Ottawa SkyHawks

Last updated
Ottawa SkyHawks
OttawaSkyhawks.PNG
Founded2012
Folded2014
League National Basketball League of Canada
Division Central
Team historyOttawa SkyHawks
2013–2014
Based in Ottawa, Ontario
Arena Canadian Tire Centre
ColoursBlack, white, orange, silver
    
OwnerBytown Sports and Entertainment (Gus Takkale, Sunny Gill)
Head coach Jaren Jackson
Championships0
Division titles0
Website OttawaSkyHawks.com

The Ottawa SkyHawks were a Canadian professional basketball team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The SkyHawks played in the Central Division of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada) during a single season. Financial difficulty resulted in the team receiving a loan from the league in order to finish the 2013–14 season. NBL Canada announced that the SkyHawks would not participate in the 2014–15 season when the team failed to comply with the terms of the loan. [1]

Contents

History

Originally unveiled Ottawa TomaHawks logo OttawaTomahawks.PNG
Originally unveiled Ottawa TomaHawks logo

On November 13, 2012, National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada) announced that an Ottawa expansion team would join the league for the 2013–14 season. [2] At a news conference on November 21, 2012, Gus Takkale, President of Bytown Sports & Entertainment and the person heading up the ownership group, confirmed the franchise would put a team on the court in the fall of 2013.

Following a name-the-team contest, the team unveiled their nickname, the "TomaHawks", a logo, and colours on February 26, 2013. [3] However, just hours after the announcement, social media erupted with people upset over what they felt to be a culturally insensitive nickname. [4] After an outcry, the Ottawa NBL team will no longer be called the TomaHawks. [5] It was announced at an event on April 4, 2013, that the team would be named the Ottawa SkyHawks. [6]

The SkyHawks finished in fourth (of five) place in the Central Division in the 2013–14 season, and failed to make the playoffs after losing a wildcard game against the Mississauga Power. The team struggled to sell tickets and required a loan from the league in order to finish the season. The team had failed to repay any of the loan by July 31, 2014, and NBL Canada's Board of Governors voted 8–0 to remove Bytown Sports & Entertainment from the league for failing to "adhere to league standards as set out in the operating agreement, and deadlines set forth to prepare for the season." [1] The SkyHawks will not play in the 2014–15 season, but NBL Canada affirmed their commitment to have a team in Ottawa again as early as the 2015–16 season but it never happened. [1]

Home arenas

Canadian Tire Centre (2013-14)

Originally opened in 1996, the Canadian Tire Centre is a multi-purpose arena, located in the western suburb of Kanata, in Ottawa, Ontario. The arena has seating for 19,153 and a capacity of 20,500 including standing room. The arena hosts ice hockey, basketball, music concerts, skating, and other entertainment events. It is home to the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, several restaurants, a fitness complex, and several businesses. The SkyHawks shared the arena with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League.

2013-14 roster

Ottawa SkyHawks roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
G 3 Flag of the United States.svg Crouch, Jerice 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)180 lb (82 kg)
F 4 Flag of the United States.svg Sturdivant, Fred 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)190 lb (86 kg)
F 7 Flag of the United States.svg Baines, Tirrell 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)220 lb (100 kg)
C 12 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vanderbeken, Jamie 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)250 lb (110 kg)
G 14 Flag of the United States.svg Crook, Jamal   Cruz Roja.svg 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)175 lb (79 kg)
G 15 Flag of the United States.svg Tubbs, Justin 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)203 lb (92 kg)
G 20 Flag of the United States.svg Rose, Mike 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)200 lb (91 kg)
F 22 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kong, Bol 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)220 lb (100 kg)
F 32 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kibi, Eric 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)229 lb (104 kg)
G 44 Flag of the United States.svg Anderson, Ryan 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)194 lb (88 kg)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jafeth Maseruka
  • Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Etienne Jacquet

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Season-by-season record

SeasonCoachRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
2013-14 Kevin Keathley43.571 
2013-14Jaren Jackson1716.515 01.000 
2013-14Combined2119.5256th01.000Wild-card round
Totals2119.52501.000

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ottawa SkyHawks kicked out of National Basketball League of Canada". CBC.ca. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  2. "The National Basketball League of Canada Approves Ottawa". NBL Canada . November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  3. Devji, Farhan (February 26, 2013). "Ottawa's first professional basketball team will be called the Tomahawks". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  4. "Ottawa's new basketball team drops Tomahawks name". ottawa.ctvnews.ca.
  5. "Ottawa TomaHawks to change name after outcry". CBC. February 27, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  6. "New Ottawa basketball franchise banking on SkyHawks to fit the bill as franchise name". Ottawa Citizen . April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  7. "SkyHawks playing two games at Cegep this season". OttawaSkyHawks.com. January 17, 2014. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  8. "Schedule". OttawaSkyHawks.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  9. "Ottawa Blackjacks to leap into action next spring | CBC News".