Calgary Surge names Shane James as team's first GM
With less than three months remaining until the team's home opener, the Calgary Surge have handed the reins to a prestigious name in Canadian basketball circles.
The Canadian Elite Basketball League club announced Wednesday that Shane James had been hired as the team's first general manager.
James served as assistant general manager for the Guelph Nighthawks for the last two seasons prior to the league's decision to relocate the team to Calgary and rebrand as the Surge.
The 38-year-old Toronto native's path to Calgary included four years as a guard in NCAA Div. 1 with the Loyola University of Maryland Greyhounds and stints with professional squads in the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Mexico.
"I am honoured to join the Calgary Surge as the club's first general manager and to work in partnership with Jason (Ribeiro, Surge vice-chairman and president) and the Surge front office to build a championship-winning roster," said James in a statement released Wednesday. "I loved my time recruiting and signing players with the Guelph Nighthawks and am ready to continue this work in the great city of Calgary.
"I have been really impressed with what the Surge are doing in community and for youth since launching in October. Surge fans can look forward to an entertaining basketball experience when they pass through the doors of WinSport Event Centre beginning this spring."
James has already had a significant impact on youth basketball in Canada, founding the Under Armour Canada Elite AAU basketball program and serving as the program's director.
The signing of James was praised by two-time NBA Executive of the Year Brian Colangelo.
"Shane James is a great hire for the Surge as they prepare for their inaugural season in the CEBL," said the former Toronto Raptors general manager. "Shane's proven and successful experiences as a player, coach, and people manager, combined with his innate ability to identify talent, build organizational culture, and lead players, will greatly benefit the Surge in developing an elite-level basketball program from the ground up."
James has his work cut out for him in compiling a roster and coaching staff ahead of the Calgary Surge debut on May 27 at WinSport against the Edmonton Stingers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.