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Calgary, Alberta to be ABA'S 27th expansion team

June 30, 2004 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Indianapolis, IN. Joe Newman, ABA Co-Founder, today announced that Calgary Alberta, Canada would be the 27th expansion team in the league this season. According to Newman, "Our goal has been to expand in Canada, especially with three teams in Mexico. We were waiting for the right opportunity and were thinking 2005. But the new ownership group, headed by Calgary businessman Spero Kokkans, wanted to play this season and felt that they could put things together quickly. So, here we go again."

Newman added, "Mr. Kokkans brought in two people to spearhead the operation naming Otis Hailey as Co-Owner/President and General Manager and Ronald Pryor as VP/Director of Operations. Both bring with them considerable basketball experience and expertise and have confidence of being able to jumpstart operations for a successful team."

Hailey has over 30 years experience as a professional player and coach most recently having coached the ABA Tijuana team. Pryor is a professional basketball scout.

Hailey added, "We know it is late and that we have only a few months before the start of the season. But Mr. Kokkans and his investment group are helping us put together a very talented staff and providing great assistance. The city of Calgary is very excited though we haven't even made the official announcement and the calls and emails have been overwhelming. Ron and I are confident that we'll have one of the best operations in the league and appreciate the ABA letting us start this late. But we're moving ahead full steam."

Pryor added, "We haven't even had time to name the team. I think we'll have a Name the Team Contest and we are already scheduling some tryout camps and putting together our staff. We'll be making many more announcements shortly. But if you have a good idea for a team name, please email it to us; we'll award some season tickets to the winner."

For more information, call Otis Hailey at (306) 249-3146 or email ohaileyaba@yahoo.com or call Ron Pryor at (469) 877-5282 or fax (817) 640-2012, email ron_pryor@yahoo.com.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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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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