The 2019 Canadian Elite Basketball League Champions now know their path to defending their crown.

The Saskatchewan Rattlers 2020 season schedule was released on November 26th, with some marquee moments to take place throughout.

The moment everyone will be waiting for when the Rattlers raise their championship banner will have to wait one week. The Rattlers will open the CEBL campaign on the road May 8, 2020, against the Fraser Valley Bandits. One week later, the Rattlers CEBL Championship Banner will be raised at their first home game on May 14, 2020, as the team plays host to the Bandits.

The bar was set at incredible heights for the Rattlers, not only did they win the league championship in their inaugural year, the Rattlers lead the league in attendance during the 2019 regular season.

The Rattlers schedule was announced at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in downtown Toronto as part of the league’s complete 2020 schedule launch and the naming of CBC Sports as the CEBL premier media partner. All 20 regular season Rattlers games will be streamed live on CBC Gem, CEBL.tv, and the Island Sports Network.

Saskatchewan will also be part of two nationally televised broadcast as part of the CBC Game of the Week. The Rattlers will be showcased on the road agasint Fraser Valley Bandits on June 20th, before hosting the same Bandits on July 18, both on national television.

“The release of the 2020 season schedule is something that we are truly excited about,'' said Rattlers President & COO Lee Genier. "To be announced in such a landmark way is a testament to the incredible growth of our league in such a short period of time. As we grow closer to the season, fans can rest assured that we are building another championship caliber team. I am excited to see the best fans in the CEBL join us for all 10 home games of the 2020 season as we march towards another historic season."

Highlights of the 2020 Saskatchewan Rattlers schedule include:

  • A total of 20 regular season games during the 14-week campaign.○ Ten home games at the SaskTel Centre.
  • Four Thursday night games, three contests on Saturday, two Friday night games and one game on Sunday afternoon.
  • The CEBL’s newest team, the Ottawa Blackjacks will enter the Snake Pit on June 27.
  • Edmonton Stingers will visit the Snake Pit the most of any team in 2020 with three trips to Saskatoon.
  • The Rattlers will travel to Fraser Valley the most of any teams with three trips to Abbotsford
  • The Rattlers will be away from the SaskTel Centre for three games from July 2 to July 18, the longest road trip of the season.
  • The biggest stretch of home games lasts four contests from May 21 - June 4.
  • One nationally televised game on CBC when the Rattlers travel to Fraser Valley on June 20, and one nationally televised home game versus Niagara on July 18.
  • The regular season home game finale will be July 25, when the Rattlers have a rematch of the 2019 Championship game against the Hamilton Honey Badgers.

Here is the full 2020 Saskatchewan Rattlers Schedule:

If the Saskatchewan Rattlers make it back to the Championship game, the will defend their title in Edmonton, which was announced as the host city.