Calgary Surge fly to Winnipeg this weekend in search of first league title

It's championship weekend for the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and the Calgary Surge will head to Winnipeg for it.

Evan Gilyard loves to be on the basketball court, practicing three-pointers and free throws.

And all of that hard work paid off on the weekend for the Surge guard.

Gilyard had the ball in his hands with the game on the line and sunk all three of his free throws to lift the Surge past the Vancouver Bandits 105-103 in the Western Conference semi-final.

Gilyard says it’s a moment he’ll never forget.

“Those moments are the moments you dream of when you’re a kid,” said the 27-year-old from Chicago.

“It felt good. It felt like a little kid on the line and just living out my dream.”

The dream will continue for Gilyard and his teammates as they’re now off to Winnipeg for championship weekend.

Gilyard loves the way the team has been playing down the stretch with six straight wins, and he expects the same on championship weekend.

“I think we’ve just got to go out there and play with effort and play with heart, make smart decisions and play as a team, be a family and be there for each other,” he said.

For many of the players on the Surge, this will be their first time playing for the CEBL Championship.

Guard Khyri Thomas is one of them, and he says this is what you play for.

“This is my first year playing, so I’m excited,” said the 29-year-old guard out of Omaha.

“I know this team has been pretty good in the playoffs in previous seasons, but to win a championship, I feel, would mean something. We have a pretty solid team, and I’m confident in all of my guys.”

In search of first title

This is the third straight year the Surge have advanced to championship weekend, but they have yet to win the league title.

Head coach Kaleb Canales is hoping the third time will be the charm.

“Our approach has been the same all season,” he said.

“We’ve treated every game like a playoff game regardless if it’s at home or on the road. We knew it was going to be a difficult road, but our eyes are on the prize and we’re locked into getting a trophy.”

The Surge will open up championship weekend on Friday night against the Winnipeg Sea Bears in the Western Conference final.

The winner of that game will go on to face either the Scarborough Shooting Stars or the Niagara River Lions in the final on Sunday.