The National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) Thread - Page 13

north 42 · #**241** Posted **Mar 4, 2014, 4:48 PM**

I think the numbers for the Express will slowly continue to climb, especially with Windsor securing the first place finish this year. Unfortunately Windsor is a Detroit Pistons city, and as such, it is slow to support the NBL, unlike London which doesn't have a local NBA team. Hopefully if we come out on top in the playoffs, we will see even more support for the team.

MonctonRad · #**242** Posted **Mar 8, 2014, 1:45 AM**

Well, the Moncton Miracles stayed alive in the NBL quarter final playoffs tonight.

They eeked out a 97-95 win against the Island Storm in a hard fought very entertaining game at the Coliseum tonight before about 2,500 noisy partisan fans.

The Storm still lead the series two games to one, but I feel confident that the Miracles might be able to even the series against the Island team with another win on Sunday. The season series between the two teams was five wins apiece, so it is reasonable to expect that this five game series might go the distance……..

MonctonRad · #**243** Posted **Mar 10, 2014, 2:57 AM**

And further to the above, the Miracles lost game four and thus have been eliminated from the NBL quarter finals by the Island Storm three games to one.

All in all a mediocre season on the court for the team. Attendance wise they did OK. Hopefully they will be more competitive next year (provided that is that there is an NBL next year).

The Storm awaits the victor of the Mill Rats/Rainmen series.

q12 · #**244** Posted **Mar 11, 2014, 1:06 AM**

March 9, 2014 http://metronews.ca/sports/966422/halifax-rainmen-come-up-big-to-complete-quarter-final-upset-over-saint-john-mill-rats/

Halifax Rainmen come up big to complete playoff upset over Saint John Mill Rats

MonctonRad · #**245** Posted **Apr 18, 2014, 7:28 PM**

from the NBL website:

The National Basketball League of Canada concludes its 3rd straight successful season, this time with a new champion, as the Windsor Express were crowned champions for the first time.

The Express completed a rally from a 1-3 series deficit in the Finals by beating the Island Storm, 121-106 tonight at the WFCU Centre in Windsor in front of 3,470 fans in a dramatic Game 7.

The Express finished with the regular season with a #1 overall ranking, but had to overcome an 0-2 series deficit against the London Lightning in the Central Division championship series, and a 1-3 deficit to the Storm in the Finals.

"What an incredible finish to a terrific season," said NBL Canada Commissioner Paul Riley. "The league was ultra-competitive this season and literally any team could have won it. Credit goes to Dartis Willis and his staff and the Windsor team for overcoming so much adversity to become champions."

Windsor guard Stefan Bonneau was named Finals MVP with 32 points in Game 7. For the Finals, the electric Bonneau averaged 26.6 points per game.

The Island Storm ultimately fell one game short, but nonetheless completed a great first season in Charlottetown and earned their second straight trip to the Finals.

MonctonRad · #**246** Posted **Aug 9, 2014, 1:32 PM**

Kim Blanco is giving up her ownership of the Moncton Miracles for (understandable) family reasons, and is moving back to New Jersey. The team will be operated by the league for the upcoming season.

They tried to put a positive spin on this in the T&T today, but really, it is always an ominous sign when any team is operated by the league. The biggest positive is that the NBL is fairly popular in the local market, and apparently we have the second highest attendance in the league. Hopefully that will make the team attractive to a new owner, but the NBL itself is fairly shaky, which could put investors off……...

nwalbert · #**247** Posted **Aug 11, 2014, 1:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Kim Blanco is giving up her ownership of the Moncton Miracles for (understandable) family reasons, and is moving back to New Jersey. The team will be operated by the league for the upcoming season.

They tried to put a positive spin on this in the T&T today, but really, it is always an ominous sign when any team is operated by the league. The biggest positive is that the NBL is fairly popular in the local market, and apparently we have the second highest attendance in the league. Hopefully that will make the team attractive to a new owner, but the NBL itself is fairly shaky, which could put investors off……...

This is unfortunate. Saint John just successfully adopted a Community ownership model spear headed by a group of successful local basketball fans who felt the team was good for the greater community and wanted to see the team remain in Saint John. Potentially someone in the Moncton community will step up to help?

This will be a big year for the NBL with their television contract to see if they take things to the next level, they probably cannot continue to exist too much longer in their existing state.

