In February 2014, the Niagara Basketball Group started the application process to get a local team.[2] Over a year later, the NBL Canada announced that they would hold a press conference on the morning of April 8, 2015, regarding the expansion team.[3] The group also held an online contest in which fans had the opportunity to make suggestions as to what the team's nickname should be.[2] On May 14, 2015, the NBL held a Board of Governors' meeting, in which it was approved and confirmed that Niagara would compete in the 2015–16 season.[4] At a press conference on May 28, 2015, it was announced that the team would be called the "Niagara River Lions," a nickname inspired by the Niagara Region's coat of arms, which depicts the same animal. Ken Murray, a successful Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) coach, came out of retirement to claim the head coaching and general manager (GM) position.[5] However, during their inaugural season, Murray was fired from the team on February 20, 2016, and was replaced by assistant coach Grâce Lokole.[6] Lokole would step down from the head coach position during the next season on March 11, 2017.[7] He was replaced by local Niagara College head coach Keith Vassell on an interim basis while Lokole stayed on as an assistant. Joe Raso would be named the head coach for the 2017–18 season.[8]
In 2017, River Lions' owner Richard Petko became one of the investors of a new basketball league called Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). On June 8, 2018, the River Lions announced that the franchise had moved to the CEBL after three seasons in the National Basketball League of Canada.[9]
Mascotedit
For their first season, the River Lions announced that their mascot would be Dunkin the River Lion. Dunkin performs during every River Lions home game and attends events throughout the Niagara Region.
Playersedit
Current rosteredit
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
^Dadson, Zach. "Five facts about River Lions". BulletNewsNiagara.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
^ ab"Niagara to get its own NBL Canada team". CKTB. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
^"Professional Basketball Coming To The Niagara Region". NBLCanada.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
^"Optimism And Unity Highlights NBL Canada League Meeting". NBLCanada.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
^Dube, Kris. "River Lions ready to build winning team for Niagara". BulletNewsNiagara.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
^"River Lions axe head coach coach/GM". Niagara Falls Review. 21 February 2016.
^. stcatharinesstandard.ca. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
^"Niagara River Lions name Joe Raso as new head coach". Niagara This Week. June 28, 2017.
^"River Lions make move to CEBL – holding court in 2019". St. Catharines Standard. June 8, 2018.
External linksedit
Official website
January 01, 1970
niagara, river, lions, canadian, professional, basketball, team, based, catharines, ontario, that, competes, canadian, elite, basketball, league, from, 2015, 2018, they, were, members, national, basketball, league, canada, river, lions, play, their, home, game. The Niagara River Lions are a Canadian professional basketball team based in St Catharines Ontario that competes in the Canadian Elite Basketball League From 2015 to 2018 they were members of the National Basketball League of Canada The River Lions play their home games at the Meridian Centre in downtown St Catharines 1 Niagara River LionsLeaguesCEBLFounded2015HistoryNiagara River Lions 2015 present ArenaMeridian CentreCapacity4 030LocationSt Catharines OntarioTeam coloursGreen navy blue grey PresidentJeffrey SotiriouHead coachVictor RasoOwnershipRichard Petko Michael Skrtich Jeffrey SotiriouWebsiteriverlions caHomeAway Contents 1 History 2 Mascot 3 Players 3 1 Current roster 4 Season by season record 5 Notable players 6 References 7 External linksHistory editIn February 2014 the Niagara Basketball Group started the application process to get a local team 2 Over a year later the NBL Canada announced that they would hold a press conference on the morning of April 8 2015 regarding the expansion team 3 The group also held an online contest in which fans had the opportunity to make suggestions as to what the team s nickname should be 2 On May 14 2015 the NBL held a Board of Governors meeting in which it was approved and confirmed that Niagara would compete in the 2015 16 season 4 At a press conference on May 28 2015 it was announced that the team would be called the Niagara River Lions a nickname inspired by the Niagara Region s coat of arms which depicts the same animal Ken Murray a successful Canadian Interuniversity Sport CIS coach came out of retirement to claim the head coaching and general manager GM position 5 However during their inaugural season Murray was fired from the team on February 20 2016 and was replaced by assistant coach Grace Lokole 6 Lokole would step down from the head coach position during the next season on March 11 2017 7 He was replaced by local Niagara College head coach Keith Vassell on an interim basis while Lokole stayed on as an assistant Joe Raso would be named the head coach for the 2017 18 season 8 In 2017 River Lions owner Richard Petko became one of the investors of a new basketball league called Canadian Elite Basketball League CEBL On June 8 2018 the River Lions announced that the franchise had moved to the CEBL after three seasons in the National Basketball League of Canada 9 Mascot editFor their first season the River Lions announced that their mascot would be Dunkin the River Lion Dunkin performs during every River Lions home game and attends events throughout the Niagara Region Players editCurrent roster edit Note Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events Players may hold other non FIBA nationality not displayed Niagara River Lions roster Players Coaches Pos No Nat Name Ht Wt Age G 1 nbsp Tchuente Jordan 6 ft 6 in 1 98 m 200 lb 91 kg 23 2001 03 06 6 March 2001 F 8 nbsp Davis A J 6 ft 9 in 2 06 m 215 lb 98 kg 29 1995 03 15 15 March 1995 Head coach nbsp Victor Raso Assistant coach es nbsp Danielle Bolago nbsp Marlo Davis nbsp Joel Friesen nbsp Chris Rao nbsp Troy Stevenson Legend C Team captain I Inactive U Current U Sports Athlete nbsp Injured RosterTransactions Updated January 4 2024Season by season record editLeague Season Coach Regular season Post season Won Lost Win Finish Won Lost Win Result NBLC 2015 16 Ken MurrayGrace Lokole 16 24 400 3rd Central 0 3 000 Lost div semi finals 2016 17 Grace LokoleKeith Vassell 14 26 350 5th Central did not qualify 2017 18 Joe Raso 17 23 425 4th Central 1 3 250 Lost div semi finals CEBL 2019 Victor Raso 15 5 750 1st 0 1 000 Lost semi finals 2020 Victor Raso 2 4 333 6th 0 1 000 Lost quarter finals 2021 Victor Raso 10 4 714 2nd 1 1 500 Lost finals 2022 Victor Raso 13 7 650 2nd 1 1 500 Lost semi finals 2023 Victor Raso 13 7 650 1st East 0 1 000 Lost semi finals NBLC totals 47 73 392 1 6 143 CEBL totals 53 27 663 2 5 286Notable players editKhalil Ahmad Javin DeLaurier Tidjan Keita Stephen Maxwell Xavier MoonReferences edit Dadson Zach Five facts about River Lions BulletNewsNiagara com Retrieved 7 July 2015 a b Niagara to get its own NBL Canada team CKTB Retrieved 28 May 2015 Professional Basketball Coming To The Niagara Region NBLCanada com Retrieved 28 May 2015 Optimism And Unity Highlights NBL Canada League Meeting NBLCanada com Retrieved 28 May 2015 Dube Kris River Lions ready to build winning team for Niagara BulletNewsNiagara com Retrieved 28 May 2015 River Lions axe head coach coach GM Niagara Falls Review 21 February 2016 Keith Vassell taking over NBL Canada team on interim basis stcatharinesstandard ca Archived from the original on 10 March 2017 Retrieved 11 March 2017 Niagara River Lions name Joe Raso as new head coach Niagara This Week June 28 2017 River Lions make move to CEBL holding court in 2019 St Catharines Standard June 8 2018 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Niagara River Lions amp oldid 1194183956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
