TORONTO, ON, NBLC – The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce its NBL Canada Awards for the 2012-2013 season.

The Windsor Express became the Expansion Franchise of the Year due to their late season emergence clinching the 3rd seed in the NBL Canada Playoffs.

There were two-time winners named as Al Stewart of the Summerside Storm took home Defensive Player of the Year and Joey Haywood became Canadian Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

The 2013 NBL Canada Champion, London Lightning, was well represented as their own Marvin Phillips, who grabbed NBL Canada Finals MVP, became Newcomer of the Year.  Also, veteran Rodney Buford was named Sixth Man of the Year.

For the first time, the Coach of the Year award ended in a split decision as the top two coaches in NBL Canada, Micheal Ray Richardson of the London Lightning and Joe Salerno Jr. of the Summerside Storm, received this honour. Coach Richardson guided the Lightning to a 33-7 record and capturing the NBL Canada Championship for the 2nd consecutive season. Coach Salerno led the Storm to capture the Atlantic Division title with a 26-14 record, which previously went 12-24 last season.

The Moncton Miracles organization captured three awards.  Team owner, Kim Blanco was named the Ian Fowler Executive of the Year by providing great in-game entertainment and improving fan attendance. Miracles’ Big Man, Isaac Butts received Rookie of the Year by averaging a double-double this season with 15 points & 11 rebounds per game. NBL Canada’s Scoring Champion, Devin Sweetney, who scored 1,173 points (24.9 points per game) this season, took home NBL Canada’s Most Valuable Player.

Also mentioned:

First Team All-NBL Canada includes Darren Duncan of the Windsor Express, Devin Sweetney & Isaac Butts of the Moncton Miracles, Elvin Mims of the London Lightning and Brandon Robinson of the Summerside Storm.

Second Team All-NBL Canada includes Anthony Anderson & Jerice Crouch of the Saint John Mill Rats, Tim Ellis & Marvin Phillips of the London Lightning, Quinnel Brown of the Halifax Rainmen.

Third Team All-NBL Canada includes Nick Okorie of the Oshawa Power, Al Stewart & Antonio Ballard of the Summerside Storm, Chris Commons of the Windsor Express and Joey Haywood of the Halifax Rainmen.

First Team All-Canada includes Joey Haywood of the Halifax Rainmen, Greg Surmacz & Kevin Loiselle of the Windsor Express, Sheray Thomas of the Saint John Mill Rats and Antwi Atuahene of the London Lightning.

Second Team All-Canada includes Papa Oppong of the Oshawa Power, Quincy Okolie of the Halifax Rainmen, Kamar Burke of the Moncton Miracles, Doug McKinney of the Summerside Storm and Kevin Francis of the Saint John Mill Rats.

First Team All-Defence includes Antonio Ballard & Al Stewart of the Summerside Storm, Isaac Butts of the Moncton Miracles, Elvin Mims of the London Lightning and Kevin Loiselle of the Windsor Express

Second Team All-Defence includes Jaushay Rockett of the Oshawa Power, Jonas Pierre of the Montreal Jazz, Marvin Phillips of the London Lightning, Sylvania Watkins of the Moncton Miracles and Cavell Johnson of the Saint John Mill Rats.

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