A team run by the league will most likely be quite weak which leads to weak attendance and ultimately a folding team. Hopefully something can be done to save the team.

josh_cat_eyes · #**248** Posted **Aug 11, 2014, 6:19 PM**

Maybe Robert Irving will buy them? I wonder if St. John's or Sydney will get teams. It would be nice to see more teams in Quebec too.

MonctonRad · #**249** Posted **Aug 23, 2014, 6:13 PM**

I see that the Ottawa franchise in the NBL has failed. This means only eight teams in the league for the upcoming season.

The only Ontario franchise with really solid attendance figures is the London Lightning. With the ownership problems here in Moncton, I think the upcoming season might be "make or break" for the NBL.

I really hope they are able to survive; it's actually a great product and a good family atmosphere at the games.

MonctonRad · #**250** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 12:58 PM**

A brief update on the NBL (Canada).

- The league will likely move the opening date for the upcoming season to around January 1st, so that the playoffs won't compete directly with the hockey playoff season.

- There will likely be a new team in St. Catherines-Niagara for the upcoming season.

- The Moncton Miracles are considered a "vital" franchise by the league (kind of a linchpin for the Atlantic Division) and they have been working hard to secure a local ownership group. They expect a sale to local owners by the end of April.

habs33 · #**251** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 2:15 PM**

That's good to hear. I enjoy going to Miracles games

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A brief update on the NBL (Canada).

- The league will likely move the opening date for the upcoming season to around January 1st, so that the playoffs won't compete directly with the hockey playoff season.

- There will likely be a new team in St. Catherines-Niagara for the upcoming season.

- The Moncton Miracles are considered a "vital" franchise by the league (kind of a linchpin for the Atlantic Division) and they have been working hard to secure a local ownership group. They expect a sale to local owners by the end of April.

Freddypop · #**252** Posted **Apr 21, 2015, 7:56 PM**

In today's news there is a large article that says that Freddy is close to having it's own franchise. According to the media the investors are close to signing an agreement with the COF to have WOR as their home court. The investors are led by Tyrone Levingston, former Director of Ops for the Halifax Rainmen. According to the media he has been in discussions with the city since January and moved to Fredericton in February to be close at hand re negotiations and set-up. Kelly Lamarock (former MLA and Cabinet Minister) is also involved. Say their intent is to be operating this year (December). Interesting that they are looking at WOR instead of the Aitken Centre or the Currie Centre. Says that league rules will not permit co-location at a University. Something to do with advertising rights/etc. Grant-Harvey still an option but would not be main tenant there (STU Hockey). Would be main tenant at WOR. Says that they expect to have the arena agreement "done in the next week and a half". Official league application would follow. Stay tuned.

Bishop2047 · #**253** Posted **Apr 22, 2015, 4:24 PM**

^
Not sure how excited I am bout this. Though it will be great basketball, and I think we will be a decent market. League stability has and will be in question. WOR will be a neat venue. Never seen it used for anything other than hockey.

Freddypop · #**254** Posted **Apr 22, 2015, 8:45 PM**

^^^^^^

Only time will tell if this is a viable market or not. As for the WOR venue....city councillor said that they intended on buying a new BB floor for the venue anyway so that it could be used for more than just winter sports.

MonctonRad · #**255** Posted **May 1, 2015, 11:51 PM**

Halifax Rainmen coaches, team fined $90K by NBL after forfeiting championship
Coaches Josep Claros, Pedro Monteiro, barred for life from coaching for NBL
CBC News Posted: May 01, 2015 2:20 PM AT
Last Updated: May 01, 2015 5:52 PM AT

The National Basketball League of Canada has levied $90,000 in fines against the Halifax Rainmen and their players following a fight and the forfeiture of the championship game on Thursday night.

"The league takes this incident very seriously and we are working to address the matter to ensure it never happens in the future, and so that those who were responsible are held accountable," the league said in a statement on Friday.

"We sincerely apologize to the fans, partners, team owners, employees, players and supporters of all of the teams in the league, and pledge to do our utmost to improve our league for the future."

A $20,000 fine was imposed on the Halifax Rainmen organization, plus a $10,000 fine for head coach Josep Claros and a $5,000 fine for assistant coach Pedro Monteiro for "conduct detrimental to the league."

