TORONTO, ON – The Province of Ontario and the GTA are dominant with representation in the seven CEBL clubs across Canada. It’s no secret the influence the NBA’s Toronto Raptors have given the city and surrounding areas for the last 20-plus years.
But four other provinces are represented in the CEBL. Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. One of those players from Nova Scotia is the first-round draft pick for the Hamilton Honey Badgers, Keevan Veinot (Dalhousie Tigers).
Veinot was born in Port Williams, NS, a village north of Halifax with a population of just over 1,000. He played at Horton High School then committed to Dalhousie University. Veinot continued improving from his first year when he averaged 8.2 points per game to in his third year, where he averaged 15.6 points per game.
In his third year, Dalhousie University was in the finals for the AUS championship for the second season in a row. Their only obstacle from repeating was St. FX in the finals. However, Dalhousie won with a score of 76-64. Veinot added to the score with 18 points; the only player who had more was Alex Carson, who is currently with the Edmonton Stingers.
Veinot would later win the Male Athlete of the Year at Dalhousie, one of his most significant achievements since getting AUS Championship MVP the year prior.
Earlier this year, the Hamilton Honey Badgers selected Veinot in the first round of the 2021 CEBL-U SPORTS Draft. With the weight of being a high-pick on his shoulders, the Dalhousie guard has averaged 12 minutes per game through the CEBL season’s first three games. In his debut against Edmonton, he picked up eight points and missed only a single shot.
Veinot also has another Nova Scotian to learn from with Lindell Wigginton from Dartmouth. Wigginton didn’t come from the Canadian university program and played NCAA basketball with Iowa State. He has also played in Israel and in the NBA G League.
Nova Scotia is a smaller province than others represented through the players that play in the CEBL. The closest teams that play professionally are represented in Canada’s other basketball league, the National Basketball League of Canada. Two teams have called Halifax home since 2006, the Halifax Rainmen and the current residence, the Halifax Hurricanes.
For now, Veinot will continue to represent AUS and Nova Scotia in the CEBL. He may not start much this season, but he is still young and ready to shine when he is ready. After the CEBL season wraps up, he will return to Dalhousie to take one last shot at the U SPORTS National Championship.