Countdown to tipoff: Lightning schedule set

As the London Lightning recruit a coach and players for the 2022 season, one thing is now set: A 24-game schedule that will feature opponents from Ontario — and the U.S.

London Lightning action during the pre-pandemic 2019-2020 season. (Photo: Luke Durda).

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The London Lightning won’t exactly be heading south for the winter – more due east and west – as part its 2022 National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) regular season schedule.

The Lightning open on the road against the Sudbury Five on Feb. 5, then return to London against that same squad for its home opener Feb. 11 at Budweiser Gardens. London will play three cross-border contests in New York and Michigan among six total interleague games with The Basketball League (TBL) opponents that flesh out a 24-game regular season schedule, the NBLC announced this morning with the release of its 2022 regular schedule.

The formerly eight-team league is now down to four, including the Lightning, Sudbury Five, Windsor Express and KW Titans. There will be no Atlantic Division this year, as two teams have left the league (Moncton Magic and St. John’s Edge) and two others have taken a one-year leave of absence (Halifax Hurricanes and Island Storm).

As a result, the NBLC has partnered with TBL for interleague contests against U.S. opponents, including Flint United, Lansing Pharaohs, Jamestown Jackals, Kokomo Bobkats, Syracuse Stallions, and the Albany Patroons.

Where are the Lightning headed? For its interleague schedule, London will travel to the birthplaces of Burt Reynolds (Lansing, Mich); Casey Kasem (Flint, Mich.); Tom Cruise (Syracuse, N.Y.); and … perforated toilet paper (Albany, N.Y.). The Lightning have contests against four U.S. opponents, including visits from the Pharoahs (March 6), Stallions (March 19), and United (April 3), as well as road trips to Patroons (March 31), United (April 8), and Pharoahs (April 9).

All wins and losses will be counted in individual records, and teams will compete for their respective league championships at the end of the regular season. The NBLC last awarded its championship trophy on May 16, 2019 – to a team now no longer in the league.

The full London Lightning 2022 regular season schedule (all times EST):

Feb. 5 | at Sudbury Five | 7 p.m.
Feb. 11 | Sudbury Five | 7 p.m.
Feb. 13 | KW Titans | 2 p.m.
Feb. 17 | at Windsor Express | 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 | Windsor Express | 2 p.m.
Feb. 21 | at KW Titans | 2 p.m.
Feb. 26 | at Windsor Express | 7 p.m.
March 5 | KW Titans | 7 p.m.
March 6 | Lansing Pharoahs | 2 p.m. *
March 9 | KW Titans | 7 p.m.
March 12 | Sudbury Five | 7 p.m.
March 13 | Windsor Express | 2 p.m.
March 17 | at Sudbury Five | 7 p.m.
March 19 | Syracuse Stallions | 7 p.m. *
March 24 | Sudbury Five | 7 p.m.
March 27 | Windsor Express | 2 p.m.
March 31 | at Albany Patroons | 7 p.m. *
April 2 | at KW Titans | 7 p.m.
April 3 | Flint United | 2 p.m. *
April 8 | at Flint United | 7 p.m. *
April 9 | at Lansing Pharoahs | 7 p.m. *
April 22 | at Windsor Express | 7 p.m.
April 23 | at KW Titans | 7 p.m.
April 28 | at Sudbury Five | 7 p.m

* Interleague play with The Basketball League.