Xavier Moon was instrumental in securing the last five points for the Winnipeg Sea Bears, bringing them within two points of clinching the franchise’s inaugural CEBL championship.
As he advanced the ball down the court during Target Score Time, the 12,519 fans at Canada Life Centre would have easily understood if the three-time MVP opted to take the winning shot himself.
However, he chose to pass the ball to DJ Burns in the post, who then quickly kicked it out to Simon Hildebrandt stationed beyond the three-point line.
Swish. The Sea Bears are champions.
“The moment that shot went up and swished in, I felt my mind go blank, experiencing a mix of emotions. It took a few hours to fully grasp that it had really happened,” Hildebrandt shared on Tuesday, three days after the victory.
For Hildebrandt, the culmination of this moment didn’t just start with Moon’s pass; it originated over three years ago when he was selected as the first overall pick in the inaugural U Sports draft of the Canadian Elite Basketball League 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.
At 23, the Winnipeg native has experienced a remarkable journey through the CEBL, having earned the Developmental Player of the Year award twice and leveraging that success into a two-year NCAA career at High Point and Washington State.
This upcoming season, he will embark on his first professional stint overseas in Germany with BBC Bayreuth.
Thus, that decisive shot can be viewed as the pinnacle of his journey. For now.
“It’s been a lengthy path. I’ve had various stops, played for numerous teams, and worked under different coaches. I believe I’ve absorbed valuable lessons from each program that have shaped me into the player I am today,” Hildebrandt reflected.
The story of Hildebrandt represents the kind of narrative the CEBL should continue to nurture as it approaches its ninth season in 2027 — highlighting Canadian talent, particularly from homegrown and overlooked sources, is essential as the league has also expanded the number of imports allowed on each roster from three to five.
Opening development pathways
The draft that enabled Hildebrandt to join the league has been replaced with “CEBL Signing Day,” where each team signs two players from Canada’s university and college systems. Hildebrandt emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on these pathways.
“We need to keep showcasing and promoting the talent in U Sports and young Canadian players,” Hildebrandt stated. “It’s vital to demonstrate that U Sports is of a very high standard and that playing in U Sports can lead to numerous opportunities. I believe having that transitional step from U Sports to CEBL before fully committing to professional play is crucial.”
Hildebrandt’s basketball journey might also lead him to the national team, which he has yet to represent at the senior level. Nonetheless, CBC analyst and former national team member Jevon Shepherd speculated during the championship game broadcast that Hildebrandt could be an excellent addition.
Canada’s World Cup qualifying matches resume against Panama later this month in Quebec City, with additional games scheduled for November.
“It would mean everything to me. It’s something I’ve always aspired to do. The past couple of years haven’t unfolded as I hoped, with a bit of bad luck regarding injuries and age divisions, but I would be incredibly proud to wear Canada across my chest,” he expressed.
Hildebrandt’s path in the CEBL wasn’t always smooth. He managed only nine starts over two seasons in 2023 and 2024, and he 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.
In this season alone, he logged under 10 minutes in seven games, hindered by Winnipeg’s formidable frontcourt talent including Canadian Emmanuel Akot and American Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. However, both players left the team just prior to the playoffs.
This opened the door for Hildebrandt, who only played over 31 minutes three times throughout the season — during the conference semifinal, final, and CEBL championship matches.
“There were moments when other players were ahead of him, and he had to make sacrifices. There were certainly numerous games early in the season where he could have easily thought, ‘I should be getting more playing time,’” head coach Mike Raimbault commented.
“What Simon never did was make it about himself. I believe that had a significant positive influence on the entire team’s commitment.”
Hildebrandt wrapped up 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 year to 37.9, and he accumulated 48 points during the Sea Bears’ last two playoff victories.
The Saskatoon Mamba appear to be adopting a similar strategy to 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, however, nurturing local talent is a longstanding tradition. During the team’s debut game in 2023, Winnipeg native Chad Posthumus made the game-winning shot against the Vancouver Bandits at home.
Posthumus tragically passed away 19 months later in December 2024 due to complications from surgery for a brain aneurysm. His jersey number 33 was retired by Winnipeg the following season, and his memory remains a vital part of the Sea Bears’ identity. 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 as the hero of the Finals. Team owner David Asper stated he had predicted this moment.
“Before the game, I told Simon, we started with a local player, Chad, who made a significant shot, and the crowd erupted because they realized, ‘Wow, a local player is making waves in professional basketball in front of a large audience.’ I told him, ‘If you pull off something like that, they might even name a street after you.’ And he did just that. It’s incredible. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
“Watching how he played today, with such toughness and determination, embodies our team’s spirit. That’s how we want people to see us.”
It’s the kind of identity that the CEBL should also be recognized for.