River Lions sign two more
Elijah Lufile, pictured, and Guillaume Boucard are the latest signings by the Niagara River Lions.
Two more familiar faces will be back with the Niagara River Lions this season.
The defending Canadian Elite Basketball League champions recently announced the signings of Elijah Lufile and Guillaume Boucard.
Lufile was with the team last season and Boucard suited up for Niagara in the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023 seasons.
Niagara River Lions head coach/GM Victor Raso described the 6-foot-7 Lufile as one of the best rebounders in the CEBL.
“He actually won the last two CEBL championships. Two years ago with Scarborough, he rebounded the ball so well in the championship that I was attracted to how much he contributed to winning. Last year for us, he was rock solid as a Canadian and it was important for us to bring back as many guys as possible. Elijah was at the top of the list and I am happy to have him back. He’s a good player.”
With Niagara, the 27-year-old Milton native averaged 6.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 18.4 minutes of playing time per game.
Lufile got married during the CEBL playoffs and Raso feels that might have impacted his play but that didn’t detract from his regular season.
“He is a phenomenal rebounder, he has a very high motor, he’s good in the pick and roll, he finishes well around the rim and he has added a little bit more to his game,” Raso said. “Now he is playing in better leagues overseas throughout the course of the year and his IQ is getting better. Elijah understands how he impacts winning and there is no question why he is on championship teams the last two years. Rebounding is incredibly important. It gets you extra possessions, it reduces extra possessions for other teams.”
The former scholarship player at Lamar Community College, Midland College and Oral Roberts University is currently playing with Denain ASC Voltaire of the LNB Pro B in France, where he is averaging 5.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game. He also played in 2024-25 with Balikesir Buyuksehir Belediysepor with in the Türkiye Basketbol Ligi where he averaged 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 23.9 minutes of playing time per game.
“Let’s run it back River Lions. I’m so excited to be back with this organization,” he told the River Lions website. “We have the greatest fans with the best atmosphere. Let’s get it.”
Boucard, a 6-foot-6, 25-year-old Montreal native, rejoins the River Lions for his sixth CEBL season after playing the 2024 campaign with his Montreal Alliance team.
“He has played the second most games in River Lions’ history and we were teammates at Carleton. I coached him with the River Lions and we had talked about him coming back eventually,” Raso said. “He reached out that he was interested in coming back and it just kind of worked out for us.”
Boucard is essentially the replacement for 2024 Sixth Man of the Year Aaryn Rai, who is unable to play for Niagara this summer after signing a long-term contract overseas.
“I know Guillaume so well and he is all about winning. He is one of the better defenders in our league. He is a perimeter-oriented player who is excellent in the post. He can cover the other team’s best player and if you cover him too small you can’t cover him in the post with just one guy,” Raso said.
The 2019 CEBL Canadian Player of the Year and First All-Star Team is different than Rai.
“They are both bigger, physical guards. Aaryn was more offensively-talented and Guillaume is definitely more defensively-talented and both are excellent rebounders,” Raso said. “Both are glue guys. Aaryn is on the younger side and Guillaume is a bit on the older side. They will both play a similar role for us but with slightly different expectations.”
Boucard is currently suiting up for CEP Lorient in France’s Nationale Masculine 1 de Basketball (NM1) league, where he is averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 20.7 minutes per game.
He represents the first addition from outside the 2024 championship-winning roster, joining previously announced players, Jahvon Blair, Nathan Cayo, Kimbal Mackenzie and Lufile.
Training camp for Niagara will open May 8 with the home opener scheduled for May 16 versus the Calgary Surge. Ticket information can be found at www.riverlions.ca/tickets or by calling 289-273-5905.
