The National Basketball League that was based in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 lasted only one and a half seasons in 1993

1993 in sports

1993 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Anita Wachter, Austria-American football:...

 and 1994

1994 in sports

1994 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* January 29 – death of Ulrike Maier , Austrian skier, who broke her neck when she crashed during a World Cup downhill race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen...

. It rose from the ashes of the World Basketball League

World Basketball League

World Basketball League was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. It was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season. One of the major differences between it and other leagues was that it...

 which folded after the 1992

1992 in sports

1992 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup* Men's overall season champion: Paul Accola, Switzerland* Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...

 season, which had teams in various Canadian and American cities. The NBL's first game was played on May 1, 1993 when the Cape Breton Breakers

Cape Breton Breakers

The Cape Breton Breakers were a franchise in the National Basketball League that began play in 1993, the league's first season. The team played their home games at Centre 200, in Sydney, which was also home of the Cape Breton Oilers....

 visited the Halifax Windjammers

Halifax Windjammers

The Halifax Windjammers were a franchise in the World Basketball League that began play in 1991. The team continued operation after the WBL folded in 1992, when they joined the newly formed National Basketball League. The NBL folded midway though the 1994, when the Windjammers were in first place...

. The Breakers won the regular season championship with a 30-16 record, but they lost the championship finals to Saskatoon three games to one.

During the 1994

1994 in sports

1994 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* January 29 – death of Ulrike Maier , Austrian skier, who broke her neck when she crashed during a World Cup downhill race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen...

 season there were rumours that the Cape Breton

Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....

 team was going to move to Saint John

Saint John, New Brunswick

City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...

 in mid-season, which never happened before the league folded on July 9, 1994. Halifax, which finished last in 1993, was in first place at the time the league had folded.

The league's president was Sam Katz

Sam Katz

Samuel Michael Katz, OM is the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is also a businessperson and a member of the Order of Manitoba.- Life before mayorship :...

 and the commissioner was Tom Nissalke

Tom Nissalke

Thomas Edward "Tom" Nissalke is a retired former American professional basketball coach in the NBA and American Basketball Association...

.

NBL Teams

Team	City	Arena	Seasons	Notes
Calgary Outlaws Calgary Outlaws (basketball) The Calgary Outlaws was a professional basketball franchise based in Calgary, Alberta, in 1994. The Outlaws were members of the National Basketball League....	Calgary, Alberta	Jack Simpson Gymnasium (University of Calgary)	1994	Expansion team
Cape Breton Breakers Cape Breton Breakers The Cape Breton Breakers were a franchise in the National Basketball League that began play in 1993, the league's first season. The team played their home games at Centre 200, in Sydney, which was also home of the Cape Breton Oilers....	Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....	Centre 200 Centre 200 Centre 200 is Cape Breton's primary sports and entertainment facility, located in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It is home to the QMJHL's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and the NSMMHL's Cape Breton Tradesmen. Besides ice hockey, the arena hosts many other events, such as rock concerts, figure skating, and...	1993-94	Expansion team
Halifax Windjammers Halifax Windjammers The Halifax Windjammers were a franchise in the World Basketball League that began play in 1991. The team continued operation after the WBL folded in 1992, when they joined the newly formed National Basketball League. The NBL folded midway though the 1994, when the Windjammers were in first place...	Halifax, Nova Scotia	Halifax Metro Centre Halifax Metro Centre The Halifax Metro Centre was built in 1978, in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The building is next to the World Trade and Convention Centre, at the foot of Citadel Hill. It is the largest arena in Halifax. It originally featured a full ring of bright orange seats around the playing surface,...	1993-94	Holdover from the WBL World Basketball League World Basketball League was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. It was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season. One of the major differences between it and other leagues was that it...
Edmonton Skyhawks Edmonton Skyhawks The Edmonton Skyhawks was a professional basketball franchise based in Edmonton, Alberta that played in 1993 and 1994. The Skyhawks were members of the National Basketball League. The team moved to Edmonton from Hamilton, Ontario for the 1993 playoffs...	Edmonton, Alberta	Northlands Coliseum	1993 (playoffs)-94	Moved from Hamilton
Hamilton Skyhawks Hamilton Skyhawks The Hamilton Skyhawks was a professional basketball franchise based in Hamilton, Ontario that played in the World Basketball League and the National Basketball League in 1992 and 1993. The team joined the WBL as an expansion team for the 1992 season. However, the WBL folded before completion of...	Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...	Copps Coliseum Copps Coliseum Copps Coliseum is a sports and entertainment arena, on the corner of Bay Street North and York Boulevard, in Hamilton, Ontario. Depending on event, the Copps Coliseum has a capacity of up to 19,000.It is named after the former Hamilton mayor, Victor K...	1993	Holdover from the WBL, moved to Edmonton
Montreal Dragons Montreal Dragons The Montreal Dragons was a professional basketball franchise based in Montreal, Quebec that played in 1993. The team played its season in the National Basketball League, but folded before the season finished....	Montreal, Quebec	Verdun Auditorium Verdun Auditorium The Verdun Auditorium is the main arena in the Montreal borough of Verdun, Quebec, Canada. The building was constructed in 1938 and holds 4,114. The largest arena in the west end of Montreal, the complex also is home to Arena Denis Savard, a small minor-hockey rink, attached to its side...	1993	Expansion team
Saskatoon Slam Saskatoon Slam The Saskatoon Slam was a professional basketball franchise based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan that played in the National Basketball League in 1993 and 1994. The team played their home games at Saskatchewan Place. In the NBL's single full season, 1993 , the Slam captured the league championship. They...	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Saskatchewan Place Credit Union Centre Credit Union Centre is an arena, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Situated near the city's northern entrance, the facility opened in February, 1988 with a seating capacity of around 7,800. It was expanded to 11,330 for the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1990...	1993-94	Expansion team
Winnipeg Thunder Winnipeg Thunder The Winnipeg Thunder was a professional basketball franchise based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from 1992 to 1994. The Thunder played its inaugural season in the World Basketball League, which folded before the schedule ended...	Winnipeg, Manitoba	Winnipeg Arena Winnipeg Arena Winnipeg Arena was an indoor arena located at 1430 Maroons Road in Winnipeg, Manitoba, across the street from Canad Inns Stadium and just north of Polo Park.Built in 1955, it was owned by community-owned Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation...	1993-94	Holdover from the WBL

Touring Teams

In 1993, league teams also played games against some touring teams which counted in the league standings. These teams were:

• Atlantic Coast Conference
  Atlantic Coast Conference
  The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
  
   All-Stars (replaced Atlantic 10 All-Stars)
• Athletes in Action
  Athletes in Action
  Athletes in Action is an evangelical Christian sports ministry in the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Athletes in Action, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, works with athletes and coaches to use the unique platform of sport to help people around the world with questions of faith...
  
  
• Big East All-Stars
• Canadian National Team
  Canadian national men's basketball team
  The Canadian national men's basketball team represents Canada in international basketball competitions. The team is currently ranked 24th by FIBA. Athletes for this team are selected by Canada Basketball...