Halifax Hurricanes

Last updated
Halifax Hurricanes
Halifax Hurricanes Logo.png
League NBL Canada
Founded 2015
Folded 2021
HistoryHalifax Hurricanes
2015–2021
Arena Scotiabank Centre
Capacity11,093
Location Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Team coloursNavy blue, sky blue, white
   
Website halifaxhurricanes.ca

The Halifax Hurricanes were a Canadian professional basketball team based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Hurricanes were founded as members of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) to replace the Halifax Rainmen, who filed for bankruptcy in July 2015 ultimately leading to the club folding. In 2021, the organization left the NBLC.

Contents

History

Following steadily declining attendance and fallout from the 2015 NBL Canada Finals brawl the Halifax Rainmen folded in July 2015, with owner Andre Levingston citing bankruptcy with the franchise falling into a debt of nearly $700,000. [1] [2] The Rainmen's folding left a void in the Halifax professional basketball market and the league had lost one of its founding franchises and second largest market. Soon after, efforts began to replace the Rainmen.

On September 3, 2015, a new Halifax team was announced by the league. The new ownership group was expanded from just Andre Levingston to a 25-member investor group from the Halifax business community to stabilize ownership and reduce financial risk. [3] Andre Levingston was named general manager of basketball operations. Hugo López was hired to be the franchise's first head coach on September 30, 2015. [4] On October 20, 2015, the franchise unveiled its name and logo. The Hurricanes also announced their first two signings, former Rainmen player Cliff Clinkscales and newcomer Mike Glover. [5] [6]

In their first season, the Hurricanes won both preseason games before winning their first regular-season home game 129–113 against the Moncton Miracles in front of approximately 2,000 fans on December 26, 2015. [7]

Coach López and the Hurricanes were unable to come to terms for a second season and Kevin Keathley was hired as head coach and general manager for the 2016–17 season. [8] Unfortunately, coach Keathley had to leave the team before his first season for personal reasons. He was replaced by Mike Leslie. [9] After three seasons, Leslie moved up to be the Hurricanes' president and general manager, with Ryan Marchand taking over as head coach. [10]

The 2019–20 season was then curtailed in March 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league subsequently cancelled its 2020–21 season due to continuing restrictions during the pandemic. In October 2021, the Hurricanes announced they had left the league. [11]

Home arena

The Scotiabank Centre is a multi-purpose indoor sporting arena located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The arena has a basketball capacity of 11,093. The Hurricanes share the arena with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and The Halifax Thunderbirds of the National Lacrosse League. The building is next to the World Trade and Convention Centre in Downtown Halifax, at the foot of Citadel Hill and it is the largest arena in the maritimes by seating capacity. [12]

Current roster

Halifax Hurricanes roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
F 15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Arseneault, Kyle 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg)30 – (1994-10-24)24 October 1994
PG 12 Flag of the United States.svg Clinkscales, Cliff  (C)1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)185 lb (84 kg)40 – (1984-03-11)11 March 1984
F 25 Flag of the United States.svg Freeman, Gabe 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg)39 – (1985-11-05)5 November 1985
PF Flag of the United States.svg Hall, Carl 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)238 lb (108 kg)35 – (1989-03-29)29 March 1989
SF 1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Johnson, Chris 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)205 lb (93 kg)36 – (1988-07-13)13 July 1988
F 20 Flag of the United States.svg Johnson, Tremayne 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)200 lb (91 kg)35 – (1989-08-20)20 August 1989
G 13 Flag of the United States.svg Kindred, Joel 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)194 lb (88 kg)33 – (1991-01-07)7 January 1991
SG 14 Flag of the United States.svg Mason, Antoine 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)210 lb (95 kg)32 – (1992-05-24)24 May 1992
G 10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Scott, Calvin Tyler 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg)32 – (1992-03-10)10 March 1992
PG 4 Flag of the United States.svg Sibley, Devin 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)174 lb (79 kg)28 – (1996-02-09)9 February 1996
PF 22 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Waithe, Marvell 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)216 lb (98 kg)37 – (1987-10-20)20 October 1987
PF 25 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, CJ 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)219 lb (99 kg)32 – (1992-02-28)28 February 1992
G 2 Flag of the United States.svg Zimmerman, Ta'Quan 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)200 lb (91 kg)32 – (1991-12-02)2 December 1991
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: January 9, 2020

Season-by-season record

SeasonCoachRegular seasonPost season
GPWonLostWin %FinishAvg AttendanceGPWonLostWin %Result
2015–16 Hugo López 402911.7251st in Atlantic Division192914113.786League Champions
2016–17 Mike Leslie 402713.6751st in Atlantic Division19261596.600Lost in finals
2017–18 Mike Leslie402812.7001st in Atlantic Division195816106.625Lost in finals
2018–19 Mike Leslie402515.6252nd in Atlantic Division20951266.500Lost in division finals
2019–20 Ryan Marchand24816.333—1759Season curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic
Totals18411767.6363 division titles1977573621.6321 League Championship

Notable players

To appear in this section a player must have either:

- Set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player.
- Played at least one official international match for his senior national team at any time.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Joseph, Rebecca. "Halifax Rainmen file for bankruptcy". Global News . Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Lipscombe, Kristen. "Return of pro basketball to Halifax 'looks promising'". Metro Halifax . Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Professional basketball returning to Halifax for 2015-16 NBLC season with local ownership" (PDF). HalifaxHurricanes.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Halifax NBL Canada team names Hugo Lopez as Head Coach" (PDF). HalifaxHurricanes.ca. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Lipscombe, Kristen. "'The storm is coming': Local pro basketball club renamed Halifax Hurricanes". Metro Halifax . Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Zaccagna, Remo. "Halifax's new NBL team dubbed the Hurricanes". The Chronicle Herald . Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hurricanes open season with split". The Chronicle Herald . Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Hurricanes Appoint New Coach/GM". OurSports Central. 28 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "Hurricanes Welcome New Head Coach and General Manager". OurSports Central. 28 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Hurricanes Announce Front Office Moves". OurSports Central. 20 December 2019.
  11. ↑ Palov, Willy (7 October 2021). "Halifax Hurricanes leaving the National Basketball League of Canada". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  12. ↑ "Facility Information". Scotiabank-Centre.com. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
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