National Basketball League (Canada)

The National Basketball League was a professional basketball league based in Canada that lasted only one and a half seasons in 1993 and 1994. It rose from the ashes of the World Basketball League which folded after the 1992 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 visited the Halifax Windjammers. 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 season there were rumours that the Cape Breton team was going to move to Saint John 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 and the commissioner was Tom Nissalke.

NBL Teams

TeamCityArenaSeasonsNotes
Calgary OutlawsCalgary, AlbertaJack Simpson Gymnasium (University of Calgary)
Olympic Saddledome
1994Expansion team
Cape Breton BreakersSydney, Nova ScotiaCentre 2001993-94Expansion team
Halifax WindjammersHalifax, Nova ScotiaHalifax Metro Centre1993-94Holdover from the WBL
Edmonton SkyhawksEdmonton, AlbertaNorthlands Coliseum1993 (playoffs)-94Moved from Hamilton
Hamilton SkyhawksHamilton, OntarioCopps Coliseum1993Holdover from the WBL, moved to Edmonton
Montreal DragonsMontreal, QuebecVerdun Auditorium1993Expansion team
Saskatoon SlamSaskatoon, SaskatchewanSaskatchewan Place1993-94Holdover from WBL. Ownership changed the name of the franchise in the new league. Originally known as the “Saskatchewan Storm” in the WBL.
Winnipeg ThunderWinnipeg, ManitobaWinnipeg Arena1993-94Holdover from the WBL

1993

1993 NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
TEAMGPWLPCTGB
Cape Breton Breakers463016.652-
Winnipeg Thunder462917.6301
Saskatoon Slam462521.5435
Hamilton Skyhawks462422.5226
Halifax Windjammers462026.43510
Montreal Dragons17611.353
Canadian National Team24913.409
ACC All-Stars615.167
Big East All-Stars606.000
Athletes in Action707.000
  • Montréal Dragons folded in mid-season on June 10, 1993
  • Hamilton Skyhawks transferred to Edmonton prior to the start of the playoffs

PLAYOFFS - SEMI-FINALS

  • Cape Breton defeated Edmonton 2 games to 1; Saskatoon defeated Winnipeg 2 games to 1

FINALS

  • Saskatoon defeated Cape Breton 3 games to 1

Touring Teams

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

1994

1994 NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
TEAMGPWLPCTGB
Halifax Windjammers21156.714-
Calgary Outlaws241311.542
Cape Breton Breakers211110.5244
Saskatoon Slam231013.4356
Edmonton Skyhawks241014.417
Winnipeg Thunder251015.4007
  • National Basketball League disbanded on July 9, 1994

League Champions

Year Winner Runner Up Result
1993 Saskatoon Slam Cape Breton Breakers 3-1
1994 Halifax Windjammers Calgary Outlaws Declared champions due to folding mid-season
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