Calgary Surge making all the right moves during inaugural season
The Calgary Surge has only just started playing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League but already, the team has made a mark in the community.
The Surge is going about things the right way on and off the court.
The team is visiting communities and playing a winning brand of basketball.
And is 3-1 to start the season.
Forward Justin Jackson says he's not surprised at the hot start.
"I'm not really shocked or anything," Jackson said.
"I mean, we have a great team. I knew from the first practice we were going to do great things. It's really just about us now. We've got to lock in on whatever the coach (Nelson Terroba) is telling us to do.
"We've got to respect practice and we've got to do all of the things that, you know, brought us to that level and continue to get better."
AMAZING VIBE
The city has certainly embraced the Surge.
In its first-ever game at Winsport, the Surge beat the defending champ, the Edmonton Stingers, in front of a sellout crowd.
In the team's second home game, it drew almost 2,500 fans in a thrilling 85-82 victory over Niagara.
Forward Deon Ejim says he's having a great time in Calgary
"I think the vibe has been amazing and the fans have been behind our back," Ejim said.
"We always try to be great role models for these kids growing up and we can just see that connection to the community.
"A lot of them are asking around who we are and seeing these big tall guys everywhere. It's been a great vibe and we all like it as a team and we want to win for Calgary."
BIG TEST AGAINST BLACKJACKS
Up next for the Surge: the Ottawa BlackJacks on Friday night at Winsport.
Ottawa is also off to a 3-1 start, so it's going to be a big test.
Jackson says he's familiar with some of the players in Ottawa.
"I went to school with a few of the guys on the team in Ottawa, so I mean, it's always a good matchup when you get to go against some old-time friends," Jackson said.
"They're a really great team. They're also 3-1 and they've had a lot of great wins and they have some great players, so it's going to be a battle."
EJIM HAS CALGARY CONNECTION
Ejim says he does have some familiarity with Calgary.
His sister Yvonne played high school basketball at Bishop Carrol High School and at the Edge School.
"I think she really drew me in toward Calgary," Ejim said.
"She told me a lot of good things about the city and I'm super excited to be here and actually be around where she had her stomping grounds.
"It's been a great opportunity to be here and be around my family and just continue to grow and try to be a Calgarian one day."
Ejim's sister now goes to Gonzaga University.
Tip-off for Friday night's game between the Surge and the BlackJacks is 7 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.