Storm Battles for 1st Overall in NBL this Week
Published on January 14, 2015 under National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Island Storm News Release
(Charlottetown, PE) Two of the Island STORMS biggest rivals in the NBL Canada (one you might call a "bitter rival") are at Eastlink Centre this week and with two wins the STORM get to 1st place overall in the league, a place they have not been before. The Halifax Rainmen are in Charlottetown Thursday night while Friday night sees the Windsor Express make their only regular season visit in a rematch of last year's dogfight of a 7 game league final. It's a game all STORM Fans have been looking forward to since last season. Both games are 7pm starters.
When your team has been to the league finals the previous two seasons and then starts the new campaign 1-4, many might think it is panic time. But patience is a virtue in the Island STORM organization. And since the 1-4 start, no one has been better in the league than the Island STORM who has reeled off a 12-2 record, including winning their last 6 games, to stand at 13-6 overall and on top of the Atlantic Division That's a full 4 games ahead of 2nd place AND tied for the league lead in wins with 13.
Quite a change from a 1-4 start and STORM head Coach Joe Salerno explains his thoughts on the turnaround. "Any time when you make some changes to your roster there is going to be some wrinkles to iron out. We obviously got off to a slower start then we would have liked, but we made the proper adjustments and have started to see some of those changes pay off. I think our team has really grown over the last month and half. We have battled numerous injuries, a very tough schedule to start the season with seven straight road games, and of course stiff competition night in and night out."
Coach Salerno went on to talk about the present and furture, "We have built some chemistry, now we just need to stay focused, and not be content with where we are at. We really have not accomplished anything yet, and we remind each other of that every day. Continuing to get better on the defensive end, each day in practice is still a priority for us. I like where we are at, and the direction we are heading, but again you are only as good as your last game and we understand this. We have set lofty goals for this season, and now it is about continuing to work towards accomplishing those goals."
No, it won't be easy. It is a very competitive league this season and the Halifax Rainmen come to Eastlink Centre Thursday night having made some changes to its roster and looking to get things turned around from a below .500 season to date. Friday nights finals rematch sees the Express looking to get back on the winning track after losing to Brampton Tuesday night.
It's been quite a STORM season so far and it looks like the best is yet to come. Tickets for Thursday and Friday are on sale now at the Eastlink Centre Box Office.
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from January 14, 2015
- Storm Battles for 1st Overall in NBL this Week - Island Storm
- Lightning Trade Johnson for Jennings - London Lightning
- Viewing Parties Set up for Windsor's Weekend Road Trip - Windsor Express
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.
