Bigger than Basketball

Lonnie States is exhilarated by the thought of the Eastern Canadian Basketball League inspiring young players in the Maritimes. However, he is also adamant that the new seven-team professional league is bigger than basketball.

States, a Charlottetown resident who turns 52 in April and has been coaching basketball for about 25 years, is the league’s community coordinator.

“With my background in social development, I know the importance of getting involved at the local and grassroots levels,” States says.

“Basketball offers skills that will benefit our young people for their whole lives,” he continues. “It teaches you to manage situations then it will help you manage your life.”

The Charlottetown Power, Summerside Slam, Moncton Motion, Saint John Union, Bathurst Bears, Truro Tide and Valley Vipers will begin regular season play in the new league in mid to late March. Each team will have 12-player rosters – six Canadians and six internationals. States is eager to work with all of the players in their communities.

States has spent the last 23 years working with residential services and child protection on Prince Edward Island.

“A professional basketball league like this can work with local groups to make a difference,” States said. “We want to build good basketball players and good people.”

Papa Johns

In 1984, Papa Johns Pizza started in the small town of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and its popularity has spread all the way to Atlantic Canada. Today, Papa Johns boasts over 3,600 restaurants and can be found in more than 35 international markets outside of the USA. In Atlantic Canada, we opened our first Papa Johns franchise in Moncton, operating under the name of PJ Atlantic Restaurants Ltd. in 2009.

This was the first of many Papa Johns restaurants to be opening over the next few years to serve the Maritime provinces. We now have a dozen restaurants in the following areas:

639 Mountain Rd., Moncton

555 Dieppe Blvd., Dieppe

20 Plaza Ave., Saint John

528 Smythe St., Fredericton

133 McAllister Dr. Saint John

19 Babineau Ave., Charlottetown

1909 Mountain Rd., Moncton

269 Main St., Fredericton

94 Hampton Rd., Rothesay

540 Pinewood Rd., Riverview

961 Bedford Highway, Bedford

644 Portland St., Dartmouth

We believe in our brand’s heritage and commitment to quality. We believe that better ingredients really do make a better pizza.