Winnipeg Sea Bears hold first training camp

The Winnipeg Sea Bears have officially begun their first training camp as the season tips-off in under ten days — and they aim to make a big splash.

“I hope for the young players, the next generation players, the Sea Bears means a lot, and gives them something to aspire to,” said Mike Taylor, Sea Bears head coach.

“It’s a long way, a lot of work to establish yourself, and we’re just getting started.”

Winnipeg-born talent are hoping to make an impression on their hometown, with Winnipeg’s newest sports team.

“It means a lot to me, it’s exciting that we finally get some basketball in the city,” said Simon Hildebrandt, Sea Bears forward.

Coming in at 6 foot 9, Hildebrandt is a Manitoban through and through. The rookie forward was born in Winnipeg, Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute for high school, and played university ball at the University of Manitoba. He was selected first overall by the Sea Bears, and says the added pressure of playing at home is important.

“It’s good to have a little bit of pressure and I can use that to go forward,” said Hildebrandt.

He says having pro-basketball back in Winnipeg is huge for the aspiring basketball community and says the Sea Bears aim to set a high-quality example.

“These younger kids having a chance to like look up and see pros come to Winnipeg, practice in Winnipeg, it’s just awesome for the kids and the people and the city as a whole.”

Coach Taylor says it was important to load his roster and staff with Winnipeg talent. They actually have 6 Winnipeg players, including returning pro Chad Posthumus, who played 186 games as a pro in Canada, Japan and Argentina.

“The historic first practice of the Sea Bears is under our belt. We feel really good.”

Chad Posthumus knows it’s difficult for an expansion team to enter the league and make noise, but he and coach Taylor are focusing on making this season, about cohesion.

“Playing here in high school and then coming back 13-14 years later with a pro team here, it’s an incredible opportunity. It’s going to be an incredible experience not just for me but for the community to have this,” explained Posthumus.

“Everybody wants to win a championship right? That should be everyone’s goal from the beginning – in terms of what we want to do. We want a have a team that playing together, doing well together, not only on the court but off the court’s a huge thing too. If you’re successful together you’re going to be successful as a group and go far. So our goal is to win a championship, but we want to put a good product on the floor and we want to be there every day, day in and day out succeeding as a unit.”

The Sea Bears kick off their season on May 27 at the Canada Life Centre.