The Oshawa Power will head into London Thursday night with Larry Blunt patrolling the sidelines. Blunt officially took over the head coaching duties of the NBL Canada team this week from Robert Brickey , who is taking a lesser role with the club as he tends to his ill mother back home in North Carolina. In Blunt the Power adds a man familiar to Brickey, one who has both played for and coached with the former Duke star. "I was coach Brickey's assistant in North Carolina at Shaw University and when I was a student at James Madison, he was an assistant. We've kind of developed a relationship that's moved along as he's followed my career," said Blunt, who left an assistant coach position at Hampden-Sydney College to take over the reins with the Power. "When some things came up at home, he asked if this was an option I would think about considering." And while Blunt is thrilled to get his chance to guide a professional basketball team, he admits it was tough to leave a place where he has spent the last four years not just as an assistant, but also responsible for monitoring the players' academic progress, weight training and conditioning, and with the recruitment of student-athletes. "It was so difficult to leave there with the relationships I built with the players, the staff and the school," said Blunt, a Courtland, Virginia native. "That was a great experience and I really appreciate the people there. It's a place I will dearly miss." As for the here and now, Blunt is excited about how things are shaping up for the Power this season. "We have great guys. We have a team that is full of passionate young men that really love the game of basketball and they really enjoy being around each other," Blunt said when asked of his first impressions. "That's probably the first thing that stands out." What that will mean when the Power matches up against the defending league champion London Lightning on Thursday night is anybody's guess, though Blunt said the game will serve as a good gauge to see just where his club is at. "We got a chance to play an exhibition game against London and they are very, very talented and experienced," Blunt said. "They are also very physical, but our guys are excited about the opportunity to play them. We know we're going to have to bring our A game and play well. When you play the team that is the best, or has been the best, you can use it as a measuring stick to find out where you are." Following the game, Oshawa will have a day off before hosting the Windsor Express in their home opener Saturday night at the General Motors Centre (7 p.m.). Courtesy of: durhamregion.com
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The Brampton Powerade Centre will be a busy place this fall and beyond. There were concerns raised over the use of the facility after the Ontario Hockey Leagues Brampton Battalion announced theyd be leaving for North Bay this summer. But the facility wont become the white elephant, that some thought it might be. The City of Brampton helped land the Brampton Beast a Central Hockey League team shortly after the Troops announced their departure [read more]
The Brampton Powerade Centre will be a busy place this fall and beyond. There were concerns raised over the use of the facility after the Ontario Hockey Leagues Brampton Battalion announced theyd be leaving for North Bay this summer. But the facility wont become the white elephant, that some thought it might be. The City of Brampton helped land the Brampton Beast a Central Hockey League team shortly after the Troops announced their departure. And it was made official on Wednesday that a new National Basketball League of Canada franchise known as the Brampton As will begin play this fall in the facility. Basketball is an international sport, said As GM/head coach David Magley as the team introduced its president Jesse Tipping and owner James Tipping. We chose Brampton because of if its diversity. And if Wednesdays event is any indication, the basketball team could be a resounding success. Theres a sense of excitement, admitted James Tipping, who also owns the Athletic Institute in Orangeville. How can there not be in an environment like this, but we know weve got a lot of work ahead of us. About 150 filled the RealStars Restaurant for the official announcement. I know there is a love and passion for basketball in this community, said NBL Canada president Andre Levingston. And there will be an instant rivalry with Mississauga. NBL Canada announced last week that the Oshawa Power would be re-locating to the Hershey Centre for the upcoming season. That will bring the number teams in the league to 10 five in the Atlantic division and five in the Central, where the As will reside. The Powerade Centre will be powered by two professional teams, said Mayor Susan Fennell, after receiving the first-ever Brampton As jersey. I dont get disappointed, I get busy. The As will begin play in early-November. Courtesy of: bramptonguardian.com
The National Basketball League of Canada announced the protected lists for each team for the upcoming 2013-14 season on Thursday. Teams were allowed to protect five players in which they are able to conduct contract negotiations with exclusively. The Summerside Storm protected the following players: Antonio Ballard (6'4''-G/F, college: Miami, OH), Brandon Robinson (6'6''-F-89, college: Clayton St.), Omari Johnson (6'9''-F-89, college: Oregon St.), Chris Cayole (6'7''-F-85, college: St [read more]
The National Basketball League of Canada announced the protected lists for each team for the upcoming 2013-14 season on Thursday. Teams were allowed to protect five players in which they are able to conduct contract negotiations with exclusively. The Summerside Storm protected the following players: Antonio Ballard (6'4''-G/F, college: Miami, OH), Brandon Robinson (6'6''-F-89, college: Clayton St.), Omari Johnson (6'9''-F-89, college: Oregon St.), Chris Cayole (6'7''-F-85, college: St.Michael's) and Antoine Tisby (6'8''-F/C-83, college: S.Carolina). Teams will have until Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m., to have their protected players signed to a player contract. Players who are not signed will become eligible to be contacted by all league teams. Courtesy of: journalpioneer.com
The Ottaway Skyhawks got their first head coach. The newest NBLC team has announced the hiring of Kevin Keathley to the position. The US specialist worked with the Souk Valley Predators in PBL lately. He was selected as NBA D-League Pre-Draft Coach in 2012. Previously Kevin Keathley had stints with the East Kentucky Miners, Kentucky Colonels, Southeast Texas Mavericks. He also worked as coach assistant with the Louisville Eagles, Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Bakersfield Jam [read more]
The Ottaway Skyhawks got their first head coach. The newest NBLC team has announced the hiring of Kevin Keathley to the position. The US specialist worked with the Souk Valley Predators in PBL lately. He was selected as NBA D-League Pre-Draft Coach in 2012. Previously Kevin Keathley had stints with the East Kentucky Miners, Kentucky Colonels, Southeast Texas Mavericks. He also worked as coach assistant with the Louisville Eagles, Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Bakersfield Jam. Kevin Keathley earned Pro Basketball News Top Ten Minor League Coaches Award in 2006 and 2009. In 2010 the specialist was named the ABA Assistant Coach of the Year. The Ottawa Skyhawks will start their debut pre-season at the end of October. They are scheduled for a number of exhibition encounters.
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