The Saint John Riptide played the Island Storm at Harbour Station on Feb. 9, 2019. (Photo: Michael Hawkins/Submitted)
There will be no pro basketball in Saint John or Cape Breton this season.
The National Basketball League of Canada announced Friday it granted the Saint John Riptide and Cape Breton Highlanders a one-year sabbatical from the league.
“Both organizations will take the winter to re-group and examine alternatives that will strengthen their financial situation to ensure that they can field a competitive product on the court,” said the league in a statement.
Questions have been raised about the future of the Riptide after the team cancelled two tryouts over the summer.
The National Basketball League of Canada has released the following statement concerning @cbhighlanders and the @sjriptide.#NBLC9https://t.co/z5afvY6IXd
— NBL Canada (@NBLCanada) August 30, 2019
The league said both teams have the intention of returning in 2020-21 and they have granted both clubs a pathway for reinstatement.
“The NBLC recognizes the positive contributions of the Saint John Riptide and Cape Breton Highlanders to the league over the past several seasons and will support their efforts in taking a season off to establish a solid structure going forward,” said Audley Stephenson, the league’s deputy commissioner.
The players whose rights were protected by the Riptide and Highlanders will be released and they are to sign with any other team as a free agent.
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