NBL Canada Weekly

Published on November 28, 2011 under National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada) News Release

NBL TEAM REPORTS

Halifax Rainmen

1888 Brunswick Street, Suite 611

Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3J8

Phone: (902) 444-RAIN, (902) 444-7246

Fax: 1-866-424-4267

Head Coach: Josep Claros

Home arena: Halifax MetroCentre

rainmenbasketball.ca

After a long break in the schedule, the Halifax Rainmen took on the Oshawa Power on Sunday afternoon. In the 115-111 loss to Oshawa, Joey Heywood dropped 20 points to lead the Rainmen in scoring. Eddie Robinson, playing his first game since coming off the Injured Reserve list, had 18 points. Taliek Brown suffered a dislocated finger early in the first half, which took him out of the remainder of the game.

London Lightning

358 Horton Street E.

London, Ontario N6B 1L7

Phone: (519) 433-0634

Fax: (519) 433-9849

Head Coach: Micheal Ray Richadson

Home arena: John Labatt Centre

lightningbasketball.ca

With 34 points from Gabe Freeman, many of them coming from crowd- thrilling dunks, the London Lightning surged to a dominating 122-100 victory over the Moncton Miracles in front of 2,083 people at the John Labatt Centre on Thursday night. Freeman went 15-for-18 and pulled down 15 rebounds in the game. DeAnthony Bowden added 23 points - with a trio of 3-pointers; Bowden also dished out 9 assists. Tim Ellis added 1 rebounds, while Shamari Spears had a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards.

Moncton Miracles

740 Rue Main Street

Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 1E6

Team phone: (506) 204-7730

Team fax: (506) 204-7840

Head Coach: Mike Evans

Home arena: Moncton Coliseum

miraclesbasketball.ca

Although the Moncton Miracles tried to play a solid game Thursday night on the road against the London Lightning, the Magnetic Hill crew were outrebounded 62-42, and were outscored 122-100 for their seventh straight loss. Andrew Francis did keep the game competitive, he had 26 points and 11 rebounds; Terrence Woodyard added 19 points, while Victor Morris came off the bench to score 17 points for Moncton.

After the game, Moncton head coach Norris Bell retired from the team to tend to family matters; the Miracles hired Mike Evans as the team's new Head Coach / General Manager.

Mike Evans has a solid basketball background at the professional level. Evans played collegiately at Kansas State University before continuing on to the NBA where he played for 9 seasons. After his retirement as a player, he became an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets. After his time in Denver, Evans became a scout for the Toronto Raptors before joining the coaching staff in 2007-2008 as an assistant coach. Last season, he was the head coach of the Halifax Rainmen who were then part of the Premier Basketball League (PBL).

"I am extremely excited to be a part of this organization and the community and can not wait to get things started," said Michael Evans.

Oshawa Power

99 Athol St. East

Oshawa, Ontario L1H-1J8

Phone: (289) 315-0520

Phone: 1-877-554-8457

Head Coach: Mark Strickland

Home Arena: General Motors Centre

powerbasketball.ca

On Friday night, the Oshwa Power welcomed the Sumerside Storm for its first appearance against the Automotive Capital of Canada crew. Unfortunately for the Power, the team's anemic free-throw shooting - 36% from the charity stripe - cost them a much-needed victory, losing 119-97 to Summerside. Brandon Robinson led the Power with 19 points; while Akeem Wright's 18 points and 12 rebounds were tempered by his 7-for-19 free-throw shooting accuracy.

Wright made up for that game in Oshawa's next contest, as he had 33 points and 10 rebounds in Oshawa's 115-111 Sunday afternoon victory over Halifax. Six of Oshawa's eight dressed players scored in double figures in the contest, including Brandon Robinson (19) and Omari Johnson (18).

Québec Kebs

300,rue Métivier

Quebec City, Quebec G1M 3Y9

Office: 418-780-4850

Fax: 418-683-3232

Head coach: Rob Spon

Home arena: Pavillon de l'éducation physique et des sports de l'Université Laval

kebsdequebec.com/en (English)

kebsdequebec.com (Français)

The Quebec Kebs did not play this week.

Saint John Mill Rats

133 Prince William Street, Suite 9

Saint John, NB E2L 2B5 Office: (506) 214-4454

Fax: (506) 652-1562

Head Coach: Jaren Jackson

Home Venue: Harbour Station

millratsbasketball.ca

The Saint John Mill Rats did not play this week.

