The Montréal Toundra (French: La Toundra de Montréal) was a Canadian professional basketball team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 2022, the team competes in The Basketball Super League (BSL) and play their home games at the Centre Pierre Charbonneau. It played its first game on March 4, 2023, a 121-117 win over the Virginia Valley Vipers.
| Montréal Toundra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | The Basketball League 2023 BSL: 2023–2024 |
| Founded | 2022 |
| History | Montreal Tundra/Toundra de Montréal 2023–2024 |
| Arena | Centre Pierre Charbonneau |
| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Team colours | |
| General manager | Juan Mendez |
| Head coach | Damian Buckley |
| Website | mtltoundra.com |
On Nov 1, 2024, the team announced through social media that they would withdraw for the 2024-25 BSL season due to apparent disagreements with the league. They stated an intent to return for the 2025-26 season.
Background
editPrior to 2021, the most recent professional basketball team in Montreal was in 2012 when the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) added the Montreal Jazz as an expansion team. The team did not play in the 2013–14 NBL Canada season after failing to secure a new ownership group.[1] Since 2021, the city of Montreal has also been home to the Montreal Alliance of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
Formation
editOn June 18, 2022, the NBLC announced that TBL President David Magley, a former NBL Commissioner, will work alongside Audley Stephenson, the current NBLC Commissioner, in overseeing the growth of both leagues.[2]
The league announced that Montreal was approved as a basketball franchise for the upcoming 2023 season. On October 5, 2022, a group of local investors fronted by Canadian basketball player Juan Mendez announced that they had launched a new, Montreal-based professional team that will play in TBL.[3] As a result, of the previous additions of the Newfoundland Rogues and L'Academie D'Alma, the TBL will have three Canadian teams for the 2023 season.[4]
On December 8, 2022, the team name was revealed as the Montreal Tundra/Toundra de Montréal and Igor Rwigema announced as its head coach.[5] The team has since been re-positioned as the Montréal Toundra or Toundra de Montréal.
References
edit- ^ "No Montreal Jazz in London Lightning lineup this year". Metro News. August 5, 2013.
- ^ "NBL Canada Expands Partnership With TBL, Eyes Expansion In Near Future". nblcanada.ca/ (Press release). National Basketball League of Canada. June 18, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ "Montreal launches new professional American basketball franchise". Daily Hive. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ "Montreal's new pro basketball team unveiled its name and logo, and its mascot is wild". Canada Today. December 8, 2022.
External links
edit- Official website (in English)
- Photos of past games