Professional basketball is a step closer to returning to Windsor-Essex.
After the National Basketball League of Canada's (NBLC) announcement last week that it will return to play after almost two years on the sidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Windsor Express revealed its 2022 schedule Monday evening.
The Express will kick off the season on the road on Saturday, February 5, visiting the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans. The Titans will return the favour on Friday, February 11, when they help the Express open their home season at the WFCU Centre.
A sale date for tickets has not been announced, along with a preseason schedule.
This will be the tenth season for the NBLC, but it will continue without the Atlantic Division. Two of the clubs, Moncton and Halifax, have left the league. St. John's has also exited after failing to find a suitable place to play, and the Island Storm will take a one-season leave of absence while the NBLC attempts to rebuild the division.
The remaining four teams, which include the Express, will carry on and play interleague games this season with the U.S.-based The Basketball League (TBL). There will be 24 interleague games which will count in the standings of both leagues.
The Express' 2019-20 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2020-21 season was cancelled completely.
-With files from Scott Kitching