CALGARY SURGE CONTINUE CANADIAN PIPELINE WITH SIGNING OF CAELUM SWANTON-RODGER

April 9 — The Calgary Surge announced today the signing of Calgary native Caelum Swanton-Rodger, bringing a hometown presence, size, defensive strength, and high-level collegiate experience to the club’s roster ahead of the upcoming season.

Swanton-Rodger joins the Surge following a breakout 2024–25 campaign with the Monarchs, where he established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the Sun Belt Conference. The 6-foot-8 forward started 33 of 34 games and ranked second on his team in rebounding with 167 total boards (4.9 per game). He also finished second in the conference in both total blocks (61) and blocks per game (1.79), showcasing his elite rim protection.

“Caelum is an impactful two-way player who really anchored things defensively at the collegiate level,” said Shane James, General Manager. “He competes at a high level, protects the rim, and rebounds the ball effectively. We’re thrilled to welcome him back to Canada and into the Surge family.”

In addition to his defensive impact, Swanton-Rodger contributed offensively with 187 points (5.5 per game), 37 assists, and 11 steals while shooting an efficient 56.9 percent from the field. He recorded six double-digit scoring performances, highlighted by an 18-point, 10-rebound effort against Louisiana in the Sun Belt Championship. He also posted a career-best seven blocks in a dominant performance versus Texas State.

“As a kid from Calgary it has always been a dream of mine to be able to play the game I love with my friends and family there to support me. With that said, I am incredibly proud and excited to announce that I will be coming home to join the Calgary Surge!” said Swanton-Rodger. “Thanks to the support of my coaches, friends, family, and the city of Calgary, I’ve been able to turn this dream into reality. I can’t wait to put on a show for you.”

A Calgary native, Swanton-Rodger developed locally through Edge School and UPlay Canada, earning recognition as one of the country’s top young prospects. He represented Canada at the national team level and was named MVP of the 2022 Genesis Classic. During his prep career, he averaged 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game, demonstrating his all-around impact on both ends of the floor.

Swanton-Rodger’s signing not only reinforces the Surge’s commitment to developing Canadian talent, but also highlights the organization’s pride in elevating homegrown Calgary athletes while building a competitive roster for the upcoming season.

Single-game tickets for the Calgary Surge’s “OVERDRIVE” season are now available to the general public. Visit calgarysurge.ca/single-game-tickets for more details.

About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge

REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club and REAL Studios.

The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating as the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the CanadianElite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have made three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single-game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca.

About the CEBL

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide.

In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media.

Media Contact:

Karina Castellanos Feijoó

Manager, Projects & Administration

Calgary Surge

647-916-3594; [email protected]