Niagara River Lions

The Niagara River Lions are a Canadian professional basketball team based in St. Catharines, Ontario, that competes in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. From 2015 to 2018, they were members of the National Basketball League of Canada. The River Lions play their home games at the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines.[1]

Niagara River Lions
LeaguesCEBL
Founded2015
HistoryNiagara River Lions
(2015–present)
ArenaMeridian Centre
Capacity4,030
LocationSt. Catharines, Ontario
Team coloursGreen, navy blue, grey
              
PresidentJeffrey Sotiriou
Head coachVictor Raso
OwnershipRichard Petko, Michael Skrtich, Jeffrey Sotiriou
Websitewww.riverlions.ca

History

In February 2014, the Niagara Basketball Group started the application process to get a local team.[2] Over a year later, the NBL Canada announced that they would hold a press conference on the morning of April 8, 2015, regarding the expansion team.[3] The group also held an online contest in which fans had the opportunity to make suggestions as to what the team's nickname should be.[2] On May 14, 2015, the NBL held a Board of Governors' meeting, in which it was approved and confirmed that Niagara would compete in the 2015–16 season.[4] At a press conference on May 28, 2015, it was announced that the team would be called the "Niagara River Lions," a nickname inspired by the Niagara Region's coat of arms, which depicts the same animal. Ken Murray, a successful Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) coach, came out of retirement to claim the head coaching and general manager (GM) position.[5] However, during their inaugural season, Murray was fired from the team on February 20, 2016, and was replaced by assistant coach Grâce Lokole.[6] Lokole would step down from the head coach position during the next season on March 11, 2017.[7] He was replaced by local Niagara College head coach Keith Vassell on an interim basis while Lokole stayed on as an assistant. Joe Raso would be named the head coach for the 2017–18 season.[8]

In 2017, River Lions' owner Richard Petko became one the investors of a new basketball league called Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). On June 8, 2018, the River Lions announced that the franchise had moved to the CEBL after three seasons in the National Basketball League of Canada.[9]

Mascot

For their first season, the River Lions announced that their mascot would be Dunkin the River Lion. Dunkin performs during every River Lions home game and attends events throughout the Niagara Region.

Niagara Lady Lions

The Niagara Lady Lions are the official dance and promotional teams for the Niagara River Lions. They act as ambassadors for the team with fans and in the community. Both teams perform during River Lions home games and attend events throughout the Niagara Region.

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Niagara River Lions roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
G 2 Bell-Haynes, Trae 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 24 – (1995-09-05)5 September 1995
G 3 Johnson, Alex 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 32 – (1988-01-18)18 January 1988
G 4 Pinson, Dorian 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (100 kg) 24 – (1995-06-30)30 June 1995
G 8 Anderson, Ryan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 32 – (1987-12-19)19 December 1987
G 9 Brown, Tyler 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 23 – (1996-11-08)8 November 1996
F 10 Vujadinovic, Fil 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 25 – (1995-04-30)30 April 1995
F 12 Dalembert, Yohanny 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (110 kg) 26 – (1993-12-17)17 December 1993
F 15 Muldrow, Sam 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (100 kg) 32 – (1988-06-08)8 June 1988
G 21 Mitrovic, Nem 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 29 – (1990-07-27)27 July 1990
G 32 Gyamfi, Gilbert (I) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 28 – (1991-12-13)13 December 1991
F 33 Bouchard, Guillaume 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 197 lb (89 kg) 30 – (1990-03-16)16 March 1990
F 41 Jones, Kregg 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 29 – (1991-01-15)15 January 1991
Head coach
  • Victor Raso
Assistant coach(es)
  • Jeff Joesph
  • Doyle Anthony
  • Mich Bett
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Inactive
  • Injured
Updated: August 3, 2019

Season-by-season record
LeagueSeasonCoachRegular seasonPost season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
NBLC 2015–16Ken Murray
Grâce Lokole		1624.4003rd Central03.000Lost Div. Semifinals
2016–17Grâce Lokole
Keith Vassell		1426.3505th CentralDid not qualify
2017–18Joe Raso1723.4254th Central13.250Lost Div. Semifinals
Totals4773.392—16.143
LeagueSeasonCoachRegular seasonPost season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
CEBL
2019Victor Raso155.7501st01.000Lost Semi-finals
Totals155.750—01.000

References
  1. Dadson, Zach. "Five facts about River Lions". BulletNewsNiagara.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015. Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |website= (help)
  2. "Niagara to get its own NBL Canada team". CKTB. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  3. "Professional Basketball Coming To The Niagara Region". NBLCanada.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  4. "Optimism And Unity Highlights NBL Canada League Meeting". NBLCanada.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  5. Dube, Kris. "River Lions ready to build winning team for Niagara". BulletNewsNiagara.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  6. "River Lions axe head coach coach/GM". Niagara Falls Review. 21 February 2016.
  7. "Keith Vassell taking over NBL Canada team on interim basis". stcatharinesstandard.ca. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  8. "Niagara River Lions name Joe Raso as new head coach". Niagara This Week. June 28, 2017.
  9. "River Lions make move to CEBL – holding court in 2019". St. Catharines Standard. June 8, 2018.
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