Abbotsford – The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday two executive promotions for its westernmost club, the Fraser Valley Bandits, promoting Dylan Kular from vice president to president and Andrew Savory from director of operations to vice president.
Kular and Savory joined the organization in July and October 2018, respectively, and have worked in tandem with CEBL head office to develop a community footprint in the Fraser Valley that has seen the Bandits consistently perform among the league’s best in per game attendance, open the league’s flagship CEBL Academy at the TELUS Bandits Athletic Centre in Abbotsford and earn trips to the CEBL finals and semifinals in 2020 and 2021.
“The CEBL is thrilled to announce these promotions in the Fraser Valley. Dylan has been a steadfast leader and has built a dedicated front office and roster that have proven their capabilities both on the court and in the business community. The Bandits are a committed and engaged cornerstone of the Fraser Valley and I look forward to Dylan and Andrew taking the Bandits to even greater heights ahead of what will be an exciting 2022 season,” said CEBL commissioner and CEO Mike Morreale.
The CEBL became the first Canadian professional sports league to return to play following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when it commenced and executed the CEBL Summer Series in July-August 2020. In 2021, the Bandits built upon this historic feat by becoming the first professional sports team in B.C. to welcome fans back in stands on July 14. The soldout affair set the stage for three consecutive regular season sellouts hosted at Abbotsford Centre by the Bandits, as well as a sold-out quarterfinal postseason 104-84 victory against the Guelph Nighthawks on Aug. 15.
Kular was previously named vice president in September 2019. Since stepping into the role, Kular has hired current general manager, Kyle Julius, who led the Bandits to the championship game at the CEBL Summer Series in 2020. Despite falling to Edmonton in the final, the Bandits ranked among the CEBL’s leading teams in several statistical categories; including first in point differential (+7), second in points (87.7) and steals (10) per game.
“It’s a privilege to lead this great organization and I’m very grateful to the CEBL for the opportunity. As we continue to build off a strong 2020 season, our priority will be to continue expanding our reach across the Fraser Valley and British Columbia,” Kular said.
“To do that alongside Andrew is an honour. Since 2018 Andrew has been an integral pillar to this team and there was not a single hesitation in putting Andrew in a leadership position. Andrew continues to demonstrate he is an up-and-coming leader in sport through projects such as #IAmValley, the TELUS Bandits Athletic Centre and leading one of the premier game day experiences in British Columbia — that being a Fraser Valley Bandits gameday.”
Following a successful 2020 campaign on the court, Kular and Savory set out to make a positive impact in the community by renovating a 16,000 unit at West Oaks Mall in Abbotsford. The TELUS Bandits Athletic Centre opened in January 2021 and is a home for kids, adults and sports organizations to utilize a multi-sport facility with five distinct sport zones, including basketball, baseball and softball, volleyball and weightlifting. Today, the facility is currently home to more than 30 rental groups from across the Fraser Valley who use the venue on a daily and weekly basis.
Two months later, the Bandits aligned with the regional health authority, Fraser Health, in the fight against COVID-19. In a March 24 news release from the provincial government, the Bandits among other organizations from the tourism and hospitality sectors were announced as partners in the province’s immunization efforts. Since late March and throughout the CEBL season, the Bandits have worked in concert with Fraser Health to support the day-to-day non-clinical logistics at its COVID-19 vaccination sites in Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
With a firm dedication to growing its community in 2021, the Bandits set an exciting tone for an electric 2021 CEBL regular season. Fraser Valley ultimately fell 84-82 in a climactic semifinal against Niagara at Championship Weekend in Edmonton, but the club performed strongly across several statistical categories during the regular season. Notable team statistics include first in blocks per game (3.9) total rebounds per game (43.8), second in points per game (85.9), total point differential (+14) and offensive rebounds per game (13.9), as well as third in points against per game (84.9).
The CEBL’s executive promotions in Fraser Valley are effective immediately as the club looks to build upon the promising precedent built in 2021 ahead of the upcoming 2022 regular season.
