December 1, 2022 – National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada) News Release
The NBL Canada released its 17-week, 73-game regular-season schedule for 2023, which tips off Saturday, Jan. 7 when the Sudbury Five welcome the Lansing Pharoahs of the TBL to the Nickel City in an Opening Night event.
All four NBL Canada teams return to action in 2023, playing an unbalanced regular season schedule that runs through May 3. Sudbury and London will play 33 and 30 games, respectively, while Windsor will play 27, and KW 24. KW will enter the schedule on Feb. 20 as the franchise undergoes an ownership change.
“Now entering our 11th season, we are constantly innovating ways to make the game more entertaining and exciting for our fans,” said Audley Stephenson, NBL Canada Commissioner. “As the country’s longest-running professional league, we are thrilled to head into a season that puts the spotlight again on Canadian teams and celebrates the growth of the game here.”
Rounding out the regular season schedule will be nine TBL franchises. Familiar foes Flint United, Jamestown Jackals, Kokomo Bobkats, Lansing Pharoahs, and Syracuse Stallions return to the slate alongside four teams making their NBL Canada debut, including Alma Academy Jeannois (Académie d’Alma), Toledo Glass City Wranglers, Kalamazoo Galaxy, and Newfoundland Rogues.
Adding visits to Alma, Quebec, and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to the schedule particularly excites the commissioner.
“Canada is a growing powerhouse for hoops talent, from the grassroots game played in parks and on playground across the country to top talent playing on high school, university, and pro courts around the world. Basketball is becoming our game,” Stephenson said. “These might be new teams, but they are familiar markets to our league. It is exciting to get NBL Canada basketball back in front of the amazing fans out east. These are exciting markets to see the game grow and thrive.”
Like last season, all wins and losses will be counted in individual records and teams will compete for their respective league championships at the end of the regular season.
All NBL Canada teams will make the postseason tournament with seeding based on winning percentage.
Some highlight matchups include:
HOME OPENERS | Sudbury opens the season at home Jan. 7 against Lansing. London raises its champions banner to the Budweiser Gardens rafters 12 days later against Sudbury on Jan. 19. Sudbury then travels down the 401 for Windsor’s home opener on Jan. 27. The KW Titans enter the season at home against Windsor on March 1.
FINAL REMATCH | Fans will need to wait until March 4 for a rematch of the 2022 NBL Canada Finals, as the Lightning travel to KW for the first matchup between the two squads since London swept its way to a fifth championship on the Titans’ home court last summer.
ANNIVERSARY SEASON | Windsor Express race into its 10th anniversary season with a new look on Jan. 14. “One of the important things that we’ve done is to give us a new start in our 10th season along with a more refined logo,” said Dartis Willis, Express President and CEO. “I am confident in the direction of our team and the new logo speaks to us moving into the coming decade.” The new-look emblem is now a stylized basketball adopting the shape of a luxury liner and portraying the characteristics of speed and style. Other changes include the launch of an updated team website and fresh uniform design, among other initiatives.
NEW OWNERSHIP | KW will get its first look at the Titans under new owners David and Kate Schooley on March 1 as the teach takes on the Express. The Schooleys are excited to show fans what’s waiting for them every game night at The Aud. “The legions of fans we have now are diehard and incredibly supportive. We know that can spread farther in the city,” Kate Schooley said. “The Titans are KW’s best-kept secret. When we get you out once, you’ll be coming back. Our goal is to have basketball ingrained in the city.”
ACADEMY SERIES | Sudbury will play a unique four-game home-and-home against Alma Academy, March 4-5 in Alma, Quebec, and April 15-16 in Sudbury. Alma Academy joined the TBL in October 2022 becoming the first French-speaking team on the North American basketball circuit. The Academy aims to become a North American gateway for Francophone players from all over the world who wish to break into the world of professional basketball. Its most famous alumnus, Chris Boucher, began his playing career at Alma before making a name for himself with the Toronto Raptors.
RIVALRY RENEWED | Interleague play between the TBL and NBL Canada opens January 7 when Pharoahs take on The Five in a back-to-back set in the Nickle City. The Lightning get its first shot at the TBL when they head east to challenge the Rogues on Jan. 25 playing three games in four days in Newfoundland. The Rogues are also the Express’ first interleague bout on Feb. 8 in Windsor, while KW will first cross leagues on March 17 against Flint.
All games will be streamed LIVE on NBLC TV.
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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.
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