This week, history was made in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) as the Ottawa BlackJacks hosted the Montreal Alliance for a game that transcended beyond the usual excitement of basketball. The match, held on Tuesday, June 11th, was a landmark event featuring an all-female Canadian officiating crew—MP Malo, Fei Xiang, and Christine Vuong—marking the first time a professional men’s basketball game was officiated by an all-female team in Canada. This significant event was part of the BlackJacks’ Women in Sports night, a celebration of the incredible contributions of women at all levels of sports.
Christine Vuong, MP Malo, and Fei Xiang officiated on June 11th. Photo: Pedro Decimus
The presence of Malo, Xiang, and Vuong symbolized a crucial step towards gender equality in sports. Their exceptional performance underscored their expertise and the importance of providing more opportunities for female referees in major leagues.
Adding to the evening’s celebration of women in sports, the halftime show featured a 3-point competition between two of Ottawa’s finest university basketball talents—Natsuki Szczokin from the University of Ottawa and Océane Kounkou from Carleton University. The competition showcased their remarkable shooting skills and served as an inspiration to young female athletes. Following their head-to-head contest, Szczokin and Kounkou presented basketballs to young girls from the Wolverines GBCA program and shared insights into their athletic journeys, encouraging the next generation to pursue their dreams with determination and passion.
Océane Kounkouhe and Natsuki Szczokin with players from the Wolverines GBCA program. Photo: Pedro Decimus
Despite the festive atmosphere, the game itself was a challenging one for the BlackJacks. Coming off their first win of the season in Montreal on June 5th, Ottawa aimed to secure their first home victory. However, Montreal, eager to avenge their earlier loss, displayed an improved and much more cohesive performance. Their offensive onslaught saw them leading by as much as 36 points. Nevertheless, the BlackJacks showed resilience, embarking on a spirited 17-3 run, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. The game concluded with a 104-89 loss for Ottawa, leaving them with a 0-2 home record and 1-4 overall for the season.
Coach James Derouin reflected on the performance, acknowledging the challenges faced by his team.
They’re finding all different ways to get in the paint … and we focused on that in practice but somewhere along the line with some of the new lineups and new guys that we tried it didn’t look in sync on both ends. It looked a little discombobulated out there, but we’ll get to work on that and get everybody integrated.
A standout performance from Tyrell Tate, who scored 33 points off the bench with 52% shooting, provided a glimmer of hope for the BlackJacks’ future games.
Photo: Pedro Decimus
The BlackJacks now look ahead as they prepare to go on the road to face the defending champions, the Scarborough Shooting Stars. With a challenging season so far, the team is determined to regroup and get back on the winning track. As they continue to navigate the ups and downs of the season, the historic Women in Sports night remains a bright spot, reminding everyone of the importance of inclusivity and the incredible potential of female referees in professional sports.
The Ottawa BlackJacks and the CEBL’s commitment to showcasing and empowering women in sports is a significant stride towards a more equitable and inclusive sports landscape. Here’s to more nights that celebrate the diversity and talent that make the world of sports so vibrant and inspiring.
The Ottawa BlackJacks play at TD Arena. You can buy tickets online or at the TD Arena Box Office beginning at $35. Accessible seating is available.
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