The 2019–20 NBL Canada season was the ninth season of the

National Basketball League of Canada The National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada; french: Ligue nationale de basketball du Canada) is a Canadian professional men's minor league basketball organization. The NBL Canada was founded in 2011, when three existing Premier Basketba ...

. The regular season was supposed to run from December 26, 2019, to April 23, 2020. However, on March 12, the season was suspended due to the

COVID-19 pandemic in Canada The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (). It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). Most cases over the course of the pandemic have been in Ontario, Que ...

. On April 1, the season was officially cancelled with the league saying they will "begin preparations for its tenth season in 2020–21". The 2020–21 season was also cancelled.

League changes

Because of financial difficulties, two of the league's teams,

Saint John Riptide The Saint John Riptide were a Canadian professional basketball team based in Saint John, New Brunswick, that had home games at Harbour Station. They were a member of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada) in the Atlantic Divisio ...

and

Cape Breton Highlanders , colors = Facing colour yellow , colors_label = Colours , march = Quick – "Highland Laddie" , mascot = , battles = First World ...

, were granted a one-year sabbatical, with the goal of finding new sponsors in order to rejoin the league next season, reducing the league to eight teams. The decrease in the number of teams also caused a change in the playoff format with the top two teams in each division qualifying for the postseason.

Offseason coaching changes

*The

Halifax Hurricanes The Halifax Hurricanes are a professional basketball team based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Hurricanes were founded as members of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) to replace the Halifax Rainmen, who declared bankruptcy in July 201 ...

hired Ryan Marchand as head coach after the Hurricanes' head coach for the previous three seasons, Mike Leslie, was named team president and general manager. * The

London Lightning The London Lightning is a Canadian professional basketball team based in London, Ontario, Canada, with home games at the Budweiser Gardens. The team is a charter member of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) that began play for the 201 ...

hired Doug Plumb, who had most recently been the head coach of the

St. John's Edge The St. John's Edge are an inactive Canadian professional basketball team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and compete in the National Basketball League of Canada. From 2017 to 2020, they played home games at Mile One Centre. T ...

. Plumb replaced Elliott Etherington who had been promoted during the previous season after the Lightning had fired Keith Vassell. *The

removed the interim status of head coach Steven Marcus.

Regular season

Standings as of March 11: *z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs *c – Clinched home court advantage for the division playoffs *x – Clinched playoff spot

Attendance

''As of games played 11 March 2020''

Awards

Player of the Week award

Coach of the Month award

References

External links

NBL Canada website
{{DEFAULTSORT:2019-20 NBL Canada season National Basketball League of Canada seasons 2019–20 in Canadian basketball

NBL Canada The National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada; french: Ligue nationale de basketball du Canada) is a Canadian professional men's minor league basketball organization. The NBL Canada was founded in 2011, when three existing Premier Basketb ...