Prep Period
Opening tip-off for the inaugural season of the Eastern Canadian Basketball League is about two months away, but Moncton Motion head coach Todd McKillop is getting a head start. McKillop and assistant coach Greg Gould have been studying offensive and defensive systems that they will be implementing with the Motion.
They are also writing a daily practice schedule for the Motion, who will begin a two or three-week training camp at Crandall University in early March. The regular season schedule will be announced on or near February 1.
“We will be working hard all season to make sure there is constant improvement so we are at our best for playoff time,” says McKillop, who also serves as head coach of the nationally-ranked Crandall Chargers. “We will look at our guys and see what style of play fits our personnel best, and then it is like anything else – there will be constant teaching and learning to become the best team we can,” he adds.
The seven-team league will announce the first player signings on February 1.
McKillop is aware of some of the players who will be coming to Moncton. He expects them to be working hard in gyms and weight rooms to prepare for the season.
“I am not worried about our guys because they have a very professional attitude towards their craft,” the coach says. “We will be putting a very exciting team on the floor from both ends,” he continues. “We will be shooting to be the best defensive team in the league with a fast-paced offensive attack. “Our guys will always be great ambassadors for the city of Moncton on and off the court.”
Other teams in the league are: Bathurst Bears, Saint John Union, Charlottetown Power, Summerside Slam, Truro Tide and the Valley Vipers.
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.