Summerside Storm

511 Notre Dame Street

Summerside, Prince Edward Island C1N 1T2

Phone: (902) 432-1234

Fax: (902)-436-4596

Head Coach: Joseph Salerno

Home Venue: Consolidated Credit Union Place

stormbasketball.ca

The Summerside Storm's first visit to the General Motors Centre proved fruitful and successful, as the Prince Edward Islanders completely dominated the Oshawa Power 119-97. Chris Cayole had 26 points for Summerside, including a team-record 6-for-8 from the 3-point line. Eric Gilchrese also added 26 points, and went 11-for-12 at the free throw line; Gilchrese also added six assists. Mike Williams had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Game reports compiled via team press releases, and from articles appearing in newspapers from the teams' home locations.

NBL ANNOUNCES JOHN KENNEDY AS COMMISSIONER

(TORONTO, ON) The National Basketball League of Canada is thrilled to appoint John Kennedy as the league's first commissioner.

"We're excited to welcome John to the NBL Canada team," said President and CEO of NBL Canada, Andre Levingston. "John has an extensive background working in professional sports as a business development manager, strategic planner, event marketer and scout. Over the years, John has developed many important business relationships and the league looks forward to flourishing under his leadership."

As commissioner, Mr. Kennedy will act as NBL Canada's governing body and will help raise awareness of the league by building strong business and community relationships in all seven of the leagues markets and across the country.

"I'm excited and honored by the faith shown by the ownership group in my abilities to positively impact NBL Canada as a viable sports and entertainment organization," said Kennedy. "I look forward to building relationships with the many fans of professional basketball in Canada, and also with prospective sponsors."

Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Kennedy joins NBL Canada after founding J. Kennedy and Associates nearly twelve years ago. J. Kennedy & Associates is a sports and entertainment marketing company based out of Los Angeles. Some of Kennedy's clients included the Los Angeles Lakers, Magna Entertainment, Horse--Racing Television and the Asian and European PGA Tours.

Prior to starting J. Kennedy and Associates, Kennedy worked on a variety of projects dealing with strategic advertising and media sales, integrated corporate partnerships, new business development, event marketing, merchandising and promotions.

NBL CANADA TRANSACTIONS

November 21, 2011 - London Lightning activated Albert White from Inactive Reserve list. Placed Brandon Dean on Injured Reserve list.

November 21, 2011 - Moncton Miracles released Randall Orr.

November 24, 2011 - Halifax Rainmen activate Eddie Robinson from Injured Reserve list. Released Stevy Worah-Ozimo.

November 25, 2011 - Moncton Miracles announced the resignation of head coach Norris Bell.

November 27, 2011 - Saint John Mill Rats signed Greg Plummer, Antonio Burks, David Collins. Released Sherton Sanderson, Dele Ojo, Marc Egerson, and Sani Ibrahim.

NBL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that Chris Cayole of the Summerside Storm has been named Player of the Week for the week ending November 27, 2011. This is Summerside's first player to earn Player of the Week honours, and Cayole becomes the second Canadian to earn the award, joining Halifax's Joey Heywood in that category.

In the November 25, 2011 road game against the Oshawa Power, Cayole had 26 points, including hitting six of eight three-pointers, setting a new Summerside team record in that category.

Previous NBL Player of the Week Honours:

November 6, 2011 - Gabe Freeman, London Lightning.

November 13, 2011 - Joey Haywood, Halifax Rainmen.

November 20, 2011 - Anthony Anderson, Saint John Mill Rats.

November 17, 2011 - Chris Cayole, Summerside Storm.

NBL COACH OF THE MONTH

The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that Micheal Ray Richardson, head coach of the London Lightning, has been named Coach of the Month for November. Richardson, who played in the NBA for several years, and who has won three head coaching championships in other professional basketball leagues, has led the London Lightning to a 7-2 record. The Lightning's 92.4 points allowed is the stingiest in the NBL.

National Basketball League of Canada Stories from November 28, 2011

• Storm Sign Terry Martin - Summerside Storm
• Chris Cayole Named NBL Player of the Week - Summerside Storm
• Mill Rats to Host Trio of Games - Saint John Riptide
• NBL Canada Weekly - NBL Canada
• Michael Ray Richardson Awarded Coach of the Month - London Lightning
• Mill Rats Bolster Line Up - Saint John Riptide

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.