NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Vancouver Bandits

Bandits Ink Former Raptors Host, Country 107.1 Talent as In-Game Hosts

December 16, 2021 - Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
Vancouver Bandits News Release


LANGLEY, B.C. - The Fraser Valley Bandits announced Thursday that long-time Toronto Raptors game day host, Kat Stefankiewicz, and current Country 107.1 morning show host, Chris Wiggins, will join the club as in-game hosts for the team's 2022 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre.

Together, Stefankiewicz and Wiggins will elevate the Bandits' game day experience and brand presence through a combination of in-game interviews with players, coaches, fans and more, as well as off court interviews with community leaders and other sports and entertainment personalities.

The duo brings nearly 20 years of combined experience in sports broadcasting and entertainment hosting. For more than a decade, Stefankiewicz was a key cog in the Raptors' NBA game day production, serving as captain of the Dance Pak from 2006-11, before transitioning to being an in-game and digital host in 2011.

Stefankiewicz also served as a host for NBA TV Canada. When not interviewing all-stars and hall of famers, Stefankiewicz was busy building her portfolio as one of Canada's leading influencers in sports and lifestyle. From collaborations with Mastercard and Timex, to channeling her energy and editorial talents on game days, Stefankiewicz has a proven ability to engage an audience.

"Being new to the Fraser Valley, the opportunity to join the Bandits community really makes it feel like home. I've admired the energy of the CEBL for quite some time, so bringing my passion for both sports and entertainment to the league after more than 10 seasons with the Toronto Raptors, is a natural and exciting fit," Stefankiewicz said.

"I feel a connection to exploring the 'more than a game' element of basketball culture and chatting with local creators is an exciting element that I'm keen to explore in this role. There is something really special within the CEBL and I look forward to celebrating that this season."

Wiggins has been a leading voice and contributor for various broadcasters thanks to his background in team communications and on air skillset. Previously, he managed community relations and social media content for the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and later joined Sportsnet where he built and produced entertaining highlight packages for a variety of programming across the Sportsnet family of channels.

Wiggins' experience in sports media and communications set the stage for his on air career. From 2016-21 he hosted and produced Cool 100.1's morning show in Belleville, Ont., before joining Country 107.1 in Abbotsford, B.C. From future NHL stars to country music phenoms, Wiggins has interviewed hundreds of athletes and performers at a variety of festivals, sporting events and on air.

"I'm beyond excited to be jumping on board with the Bandits this season. Being new to the area, connecting with the community and the culture is important to me. Combine that with my passion for basketball and it is the perfect match," Wiggins said.

"I am incredibly impressed by what the CEBL is producing and I hope to continue to build on the strong community connection that the Bandits have already established."

Fans interested in learning more about ticket packages can email a Fraser Valley Bandits representative by emailing tickets@thebandits.ca or calling 604-866-0529. Alternatively, fans can also fill out this form to register their interest and be contacted directly by a team representative.

Head to thebandits.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

• Discuss this story on the Canadian Elite Basketball League message board...

Canadian Elite Basketball League Stories from December 16, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central