A NEW PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE IN NORTH AMERICA

After league teams from the Canadian Premier Basketball League complained of unfair officiating and poor management, three of their premier teams left to join the National Basketball League of Canada.

It was announced in Halifax on May 12, 2011, that the league may have up to eight teams including the three teams that left the Premier Basketball League; The Saint John Mill Rats, Halifax Rainmen and Quebec Kebs. Other teams from Charlottetown, Kingston, London (Ontario) and Oshawa all met the midnight deadline this month.

The new league's interim chief executive officer, Ian McCarthy believes the league, which will tip off this fall, can be successful. I think it's amazing that we were able to actually get people who two months ago had never thought of this idea to not only decide to do professional basketball, but also to pay an expansion fee and to really see the excitement and opportunity to go after it, McCarthy said.

McCarthy said that each team will be mandated to have specific roster spots for Canadians and the number will be determined once final roster spots have been announced.



By: Walt Thompson - June 22, 2011