Owners reach deal on refs, leadership

Owners of National Basketball League of Canada teams began their effort to strengthen the credibility of their league addressing two of their greatest areas of concern; refereeing and leadership.

At their postseason owners’ meeting in Toronto Thursday, the nine owners also made key changes to scheduling, agreeing to extend the season from 32 games to 40 next year as well as changing the start date for play from Nov. 1 to Dec. 26. The league will finish regular-season play the end of April with playoffs through May.

This owners’ meeting was the most important since the league was established. It included Richard Petko, the majority owner of the new Niagara franchise attendeing his first NBL meeting.

Vito Frijia owner of the London Lightning and a driving force in keeping the league solvent was unanimously elected as president of the NBL. It’s a two-year term.

He confirmed owners agreed to hire a commissioner, the fourth since the league began play four years ago. There had been disagreement earlier this year whether owners would replace fired commissioner Paul Riley. But the failure to complete the league championship series final between the Halifax

Rainmen and Windsor Express convinced owners of the need to establish firm and independent leadership.

“We’ll have an announcement likely next week on a new commissioner,” Frijia said. “I’m happy we’re going to hire a new commissioner. I’m happy we’re all moving in the right direction.”

David Magley, coach of the Brampton A’s is a prime candidate for the job.

The league has also come under harsh criticism for the quality of its officiating and owners moved to improve it.

They adopted a plan to work with the director of officials to implement a training and recruitment program for referees.

They will also establish a process to revamp the NBL rules manual committing to an education program for owners, general managers, coaches, players, employees, and officials so those involved with the league and teams will have to work under standardized rules.

Those rules include everything from teams’ conduct, security and expectations of teams at home and away.

We’ll have an announcement likely next week on a new commissioner. I’m happy we’re going to hire a new commissioner. I’m happy we’re all moving in the right direction.” Vito Frijia owner of the London Lightning