2019–20 NBL Canada season

The 2019–20 NBL Canada season was the ninth season of the National Basketball League of Canada. The regular season was supposed to run from December 26, 2019, to April 23, 2020. However, on March 12, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[1]

2019–20 NBL Canada season
LeagueNational Basketball League of Canada
SportBasketball
DurationDecember 26, 2019 – March 11, 2020 (suspended)
Number of games36 (20–25 games played before suspension)
Number of teams8

On April 1, the season was officially cancelled with the league saying they will "begin preparations for its tenth season in 2020–21".[2]

League changes

Because of financial difficulties, two of the league's teams, Saint John Riptide and Cape Breton Highlanders, were granted a one-year sabbatical, with the goal of finding new sponsors in order to rejoin the league next season. The lack of new expansion teams means the season will be played with only eight teams.[3] The decrease in the number of teams also caused a change in the playoff format with the top two teams in each division qualifying for the postseason.[4]

Offseason coaching changes
  • The Halifax Hurricanes hired Ryan Marchand as head coach after the Hurricanes' head coach for the previous three seasons, Mike Leslie, was named team president and general manager.[5]
  • The London Lightning hired Doug Plumb, who had most recently been the head coach of the St. John's Edge. Plumb replaced Elliott Etherington who had been promoted during the previous season after the Lightning had fired Keith Vassell.
  • The St. John's Edge removed the interim status of head coach Steven Marcus.[6]

Regular season

Standings as of March 11:[7]

Atlantic Division GP W L PCT GB Div
Moncton Magic23194.826—16–3
St. John's Edge20119.5506.56–6
Halifax Hurricanes24816.33311.54–10
Island Storm23617.261134–11
Central Division GP W L PCT GB Div
London Lightning24159.625—12–6
Sudbury Five231310.5651.59–6
Windsor Express221111.50037–9
KW Titans25916.3606.54–10
  • z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
  • c – Clinched home court advantage for the division playoffs
  • x – Clinched playoff spot

Attendance

As of games played 11 March 2020

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 London Lightning 42,245 7,914 1,244 3,250 +6.9%†
2 St. John's Edge 23,599 5,475 1,781 2,950 −22.2%†
3 Sudbury Five 19,094 3,027 1,523 2,387 +16.6%†
4 Windsor Express 21,121 4,136 600 1,760 +52.6%†
5 Halifax Hurricanes 22,869 4,249 1,123 1,759 −16.0%†
6 Moncton Magic 22,344 2,389 1,330 1,719 +49.2%†
7 KW Titans 17,452 3,766 938 1,587 +22.0%†
8 Island Storm 11,707 1,410 771 976 −20.3%†
League total 178,252 7,914 600 1,981 +6.4%†

Source:

Awards

Player of the Week award
For games
in week ending		 Player of the week Canadian player of the week
Player Team Player Team
December 29, 2019Damon LynnKW TitansAlex CampbellIsland Storm
January 5, 2020Xavier MoonLondon LightningAlex Campbell (2)Island Storm
January 12, 2020Karrington WardSt. John's EdgeGarrett WilliamsonLondon Lightning
January 19, 2020Chris JonesWindsor ExpressShaquille KeithWindsor Express
January 26, 2020Billy WhiteMoncton MagicJunior CadouganSt. John's Edge
February 2, 2020Akeem EllisKW TitansJarryn SkeeteSudbury Five
February 9, 2020A.J. GainesLondon LightningAlex Campbell (3)Island Storm
February 16, 2020Cane BroomeSt. John's EdgeMarvell WaitheHalifax Hurricanes
February 23, 2020Billy White (2)Moncton MagicKemy OsseWindsor Express
March 1, 2020Cameron ForteLondon LightningTyrell GreenLondon Lightning

Coach of the Month award
Month Coach Team
JanuaryJoe SalernoMoncton Magic
FebruaryJoe Salerno (2)Moncton Magic

References
  1. "NBLC Suspends Remainder of 2019-20 Season Until Further Notice". nblcanada.ca. March 12, 2020.
  2. "NBLC Announces Cancellation of the 2019-20 Season". nblcanada.ca. April 1, 2020.
  3. "NBLC Grants Riptide & Highlanders One-Year Sabbatical". NBLCanada.ca. August 30, 2019.
  4. "NBLC Announces Playoff Format for the 2020 Postseason". NBLCanada.ca. November 11, 2019.
  5. "Hurricanes Announce Front Office Moves". OurSports Central. 20 December 2019.
  6. "Marcus officially named Edge coach". The Telegram. September 27, 2019.
  7. "2019–20 NBL Canada Standings". NBL Canada. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
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