NBL Canada Awards Handed out at All-Star Breakfast
Published on April 1, 2012 under National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada) News Release
(Halifax, NS) The National Basketball League of Canada handed out two business awards, nine player awards and two playoff awards at the inaugural All-Star Breakfast this morning in Halifax.
"We're pleased with the success of the League's inaugural season both on and off the court," said Andre Levingston, NBL Canada President & CEO. "These awards are an opportunity to celebrate our teams, executives and players, who have stepped up to the plate to make the 2011-12 season one that we can all be proud of."
The Summerside Storm's Duncan Shaw picked up the Ian Fowler Executive of the Year award. Shaw led the Summerside through their inaugural season, bringing 56,467 fans through the Credit Union Place with an average of over 2,800 per game.
Shaw and his team ensured that the community was their main focus, visiting basketball fans from tip to tip on the Island, reading to almost 1000 children through their literacy program and helping to raise nearly $20,000 for a variety of local charities.
"This is fantastic, we have a fantastic group. My co-owner Darren, our staff, our players, our fans and our fan support has been incredible," said Shaw. "It means a lot to us because Billy Schurman, our GM, is a dear friend of Ian Fowler's, so it's very personal to us and we can't thank the League enough."
Inaugural NBL Canada Champions, the London Lightning, were named Expansion Franchise of the Year for their exceptional club performance. General Manager Taylor Brown was integral to London's successful first season.
With their remarkable community engagement and support, the Lightning also drew over 2,000 fans per game and over 5,000 in game 5 of the finals, turning the Hockey town of London into basketball believers.
"It was an unbelievable season for the Lightning, we're extremely pleased with how the city embraced our team, and with the level of play and competition," said Lightning Owner, Vito Frijia "It was an unbelievable season and we can't wait for season two."
All-Star Captains Joey Haywood from the Halifax Rainmen and Eddie Smith from the London Lightning each picked up an award.
Smith took home the Sixth Man of the Year award after starting in less than 50% of the games played and averaged 17.2 points per game for London, and led the Lightning with 60 steals in the regular season.
Haywood, a Vancouver native picked up the Canadian of the Year award for his impressive performance with the Halifax Rainmen this season with 13.9 points per game and 90 assists.
Al Stewart of the Summerside Storm was awarded Defensive Player of the Year, for his exception performance.
The Oshawa Power's Brandon Robinson picked up Rookie of the Year. With 19.9 points per game and 715 total points for the 2011-12 season, Robinson was the League's top scorer and was also one of four players to be named NBL Canada Player of the Week multiple times.
NBL All-Playoff First Team includes: Gabe Freeman, London Lightning; Eddie Smith, London Lightning; Chris Hagen, Halifax Rainmen; Royce Parran, Quebec Kebs and
Tim Ellis, London Lightning
NBL All-Playoff First Team includes: Tyrone Levett, Halifax Rainmen; Shamari Spears, London Lightning; Jermaine Blackburn, Saint John Mill Rats; Ralphy Holmes, Quebec Kebs; and Shawn Daniels, London Lightning
Previously announced winners were London Lightning's Micheal Ray Richardson as Coach of the Year and Gabe Freeman as Rogers Communications Inc. MVP Regular Season and the Playoff MVP.
Also mentioned:
First Team All-NBL Canada includes Saint John's Anthony Anderson, London's Gabe Freeman, Quebec's Ralphy Holmes, Summerside's Mike Williams and Halifax's Lawrence Wright.
Second Team All-NBL Canada includes London's Tim Ellis, Oshawa's Omari Johnson, Moncton's Trayvon Lathan, Halifax's Tyrone Levett and Oshawa's Brandon Robinson.
First team All-Defence includes Summerside's Al Stewart, London's Gabe Freeman, Quebec's James "Boo" Jackson, Halifax's Tyrone Levett and Summerside's Mike Williams.
Second Team All-Defence includes Moncton's Boubacar Coly, London's DeAnthony Bowden, Halifax's Joey Haywood, Quebec's Ralphy Holmes and Moncton's Sylvania Watkins.
The inaugural All-Star game tips-off at 1PM AST today. For more information on the League's inaugural All-Star weekend, presented by Rogers Communications Inc., visit nblallstar.ca.
NBL Canada 2011-12 Awards
Ian Fowler Executive of the Year Award: Duncan Shaw, Summerside Storm
Selected by the Commissioner
Expansion Franchise Of The Year: London Lightning
Selected by President & CEO and Chief Operating Officer.
Coach of the Year: Micheal Ray Richardson, London Lightning
Awarded to the coach who wins the playoffs.
Player Awards:
Voted on by all seven NBL Canada Head Coaches.
Rogers Communications Most Valuable Player, Regular Season
Gabe Freeman, London Lightning
Sixth Man Of The Year (Started In Less Than 50% Of Games Participated)
Eddie Smith, London Lightning
Canadian Of The Year
Joey Haywood, Halifax Rainmen
Defensive Player Of The Year
Al Stewart, Summerside Storm
Rookie Of The Year
Brandon Robinson, Oshawa Power
First Team All-NBL Canada:
Anthony Anderson, Saint John Mill Rats
Gabe Freeman, London Lightning
Ralphy Holmes, Quebec Kebs
Mike Williams, Summerside Storm
Lawrence Wright, Halifax Rainmen
Second Team All-NBL Canada:
Tim Ellis, London Lightning
Omari Johnson, Oshawa Power
Trayvon Lathan, Moncton Miracles
Tyrone Levett, Halifax Rainmen
Brandon Robinson, Oshawa Power
First Team All-Defence:
Al Stewart, Summerside Storm
Gabe Freeman, London Lightning
James "Boo" Jackson, Quebec Kebs
Tyrone Levett, Halifax Rainmen
Mike Williams, SUmmerside Storm
Second Team All-Defence:
Boubacar Coly, Moncton Miracles
DeAnthony Bowden, London Lightning
Joey Haywood, Halfiax Rainmen
Ralphy Holmes, Quebec Kebs
Sylvania Watkins, Moncton Miracles
Playoff Awards:
Playoff MVP: Gabe Freeman, London Lightning
NBL ALL-PLAYOFF FIRST TEAM
Gabe Freeman, London Lightning
Eddie Smith, London Lightning
Chris Hagen, Halifax Rainmen
Royce Parran, Quebec Kebs
Tim Ellis, London Lightning
NBL ALL-PLAYOFF SECOND TEAM
Tyrone Levett, Halifax Rainmen
Shamari Spears, London Lightning
Jermaine Blackburn, Saint John Mill Rats
Ralphy Holmes, Quebec Kebs
Shawn Daniels, London Lightning
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from April 1, 2012
- Brandon Robinson Named NBL Canada All-Star MVP - Mississauga Power
- Team Haywood Wins NBL Canada Rogers All-Star Game - NBL Canada
- NBL Canada Awards Handed out at All-Star Breakfast - NBL Canada
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