National Basketball of League Canada team eyed for Cape Breton

On Tuesday, league commissioner David Magleyand the man behind a new Cape Breton team, Tyrone Levingston, were in Sydney to talk hoops.

While the team name and head coach will be announced on Oct. 15, both parties are feeling optimistic about the state of the league.

Last season's final was forfeited by the Halifax Rainmenafter the players said they were threatened with bodily harm by their opponents in Windsor, Ont. The forfeit was a black eye on the league and the incident attracted international attention.

"That can't andwill never happen again," said Magley, noting there are new rules in place.

Levingston says the fact more franchises have set up since the incident shows investors have faith.

"Since then, you've had a team sign on in St. Catherine's, Niagara and now you have Cape Breton, so that's a testament right there that the support is there, that the belief and faith in the league is there," he said.

The Cape Breton franchise has two major investors behind it Marty Chernin and Parker Rudderham as well as three other partners.

Levingston says he believes the league is growing and his investors are confident in its future.

5 Maritime teams

The NBL has nine teams, including the newest Cape Breton and Halifax teams, as well as three other Maritime teams.

Cape Breton fans will be invited to submit names for the yet-to-be-named team. The winning suggestion will receive a pair of season tickets as the reward.

Play will begin in late December for the 40-game season, half of whichwill be home games.

Despite all the optimism, it is possible a Cape Breton team won't enter the league this season, says Magley.

"We do have... the right as a league, and as a team, to say in a couple of weeks if we haven't fully funded it the way we want, then we say, let's really build it for next year," he said.

Magley says that while hockey will always be the top draw in Canada, he envisions the NBL providing a CFL-like addition to the Canadian sports landscape.