NBL, Lightning to return this winter
The National Basketball League of Canada has announced it will return, after a lengthy hiatus, in February 2022, nearly two years since teams last took the court.
Garrett Williamson of the London Lightning during the 2019-2020 season. (Photo: Luke Durda).
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It took a few stormy months, but Lightning will finally strike come February.
The London Lightning and National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) will begin a long-delayed 10th anniversary season on Feb. 5, the NBLC Board of Directors announced today via Twitter. By the 2022 season tipoff, it will have been nearly two years since the league last took the court.
The formerly eight-team league is down to four, as each of the Atlantic Division teams, including the Moncton Magic, Halifax Hurricanes, St. John’s Edge, and Island Storm, has dropped out. As a result, the NBLC has partnered with The Basketball League for interleague contests against U.S. opponents (including Flint United, Lansing Pharaohs, Jamestown Jackals, Kokomo Bobkats, Syracuse Stallians, and the Albany Patroons).
“It has been a tough couple of years. The league has been fighting tooth and nail to create a safe and exciting environment for our fans. We’re proud to be back,” said Mark Frijia, General Manager of the Lightning. “We’re excited to get back in front of our fans in Budweiser Gardens and play some basketball.”
Along with the Lightning, the remaining teams are the Sudbury Five, Windsor Express, and K-W Titans.
On Monday, the league will release a 24-game schedule that will start in February and include, for the first time in league history, interleague, cross-border play.
The Basketball League, formerly the North America Premier Basketball, is a minor league basketball organization which launched in 2018 with eight teams, and has since expanded to more than 30 teams divided into four regions across the country. The league was started by former NBLC Commissioner David Magley.
“We’re pleased about the partnership formed with the TBL and view it as a creative way to celebrate our 10th season,” said Audley Stephenson, NBLC Vice-president, Basketball Operations. “The job (TBL CEO) Evelyn and David Magley have done in growing the TBL is outstanding, and it’s an absolute pleasure to work alongside them again.”
David Magley echoed the sentiments, “It is an honour and privilege to work with our old friends from the NBL Canada as they celebrate their 10th anniversary.”
Frijia expects the NBLC-TBL partnership to add a whole new dimension to the court this season.
“This brings some variety and excitement for the fans – it’s something they haven’t seen before. Not many leagues are freely able to bring other leagues into their games,” Frijia said. “It will be a good time. The cross-play will bring a different experience to the court.”
The February launch will be a bit later than normal, as the league has traditionally started play in November (but has also started as late as Boxing Day). Nevertheless, teams will be ready to go come tipoff, Frijia said.
The Lightning have already begun the process of recruiting and signing a coach and players with a flurry of announcements expected soon.
“That process never really stops, but now it will really ramp up,” Frijia said. “We’re ready to go. We have a lot of exciting announcements to come.”
With both the Majors of the IBL and Knights of the OHL successfully returning to play, eyes had turned to the fate of the Lightning and the NBLC.
The NBLC played its last games on March 11, 2020, before shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lightning beat the Sudbury Five, 122-113, that night behind a monster 41 points from Cameron Forte at Budweiser Gardens. Attempts by the league to return to play in March 2021 stalled as the pandemic continued.
The NBLC last awarded its championship trophy on May 16, 2019 – to a team now no longer in the league.
Beyond the pandemic, the league had faced numerous challenges in recent months leading up to Thursday’s announcement:
In July, the St. John's Edge were booted from their home in the Mile One Centre in favour of another team from another league, the U.S.-based American Basketball Association (ABA), starting this fall. In September, Deacon Sports and Entertainment purchased the rights of the Edge from Atlantic Sport Enterprises Ltd. The team was unable to secure a venue to play their home games and decided to take a leave of absence from the league.
In August, the Moncton Magic announced that the team would be leaving the NBLC. The Magic had joined the league in 2017, replacing the Moncton Miracles.
In October, the Halifax Hurricanes also announced their intention to leave the NBLC, according to a statement released by team chair Jim Mills. The statement mentioned that the Hurricanes “will now begin to explore options for future play.”
Also in October, Chief Executive Officer Gary Curgin stepped down. The Londoner had been named to the newly created top position on May 3. Stephenson, who has served in numerous capacities for the NBLC since its inaugural season, now heads the league.
In November, the Island Storm opted to take a one-year leave of absence from the league. The franchise was intending to play this season, but as the only remaining team in the Atlantic Division, that proved to be cost-prohibitive. League officials said Thursday they intend to take the year to re-build the Atlantic Division.
“Coming from the perspective of one of the league’s NBL founding teams, the situation in the Maritimes is regrettable,” said Island Storm owner Duncan Shaw. “However, the Storm organization is in full support of the league proceeding and is excited that NBL Canada will celebrate its 10th season in an innovative partnership with the TBL. I look forward to participating as a partner and director in the league this season and be back the following year with new owners and teams in the Maritimes.”
The NBLC was silent on the team and personnel defections, a silence indicative of a league that has been largely dormant to the public for the last year, with the league website and social media rarely updated for months at a time. Many of the team websites were the same way, flash frozen in a moment before the pandemic.
Now, the league finally appears ready to get balling again.
“I really want to thank our incredible fanbase for their support and continued understanding as we navigated through some difficult moments of uncertainty,” Stephenson said. “After a longer than expected off season, it feels great to be able to officially announce that we're back on the court for our 10th season.”
Today’s announcement also included a hashtag to #StayTuned.
Knight Watch: London back in familiar territory; Sam Dickinson OHL Player of the Week; Efficiency from goal-scoring Van Gorp; Powerplay clicking once again; Knights get Soo showdown Friday …