Ottawa BlackJacks

The Ottawa BlackJacks (BlackJacks d'Ottawa) are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The BlackJacks compete in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). They play their home games at TD Place Arena, an arena shared with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League.

Background
The BlackJacks are the second professional basketball team in Ottawa, the Ottawa Skyhawks played at Canadian Tire Centre in 2012 to 2014.

Team history
2020 Season

Dave Smart was named the inaugural General Manager of the Blackjacks on December 18, 2019.

2021 Season

On July 17, the BlackJacks signed former CEBL champion and NBA G-Leaguer Negus Webster-Chan after he was released by the Saskatchewan Rattlers. On July 19, guard Johnny Berhanemeskel was inactivated due to his contractual obligations with the French team Chorale Roanne Basket. On July 23, the BlackJacks signed three new players, Jadon Cohee, Mamadou Gueye, and Antonio Williams. Additionally, forward Eric Kibi was released after appearing in only one game. On July 27, the BlackJacks secured a playoff spot for the second straight season with an 82-69 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers. In August, the BlackJacks signed former Saskatchewan Rattler center Chad Posthumus. In the playoffs, the Blackjacks upset the 3rd seeded Hamilton Honey Badgers 96-94 in the quarter-finals. However, they went on to lose to the eventual champion Edmonton Stingers in the semi-finals for the second straight year.

2022 Season

In August 2021, the BlackJacks announced Jevohn Shepherd had signed a contract extension to return as the general manager. In November, they announced that Charles Dubé-Brais would also return as head coach. On February 16, 2022, they re-signed Chad Posthumus, who had previously joined the Edmonton Stingers for the 2021–22 BCL Americas. After a disappointing 0-3 start to the season, the team parted ways with Head Coach Charles Dubé-Brais. Ottawa Gee-Gees Men's Basketball Head Coach and BlackJacks Director of Basketball Strategy and Analytics James Derouin was appointed Interim Head Coach and lead the team to five wins in its last six games.

2023 Season
Prior to the beginning of the season, the BlackJacks announced James Derouin would remain Head Coach of the team, removing the Interim title from his position. During the 2023 CEBL–U Sports Draft, Ottawa selected UBC Thunderbird Sukhman Sandhu and University of Ottawa star Guillaume Pepin. Former Washington State Cougars sharpshooter Michael Flowers and Toronto Raptors Summer League team member Abu Kigab were among the new signings joining the team. On July 15, in the midst of an 8-game win streak, the BlackJacks clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot with a victory on the road against the Scarborough Shooting Stars. After finishing the regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, the BlackJacks were eliminated from the playoffs by the Shooting Stars in the Conference Semi-Final.

2024 Season
In January 2024, the BlackJacks announced James Derouin would serve as both Head Coach and General Manager of the team for the 2024 Season. The BlackJacks selected a trio of U Sports players with ties to Ottawa during the 2024 CEBL Draft, adding guard Dragan Stajic and forward Justin Ndjock-Tadjoré from the Ottawa Gee-Gees and forward Michael Kelvin II of the Queen's Gaels. Notable signings include former Iowa Hawkeyes wing Peter Jok, former Chicago Bulls and Newfoundland Growlers guard Brandon Sampson, and Atlanta Hawks Summer League participant and Dayton Flyers standout Ibi Watson.