Xavier Moon had been instrumental in scoring the last five points for the Winnipeg Sea Bears, bringing the team within two points of securing the franchise’s inaugural CEBL championship.
As he advanced the ball during Target Score Time, the crowd of 12,519 at the Canada Life Centre would not have faulted the three-time MVP if he chose to take the decisive shot himself.
Instead, he passed the ball to DJ Burns in the post, who swiftly kicked it out to Simon Hildebrandt, positioned beyond the three-point line.
Swish. The Sea Bears claimed victory.
“When that shot went up and went in, my mind kind of went blank. I felt a mix of emotions. It took me a couple of hours to fully grasp that it actually happened,” Hildebrandt reflected on Tuesday, three days after the game.
For Hildebrandt, the moment did not just begin with Moon’s assist. It was the culmination of a journey that started over three years ago when he became the first overall selection in the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s inaugural U Sports draft, coming from the University of Manitoba.
Winnipeg native Simon Hildebrandt hit the championship-winning shot while three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon led the Sea Bears in scoring with 29 points, as the Winnipeg Sea Bears beat the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 to claim their first CEBL championship title.
The 23-year-old from Winnipeg has had a remarkable journey in the CEBL, claiming the Developmental Player of the Year award twice and leveraging that success into a two-year NCAA stint at High Point and Washington State.
This upcoming season, he will take his first step into professional play overseas in Germany with BBC Bayreuth.
That title-winning shot can be viewed as the pinnacle of his career thus far.
“It’s been a long road. I’ve had various experiences, played for multiple teams, and learned from many coaches. Each program has taught me something that has shaped me into the player I am today,” Hildebrandt shared.
Hildebrandt’s story is precisely the kind of narrative the CEBL should continue to promote as it approaches its ninth season in 2027. Highlighting Canadian talent, especially those who are homegrown and overlooked, is crucial as the league expands the number of imports allowed on each team from three to five.
Opening development pathways
The draft that facilitated Hildebrandt’s entry into the league has now been substituted with “CEBL Signing Day,” where each team recruits two players from Canada’s university and college systems. Hildebrandt emphasized the necessity of maintaining focus on these pathways.
“We need to keep showcasing and promoting talent in U Sports and among young Canadian athletes,” Hildebrandt stated. “It’s vital to demonstrate that U Sports is a high-level competition, and that playing in U Sports can lead to various opportunities. I believe that transitioning from U Sports to the CEBL is a major step before reaching full-time professional play.”
Hildebrandt’s basketball journey may also open doors to the national team, although he has yet to compete at the senior level. However, CBC analyst and former national team member Jevon Shepherd suggested during the championship game broadcast that Hildebrandt would be an excellent addition.
Canada’s World Cup qualifying matches will resume against Panama later this month in Quebec City, continuing into November.
“It would mean a lot to me. It’s something I’ve always aspired to do. Although the past few years haven’t always gone as planned due to injuries and age group limitations, I would be extremely proud to represent Canada,” he remarked.
Hildebrandt’s path in the CEBL has not always been smooth. He only made nine starts over two seasons in 2023 and 2024 and did not play in the league at all last season.
Watch as the Winnipeg Sea Bears hoist the CEBL Championship Trophy after defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers in the 2026 championship game.
Even in the current season, he logged fewer than 10 minutes on seven occasions, overshadowed by Winnipeg’s strong frontcourt talent, including Canadian Emmanual Akot and American Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. However, both departed the Sea Bears just before the playoffs.
This opened the door for Hildebrandt, who only played over 31 minutes in three games all season: the conference semifinal, final, and the CEBL championship.
“There were times when other players were ahead of him, and he had to make sacrifices. He could have easily thought, ‘I should have played more,’ during the early part of the season,” head coach Mike Raimbault noted.
“However, Simon never made it about himself. That had a significant positive impact on the team’s morale and buy-in,” he added.
Hildebrandt concluded the season with personal bests in starts (15), points per game (8.7), and rebounds per game (4.3). His three-point shooting percentage improved from 29.1 in his rookie season to 37.9, and he scored 48 points in Winnipeg’s last two playoff victories.
The Saskatoon Mamba appear to be adopting a similar approach to that of the Sea Bears, with University of Saskatchewan players and Mamba members Easton Thimm and Mohamed Mahadhi nominated for this year’s developmental award.
In keeping with tradition
In Winnipeg, the cultivation of local talent is a longstanding tradition. During the team’s inaugural game in 2023, Winnipeg native Chad Posthumus scored the game-winning basket against the Vancouver Bandits at home.
Posthumus tragically passed away 19 months later in December 2024 due to complications after surgery for a brain aneurysm. Following his passing, Winnipeg retired his No. 33 jersey the following season, and his legacy continues to resonate within the Sea Bears. His parents attended both this year’s Finals and last year’s Championship Weekend.
The Sea Bears’ coach remarked that Posthumus would have “hand-picked” Hildebrandt to be the hero of the Finals. Team owner David Asper mentioned that he had foreseen this moment.
“I told Simon before the game that we began with a local guy, Chad, who made a significant play, and the crowd erupted because they realized, ‘Wow, a local player just did something amazing in front of a big audience.’ I told him, ‘If you pull off something like that, they might name a street after you.’ And he did it. It’s incredible. I’m just so thrilled for him,” Asper said.
“Watching how he played today, his toughness inside, and the determination he displayed, that embodies our team. That’s what we want people to recognize about us.”
This is also what the CEBL should be known for.