Training camp time — BSL champs prep for season

Around the Perimeter: London Lightning ready for training camp — and BSL title defense; What’s the roster makeup?; Montreal out, Glass City in; New Flash in town; Columnist Jason Winders has the latest …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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STARTING FIVE

Let’s go camping | Lightning head coach Jerry Williams officially opens his first Bolts training camp Tuesday (Nov. 12), with the season tipping off less than two weeks later, on Nov. 23, in Sudbury. That’s as challenging a timeline as you might imagine.

If you’re one of the 14 guys heading into camp, you had best be ready to go if you want to break camp wearing the yellow and black, Williams warned.

“For me, the first three or four days is a dog fight – dog eat dog. Who wants it? You’ve got to show me. I’m giving you those days to prove yourself. Honestly, I could put guys in the three-man weave and figure out if they can play or not. It’s that simple. But I am giving all these guys an opportunity; they are leaving their homes, coming here to try and impress the coach and the organization.

Williams may be new to the Forest City hardwood, but his decades of experience as a player and coach have created a head coach with a clear idea of how a training camp should look.

“I have my ways of doing things that work – be it with this organization, another organization, an NBA team, or an international team. I am going to do training camp the way I know how to do it, the way that works for me, the way I have been taught, the way I have been through it as a player and a coach,” he said.

“The first two or three days will be hard on everyone, including myself, because there is a lot that goes into it. After that, things start to settle down – a little bit – as we start to realize who can do this, who can do that. That’s when you start implementing plays you want to run throughout the season. But these first few days, it’s a dog fight.”

To everything, churn, churn, churn | It has been a busy few weeks in London, as a flurry of signings have fleshed out the Lightning roster.

Heading into the start of camp, the roster is packed full of guards, including Chris Jones, Omega Harris, Joel Kindred, Dexter Williams Jr., Marcus Ottey, Alex Campbell, Mambi Diawara and Hunter Woods, each offering versatility and skill on the perimeter. Supporting them in the frontcourt are forward/centre Nino Johnson, and forwards Billy White, Jachai Taylor, and Tonzell Handy. Potentially rounding out are London’s two draftees, guard Alontay Gould and forward Kingslee Silva.

While the team hopes to avoid the constant roster churn of last year’s turbulent season, players will come and go, be it throughout camp or the regular season, as that is how to build and improve, Lightning head coach Jerry Williams says.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

“You never stop looking. If you stop looking, something is wrong. You have to always be finding that perfect puzzle piece. Injures and personality clashes happen; they all factor into building a team. So, you always pay attention to those emails and calls flowing in from agents. Now, if I was to come into camp, and all the guys fit, and we go on to an undefeated season, that would be great. But this is real life. Things like that don’t happen.”

A quick glance of the roster, and you see a lot of proven veteran star power, guys who have lit it up in London and beyond over the years. You have to squint to see many role players, but that’s by design. This team plans to tap into each player’s unique talent as the moment, game, or season dictates.

“It’s going to be a unit thing. Guys need to come in and fit with the unit. I am not a clipboard-type coach. I will adjust these guys to fit the moment for the team. Some of these guys have championships, they know how hard it is to go through the season and come out at the end holding that trophy,” he explained.

Montreal out | The Montreal Toundra announced it will not participate in the upcoming Basketball Super League (BSL) season. The move threw the league into chaos, especially in regard to a schedule which finally took shape this week (with potential alterations to come throughout the year, especially with The Basketball League (TBL) opponents).

Toundra GM and founder Juan Mendez broke the news to players during a Nov. 2 team meeting. Some players had already flown in from overseas to attend team tryouts and camp.

While he avoided specific details, Mendez cited a contract dispute with the league as the reason, writing on the team website and Instagram pages: “Postponing our season was not a decision we made lightly. But we believe maintaining our values and the quality of the Toundra experience comes first. By taking this path, we’re choosing to protect the spirit and vision of our team, ensuring that when we step back on the court, it’s in a way that does justice to the pride on Montreal and the loyalty of Toundra Nation.”

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

Mendez remains hopeful for a return in the 2025-26 season.

BSL officials supported Montreal’s decision, saying “We are confident that this period of reflection and improvement will lead to a more competitive and resilient team. We look forward to their return re-energized and ready to make a significant impact in the Basketball Super League.”

Founded two years ago, the Toundra (9-15) finished in last place in 2023-24.

Glass City in | Remember what we talked about two weeks ago … forget it all. The Glass City Wranglers have transitioned from a limited-schedule ‘hybrid’ team to a full participant in the BSL this season following the Toundra’s decision to sit out the year. Originally set to play a reduced number of games due to venue delays, the Wranglers will now fill Montreal’s spot in the schedule and be eligible to compete for the championship.

The Wranglers, who previously played three seasons in TBL, had planned to join the BSL as a full-schedule team, but scheduling delays led to a hybrid arrangement, reducing their games below the standard 12-12 home-away format. With last week’s news of the Toundra’s withdrawal, the Wranglers agreed to take on a full season, giving them full playoff eligibility.

Founded as Toledo Glass City BC in 2020, the Wranglers played a single season in the Premier Basketball League (PBL), followed by two seasons in the TBL, before making this latest move. The Lightning are 1-0 all-time against the Wranglers, winning 127-95 on March 10 in the lone matchup in London.

Oh, yes, they call him The Flash (boogity, boogity) | Lightning home games will have a little extra Flash this season, as Vinny Memmolo will take over as the team’s peppy mascot.

For more than a decade, Memmolo, 30, has used his dance and acting background to bring mascots to life for teams across Ontario, including the Mississauga Steelheads, Toronto Wolfpack, Hamilton Tiger Cats and Niagara River Lions.

Having recently moved to the Forest City, he jumped – flipped, even – at the opportunity to work with the Lightning.

“I love sports. I love the energy of games,” he said. “My goal is to make everyone feel important in the arena. It doesn’t matter how many flips you can do as a mascot – it helps, sure – but it’s largely about making everyone feel part of the entertainment.”

Memmolo is thrilled to inject his own style and personality into the character.

“I am bringing my own thing to it. It’s going to be a different character; it’ll feel like a university mascot, fun, interactive, freestyling.”

LIGHTNING NOTES

• London Brewing Co-operative will be releasing its Lightning Lager Tuesday, Nov. 12. A launch party will tip off the brew (alongside some exclusive merch) from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at the brewery, 521 Burbrook Place.