The 2017–18 NBL Canada season was the seventh season of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC). The regular season ran November 18, 2017 to April 2, 2018.

League changes After two years as league commissioner, Dave Magley left the league to found North American Premier Basketball. He was replaced on an interim basis by London Lightning owner and league president Vito Frijia.

After years of league ownership, the Moncton Miracles were folded to make way for an expansion team under new ownership called the Moncton Magic. The league also awarded expansion franchises in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Sudbury, Ontario. However, the Sudbury ownership group delayed their launch in the league until 2019. The Orangeville A's folded in the Central Division, leaving the league with six teams in the Atlantic region and four in the Central. As a result, the new St. John's Edge were scheduled to play in the Central Division.

Offseason coaching changes The Cape Breton Highlanders hired longtime NBLC head coach Rob Spon away from the Saint John Riptide, replacing their fired inaugural head coach Dean Murray and the interim Ben Resner. The Island Storm hired Tim Kendrick to replace longtime Storm head coach, Joe Salerno. The London Lightning hired Keith Vassell, former Niagara College head coach and the interim head coach of the Niagara River Lions the previous season. During the 2017 playoffs, then-Lightning head coach Kyle Julius notified ownership he would not return for the following season. The Moncton Magic hired Joe Salerno as its inaugural head coach. Salerno had coached the previous season for the Island Storm. The Niagara River Lions hired Joe Raso as its permanent head coach after Grâce Lokole stepped down during the previous season and Keith Vassell coached the rest of the season. The Saint John Riptide hired Nelson Terroba to replace Rob Spon. The St. John's Edge hired Jeff Dunlap as its inaugural head coach.

Midseason coaching changes The KW Titans released Serge Langis on 25 February 2018 after a 5–22 record, and replaced him with former Titans' player Cavell Johnson.

Teams 2017-18 National Basketball League of Canada Division Team City Arena Capacity Atlantic Cape Breton Highlanders Sydney, Nova Scotia Centre 200 5,000 Halifax Hurricanes Halifax, Nova Scotia Scotiabank Centre 10,500 Island Storm Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Eastlink Centre 4,000 Moncton Magic Moncton, New Brunswick Moncton Coliseum 6,554 Saint John Riptide Saint John, New Brunswick Harbour Station 6,603 Central KW Titans Kitchener, Ontario Kitchener Memorial Auditorium 7,312 London Lightning London, Ontario Budweiser Gardens 9,000 Niagara River Lions St. Catharines, Ontario Meridian Centre 4,030 St. John's Edge St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Mile One Centre 6,750 Windsor Express Windsor, Ontario WFCU Centre 6,500

Map of teams

Regular season Standings as of 2 April 2018: Atlantic Division z — Halifax Hurricanes 40 28 12 — x — Moncton Magic 40 23 17 5 x — Saint John Riptide 40 20 20 8 x — Island Storm 40 19 21 9 40 13 27 15

Central Division c — London Lightning 40 27 13 — x — St. John's Edge 40 25 15 2 x — Windsor Express 40 20 20 7 x — 40 17 23 10 KW Titans 40 8 32 19 Notes 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 2 April 2018

Playoffs

Bold Series winner Italic Team with home-court advantage

NBL Canada Finals

Draft The 2017–18 NBL Canada Draft and Combine was held on October 20–22. The St. John's Edge selected Aaron Williams first.

Player Team 11Aaron WilliamsSt. John's EdgeChicago State12Zachary ValliereIsland StormFitchburg State13Duke MondyCape Breton HighlandersOakland14Steven Toyloy Moncton MagicCincinnati15Matthew HartNiagara River LionsGeorge Washington16Torrence DyckIsland StormDaemen College17Scottie McRaeWindsor ExpressAlbany18Cleon Roberts Saint John RiptideLa Salle19Andrew HaylesWindsor ExpressAlabama State110Shawn AmikerHalifax HurricanesYoungstown State111Bright MensahLondon LightningWilliam Paterson212Zach GordonSt. John's EdgeCal Poly213Jean-Rony CadotWindsor ExpressTCU214Damarcus HarrisonCape Breton HighlandersClemson215Willie ConnorKW TitansBuffalo216Robert UkawubaWindsor ExpressNJIT217Georges SerresseKW TitansLaurentian 218Kyle StewardSaint John RiptideUMKC219James JohnsonWindsor ExpressCulver–Stockton220Daryl HunterHalifax Hurricanes221Boyd VassellLondon LightningSt. Mary's

Awards

Player of the Week award For gamesin week endingAtlantic DivisionCentral DivisionPlayerTeamPlayerTeam November 27, 2017 Gabe Freeman Saint John Riptide Carl English St. John's Edge December 3, 2017 Franklin Session Island Storm Charles Hinkle St. John's Edge December 10, 2017 CJ Washington Halifax Hurricanes Sam Muldrow Niagara River Lions December 17, 2017 Terry Thomas Moncton Magic Charles Hinkle (2) St. John's Edge December 24, 2017 Duke Mondy Cape Breton Highlanders Ryan Anderson London Lightning December 31, 2017 Antoine Mason Halifax Hurricanes Royce White London Lightning January 7, 2018 Malcolm Miller Saint John Riptide Mo Bolden London Lightning January 14, 2018 Gabe Freeman (2) Saint John Riptide Royce White (2) London Lightning January 21, 2018 Bruce Massey Cape Breton Highlanders Guillaume Boucard Niagara River Lions January 28, 2018 Corey Allmond Moncton Magic Logan Stutz Windsor Express February 4, 2018 Billy White Halifax Hurricanes Derek Hall KW Titans February 11, 2018 Terry Thomas (2) Moncton Magic Chad Frazier Windsor Express February 18, 2018 Billy White (2) Halifax Hurricanes Ryan Anderson (2) London Lightning February 25, 2018 Mike Poole Halifax Hurricanes Shaquille Keith Windsor Express March 4, 2018 Franklin Session (2) Island Storm Carl English (2) St. John's Edge March 11, 2018 Corey Allmond (2) Moncton Magic Kris Joseph Niagara River Lions March 18, 2018 Du'Vaughn Maxwell Island Storm Jaylon Tate Niagara River Lions March 25, 2018 Antoine Mason (2) Halifax Hurricanes Logan Stutz (2) Windsor Express April 2, 2018 Malcolm Miller (2) Saint John Riptide Garrett Williamson London Lightning

Coach of the Month award MonthPlayerTeam December Jeff Dunlap St. John's Edge January Keith Vassell London Lightning February Mike Leslie Halifax Hurricanes March Mike Leslie (2) Halifax Hurricanes

End-of-season awards Source: Most Valuable Player: Carl English, St. John's Edge Canadian Player of the Year: Carl English, St. John's Edge Newcomer of the Year: Franklin Session, Island Storm Defensive Player of the Year: Du'Vaughn Maxwell, Island Storm Rookie of the Year: Jaylon Tate, Niagara River Lions Sixth Man of the Year: Ta'Quan Zimmerman, Halifax Hurricanes Coach of the Year: Mike Leslie, Halifax Hurricanes

References

External links NBL Canada website