VICTORIA, B.C. — Five members of the University of Victoria men's basketball program will participate in the inaugural Vancouver Bandits university combine, a significant step in the pathway from U SPORTS to the professional ranks.

Graduating senior and Canada West Player of the Year Ethan Boag will be joined by Shadynn Smid, Cam Slaymaker, Tyler Felt, and incoming transfer Ryan Regault (Acadia University) at the invite-only event, set for April 25–26 at the Langley Events Centre.

Hosted by the Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, the combine will bring together nearly 40 of the top university student-athletes from across British Columbia and North America. Participants will take part in pro-level training, team-based drills, full-court gameplay, and performance testing, all designed to evaluate talent for potential roster spots in the Bandits' 2026 season.

For UVic, having five athletes selected to the league's first-ever event speaks to both the individual talent within the program and the collective strength of the Vikes roster.

"This is a great opportunity for our guys," said UVic head coach Murphy Burnatowski. "For players with professional aspirations, it's a chance to get on the CEBL radar while experiencing the demands of a pro environment. They'll be able to see how they stack up and hopefully come back with a renewed sense of what it takes to compete at that level."

The Vikes' presence at the combine underscores the program's depth, with representation spanning veteran leadership, developing talent, and future additions. Boag's selection comes on the heels of a standout season that saw him recognized as the top player in the conference, while Smid, Slaymaker, and Felt will each play key roles in the team's sustained success moving forward.

Regault, a 6'0 guard set to join the Vikes next season, adds to that momentum as an incoming talent already drawing professional interest. The third-year athlete from Scarborough, ON, started all 20 games for the Axemen, averaging 14.9 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game.

For Slaymaker, who joined the Vikes this past season after spending time in the NCAA, it's another chance to gain high-level experience and exposure.

"I'm looking forward to another opportunity to compete with my teammates and learn from the pro environment. I'm excited to represent UVic and take steps towards my professional career," said Slaymaker. 

The Bandits university combine marks a new initiative within the CEBL to further connect the Canadian university system with professional opportunities. Through the league's developmental model, student-athletes can gain experience at the next level while maintaining their collegiate eligibility—an increasingly valuable bridge in the Canadian basketball landscape.

Past Bandits rosters have consisted of UVic talent such as Diego Maffia (2024 U SPORTS Player of the Year) and Sam Maillet (2025 U SPORTS Championship MVP) who have excelled at both their schools and in the CEBL, and have since advanced to professional opportunities. With five Vikes set to take part, the program will be well represented—another sign of the standard being built within UVic men's basketball.