Hometown heroes give Winnipeg Sea Bears momentum heading into home opener
Posted May 15, 2026 3:58 pm.
Last Updated May 16, 2026 10:49 am.
The Winnipeg Sea Bears are heading into their home opener Saturday night with confidence and excitement after opening the Canadian Elite Basketball League season with a dramatic win in Edmonton last weekend.
Much of the attention following the season-opening victory has centred on Winnipeg-born guard Mason Kraus, who delivered in clutch fashion by sinking the game-winning free throw.
Kraus, who recently completed his senior season with the University of Manitoba Bisons, spent limited time on the floor during his first season with the Sea Bears last year. But when his opportunity came against Edmonton, the hometown player made the most of it, finishing with 12 points and sealing the victory late at the free-throw line.
“It was awesome, just the opportunity that (Coach) Raimbault game me, and he just told me like hey, just be ready, there’s going to be a chance you get in, and whenever you get on the floor you just gotta compete, and that’s just my job, whenever I get in work hard, fight for it, and my shots were knocking down, guys were finding me so it was awesome,” said Mason Kraus.
Former CEBL MVP Teddy Allen said the team was thrilled to see Kraus step up in a key moment.
“Awesome for him, proud of him, happy for him, you know he’s from here so obviously it means more, but I’m happy for anyone on our team who can help us win you know, I trust everyone on the team in those positions, and everybody on this team will have a chance to step up and help us win games,” said Allen.
Sea Bears forward Simon Hildebrandt, another Winnipeg native and University of Manitoba alumnus, returned to the team this season for the first time since 2024. Hildebrandt played alongside Kraus during their years with the Bisons and said seeing his former teammate succeed at the professional level was special.
“I know he’s such a hard worker, a guy who puts everything into the game so to see him have that success was very cool,” said Hildebrandt.
Hildebrandt added that reconnecting with Kraus on the court has been meaningful.
“It was awesome, you know two of my favourite and best years of my basketball careers were playing with the Bisons and playing with Mason, so one just to get to play with him again, just a surreal feeling, I thought maybe it was done, maybe we wouldn’t play again after I left, and just to see him thrive in that environment and hit the game-winner, hit two huge free throws, I couldn’t be happier for him,” he said.
The team’s energy was high during practice Friday as players prepared to play in front of a packed home crowd for the first time this season.
Allen said Winnipeg’s fans create one of the league’s strongest home-court advantages.
“Even like in the G league, as high a level as that is, sometimes the crowds aren’t that raucous and rowdy, and they don’t play as much of a factor, but playing here you have the best home advantage in the league, so like I said hopefully like I said we can defend home court and keep them coming out,” said Allen.
For Kraus, Saturday’s game will mark his first opportunity to experience that atmosphere as a Sea Bear player.
“Yeah I haven’t played in front of the fans yet, so I’m excited, it’s always a great atmosphere so I cant wait,” he said.
The Sea Bears host the Saskatoon Rattlers in their home opener Saturday night, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. in Winnipeg.
