NBL of Canada commissioner Magley to speak at WFCU Centre.
Suspension will probably be reduced, says commissioner
New NBL of Canada commissioner David Magley said Windsor Express guard Tony Bennett to be back on the court next season and expects to review the one-year suspension head coach Bill Jones.
The 55-year-old Magley, who assumed the role in May, was in Windsor Wednesday to start a two-day visit to meet city of- ficials, sponsors and fans. He will conduct a town hall meeting Thursday at the WFCU Centre that is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m.
“I know what owners feel and what head coaches and general managers feel,” said Magley, who stepped down from his post as head coach and general manager of the Brampton A’s to become commissioner.
“I want to know what the fans and the local media feel. How do we make our league even better? How do we meet needs? What do we do that makes people excited and how do we build on it?”
It was Magley that reviewed the information from a morning confrontation between the Express and Halifax Rainmen prior to Game 7 of the league final. The Rainmen opted not to play and forfeited the game, which gave Windsor its second straight title.
The league’s board of governors handed down the punishment, which included an indefinite suspension for Bennett.
“The owners know more than they did when they handed down what they did,” Magley said.
“It’s much more temporal. There’s no indefinite. It’ll be something that will be simpler with (Bennett).
“That’ll be an easier conversation. Tony Bennett, if he wants to play for the Windsor Express and they want him, he’ll play next year for certain. Sooner than later.”
As for Jones, Magley expects an appeal, but likely not until the end of summer or later.
“Let’s let this get a few months behind us, and before the season starts we’ll probably review it again,” Magley said.
“I think I’ll be involved if and when they do it. I know they want to (appeal), but they haven’t yet.
“Part of it is respect for me because I don’t think we need that public discord now. It’s better for us to get stability across our league.
As all the new owners are in place and we’re getting ready for the season. Let’s have that conversation again.”
For now, Magley is trying to bring respect back to the league after the Game 7 incident.
“I think the league’s at a critical time,” Magley said.
“I bought a car and definitely looked under the hood and saw all the things that were wrong with the engine (when he became commissioner), but I thought they were fixable.
I have background in business that’s about turning small companies around and making them more successful. This is really what this is.
“I love this challenge. In two or three years from now, if every team is making money, if the league is self sustaining financially, if crowds are growing and we’ve expanded to markets that creates a national television desire, there’s going to be a lot of pride in there.”
Seven clubs are set to play next season.
Magley expects Halifax to sort out its finances and return next season to make it eight and there’s still a possibility a ninth club could be added for 2015-16.
Magley expects the league to have at least 10 teams in 2016-17 and then look to expand west the following season.
He expects Windsor to remain a piece of the puzzle even though the attendance numbers have grown slowly.
“Dartis (Willis, the Express president and CEO) is a worker,” Magley said.
“He really does get out and grind it out.”