Claros and Monteiro have also both been barred for life from coaching for the NBL.

As well, 11 players have been fined $5,000 each for conduct detrimental to the league. They have been suspended from playing in the NBL indefinitely, pending an investigation.

The Halifax Rainmen have scheduled a press conference for Saturday morning to discuss the controversy.

The Windsor Police Service said they were called at 10:40 a.m. on Thursday about a fight in the main bowl of the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont.

Between 15 and 20 men were involved in the fight, which had ended by the time officers got to the scene. The Halifax Rainmen had already left the arena on their team bus, said police.

No one was injured and no one wanted to file a report.

The Halifax Rainmen said in a statement that the game was cancelled "citing safety concerns for its players and coaches."

Meanwhile, officials with the Windsor Express told CBC News extra security was brought in after the scuffle and they don't know why the Rainmen felt unsafe.

Certainly a black eye for the league. I wonder what this means for the Atlantic Division. AFAIK there has been no resolution of the ownership problems in Moncton. The Halifax franchise has been shaky this year in terms of fan support. Now this. It makes you question the future of the NBL in Atlantic Canada. We need at least four teams for an Atlantic Division. It could be dicey for next year.......

MonctonRad · #**256** Posted **May 30, 2015, 12:57 PM**

The new NBL franchise in St. Catherines/Niagara Falls is to be named the Niagara River Lions. This will bring the league back up to nine teams.

Meanwhile, the jury is still out on the future of the league. There is trouble in the Atlantic Division.
- the Halifax Rainmen are in crisis mode after the playoff fiasco.
- the Moncton Miracles still don't have a stable local ownership group.
- no word on a potential Fredericton franchise.

The next year (or two) will be make or break for the NBL Canada.

habs33 · #**257** Posted **May 30, 2015, 1:57 PM**

I spoke to someone in Miracles booster club recently and that person said that a new owner for the Miracles is 99% done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The new NBL franchise in St. Catherines/Niagara Falls is to be named the Niagara River Lions. This will bring the league back up to nine teams.

Meanwhile, the jury is still out on the future of the league. There is trouble in the Atlantic Division.
- the Halifax Rainmen are in crisis mode after the playoff fiasco.
- the Moncton Miracles still don't have a stable local ownership group.
- no word on a potential Fredericton franchise.

The next year (or two) will be make or break for the NBL Canada.

Freddypop · #**258** Posted **May 30, 2015, 6:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The new NBL franchise in St. Catherines/Niagara Falls is to be named the Niagara River Lions. This will bring the league back up to nine teams.

Meanwhile, the jury is still out on the future of the league. There is trouble in the Atlantic Division.
- no word on a potential Fredericton franchise.

The next year (or two) will be make or break for the NBL Canada.

There was a follow-up article a few weeks ago that said there wasn't enough time to get a Freddy team up and running for this season. Reason was that a floor for WOR would have to be ordered and the arena would require upgrades to clock etc. This could not be accomplished before the beginning of the season. I seem to recall the investment for those items would be in the order of $750K- $1 Million. Said that Freddy was the #1 location in the eyes of the league to place a franchise. Said that ownership team would now focus on Sydney as that facility (Centre 200, already has everything in place.

Seems strange that they could not work out an agreement with UNB for the floor, etc while they get their affairs in order.

The league is rather fragile now IMHO. I do however wish them the best of luck and hope that they are able to overcome the challenges ahead to survive.

Taeolas · #**259** Posted **May 30, 2015, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Seems strange that they could not work out an agreement with UNB for the floor, etc while they get their affairs in order.

Seems like UNB is absolutely paranoid about anything that might pose even the remotest risk to their own teams as far as local popularity goes. At least that's what I've gathered from comments here in the past, especially with respect to hockey. Basketball seems like something they'd be just as paranoid about in general, so they're probably very resistant to a non-University basketball team.

MonctonRad · #**260** Posted **Jun 17, 2015, 1:33 PM**

Brief update:

- Apparently there is one individual willing to become a part owner of the Moncton Miracles. A second part owner is required. The search continues.
- Apparently it looks very good for an expansion team in Sydney for the upcoming 2016 season. Investors have posted a $50,000 bond with the league.
- Another new franchise in Ontario is possible (in Kitchener), but I don't know if this is for the 2016 season or not.