competitive fire alive. We’re letting the new guys know this is an organization that’s about nothing less than making the playoffs and further.”
The young guys include guards Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto), Corey Davis Jr. (Louisiana) and — Calgary’s own — Mathieu Kamba.
The fresh forwards are Matt Grace (Hamilton, Ont.), Justin Lewis (Maryland), Billy Preston Jr. (Los Angeles), Emmanuel Ansah (Mississauga, Ont.) and Gabe Osabuohien (Toronto).
And those without pro experience are U Sports draftees Dondre Reddick of the St. Francis Xavier X-men, Mike Demagus and Noah Wharton, all guards.
“I’m confident in the abilities of the new guys to make an impact, for sure,” Miller-Moore said. “We can all relate to each other. I can just tell we’re a family already.”
Getting this new bunch to mesh together is, of course, the responsibility of Vernon, who, during the winter season, is head coach of the X-men.
“I’m in a new area with a new team, and I’m excited about the opportunity,” said Vernon, himself known as a players’ coach. “I can see the guys are working hard already. What I’m most impressed with early on is the compete level. Everybody wants to win, and I know the expectations are kind of to go all the way.
“The talent is definitely there,” added Vernon. “I think the versatility and switchability is there. We’re going to be really athletic. We’re going to play downhill. It’s going to be an exciting style of play, for sure.
“If we do the things that we know we can do well, we can control our own destiny.”