The Canadian Elite Basketball League champion Saskatchewan Rattlers will have a new opponent next season.

The Ottawa Blackjacks have been added to the six team league which started play in the spring of 2019.

The BlackJacks represent the first expansion franchise for Canada’s only First Division professional basketball league, joining charter teams in Edmonton, Guelph, Fraser Valley, Hamilton, Niagara and reigning champion, Saskatchewan. The BlackJacks inaugural season schedule will be released on November 26 as part of the release of the entire CEBL season schedule.

The CEBL will begin the process of hiring senior administration for the BlackJacks immediately.

The Rattlers will also have a new coach and general manager. Greg Jockims stepped down from the position to devote more time to family, his teaching career and business ventures.