Rattlers ready for strong resurgence in 2022 season

The Saskatchewan Rattlers are eager to start a brand new chapter in 2022.

After going 1-12 in 2021, the Rattlers made multiple changes to the roster with the majority of players and even the coaching staff.

The Rattlers only brought back three players on the roster from last season; Devonté Bandoo, D’Andre Bernard, and Lawrence Moore.

Most notably, the team brought in new Head Coach Dean Demopoulos, who possesses multiple years as an assistant coach at the NBA level with the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers.

General Manager Barry Rawlyk says it’s been exciting to see all of the pieces gel together at training camp and thinks the Rattlers fan base has a lot to look forward to.

“We’re pretty happy to be quite honest. We’ve got some really good talent in the lineup and it’s a question of how those kids are going to play together,” Rawlyk said.

“The thing that makes us happy about it is we’ve been able to really come together as a group pretty quickly,” Rawlyk said about the team chemistry.

With many new faces at training camp, a few players have caught Rawlyk’s eye so far with their attitude and effort level.

“Impressed with Scottie Lindsey and Malik Benlivi in particular. They bring in some G-League experience and even some NBA experience,” he said.

“Another guy who’s got a lot of experience and has looked good (is) Tony Carr, he is looking to be able to do some big things for us.”

Rawlyk says the players have responded well under the new bench boss in Demopoulos.

“It’s his personal preference. He’s used to being around high-level players and coaching at a very high level,” he claimed.

“The way he’s able to present himself is really important to the players and obviously his technical expertise, those things combined with his experience really make him a guy who’s going to really drive this,” Rawlyk said.

Opening night falls this Wednesday when the Rattlers take on the Niagara River Lions at SaskTel Centre.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League welcomed a famous name before opening week after Rapper J. Cole signed with the Scarborough Shooting Stars.

However, Rawlyk and the Rattlers squad are more focused right now on their own team and what they can control.

“From our player’s perspective, they’re really inward-looking. They are just really trying to concentrate on trying to make us the best that we can be, focusing on us and improving day to day,” Rawlyk said.

The Rattlers will play a 20-game season, with ten home games all being played at the SaskTel Centre. While the players may not be focused on it right now, J. Cole and the Shooting Stars will visit the SaskTel Centre on June 15th.

Saskatchewan will be in search of a second title after winning the league’s inaugural Championship in 2019.