The "Island" team will host the Quebec Kebs at Credit Union Place on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. The "Island" will remain home and entertain the Saint John Mill Rats on Friday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
"We are excited to kick off our inaugural season with a 36-game schedule," said National Basketball League of Canada president and CEO Andre Levingston in a media release issued Monday. "The schedule has been designed with our fans top-of-mind, and has been built to ensure an even spread of games between all seven teams."
The teams will play in one division, and will face each other six times - three home and three away.
"We are especially looking forward to the friendly build of rivalries between NBL Canada teams this season," said Levingston. "With the close proximity of our markets, fans will have the opportunity to become more engaged with their teams by travelling to rival cities to cheer on their team during road games."
Main home night
The "Island" team will play nine of its 18 home games on Thursdays at 7 p.m., and six on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. They will also host one Tuesday game against London on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., a New Year's Eve contest with Saint John at 7 p.m., and an Islander Day matinee versus Quebec City on Monday, Feb. 20, at 2 p.m.
The "Island" franchise expects to have ticket packages on sale around the time school starts in early September.
"We are excited to kick off our inaugural season with a 36-game schedule. The schedule has been designed with our fans top-of-mind, and has been built to ensure an even spread of games between all seven teams." - League co-founder, president and CEO Andre Levingston
Regular season
The league's regular season will tip off on Oct. 29, with Moncton visiting Quebec City, and will conclude with Halifax at Saint John and Summerside visiting London on March 4.
The top four teams will advance to the playoffs. The best-of-three semifinals will feature the first-place team taking on the fourth-place squad, and the second- and third-place clubs meeting. The winners will then meet in a best-of-five final.
"Every game counts," said Levingston. "It's going to be really competitive, especially with the rivalry that exists between some of these cities.
"I'm looking forward to an amazing year."
jpsports@journalpioneer.com
Schedule Facts
A look at "Island" team's schedule in NBL of Canada:
18 home games at Credit Union Place.
Nine of those games will be played Thursdays.
There will be four sets of back-to-back games - Nov. 3-4, Nov. 17-18, Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 15-16.
Longest homestand will be six games from Dec. 1 to 20.
Will play 12 of 17 games on the road from Dec. 22 to Feb. 14.
When the teams visit Summerside for first time - Quebec City on Nov. 3; Saint John on Nov. 4; Moncton on Nov. 18; London on Dec. 2; Halifax on Dec. 8, and Oshawa on Jan. 12.
