Basketball Fans in Montreal Are in Store for Some Great Games In 2023 And Beyond
After years of arduous work, the Montreal Tundra, which was once a dream, has become a reality by joining the TBL (The Basketball League), an American Professional Basketball league. Juan Mendez, who is the owner and General Manager of the team, is leading the charge in bringing the team into the spotlight. Mendez was a former professional basketball player who represented Canada on the global stage and eventually became a coach passing on his wisdom to other players. Mendez was also inducted into the MAAC Naismith Hall of Fame for his incredible career in the NCAA.
Solid Leadership
Mendez is the highest-scoring Canadian in the prestigious D1 division and was a shoo-in to make the Hall of Fame based out of Springfield, Massachusetts. Mendez will be bringing his pedigree of excellence to help steer the Tundra to success. The Montreal Tundra will only have Montreal or Quebecois players on the 2023 roster, adding to the allure of the team. The NBA has drafted some Montrealer’s in recent years, helping to spark even more interest in Basketball in the city.
Mendez has hired Igor Rwigema as the team’s head coach, and has been a stranger to developing players throughout his career. Rwigema founded the Thetford Mines and Alma Basketball academies and has a keen eye for young talent. The Montreal Tundra provides a way for local talent to stay in Montreal rather than travel abroad to Europe or other countries to play ball. Mendez promises to collaborate with local communities to help inspire the younger general basketball players to keep playing. Do not be surprised if Mendez visits your kids’ high schools looking for talent, and be sure he will be at plenty of youth camps too.
Positive Role Models
Mendez wants the Tundra to be a positive and fundamental part of the Montreal community. Basketball is more than a simple game it is an excellent outlet for young adolescents to stay out of trouble and build character. With the Montreal Tundra joining the fold of professional teams, Basketball can only grow from here and will inspire many young players to keep it.
Get your Tickets
The Tundra will be the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau home, found in Montreal’s Olympic Park near the Olympic Stadium and Stade Saputo. Watching the Tundra will also be very affordable, with ticket prices starting at 20$ will make bringing the entire family to the game that much easier. Since the arena’s capacity is about 2500 people, no matter where you sit, you will be up close and personal with all the action taking place on the court.
The season opener will take place on Saturday, March 4th, against the Virginia Valley Vipers, and they will have their second game the next day on Sunday, March 5th, against the Lehigh Valley Legends. The Tundra will have a twenty-three-game season, and we can all hope they can reach the playoffs in their inaugural season.
One thing is certain with Mendez at the helm, he will do everything in his power to create a competitive team that plays a positive role in the city of Montreal. This is a proud moment for our city and only the beginning of the Montreal Tundra’s journey, and we should all be there to support it. Montreal is quickly becoming a bastion for basketball fans, and it is a matter of time before an NBA team will venture to the 514.
What is “The Basketball League”
The Basketball League was created in 2017 and had its first games in 2018 with only eight teams on their roster. In 2022 the TBL has forty-four teams spread out across the United States, and in 2023 they are adding Montreal, Alma, and Newfoundland/Labrador to their growing list of teams and their expansion into Canada. The TBL players are primarily from the United States who have played in Divisions 1,2,3 in the NCAA or former NBA players who want to keep playing in the US rather than travel abroad. THE TBL championship is determined by a massive tournament in June, which emulates the NCAA’s Basketball tournament.
Here is the Montreal Tundra Schedule (the Start times have yet to be released):
HOME GAMES Centre Pierre-Charbonneau
March 4, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Virginia Valley Vipers
March 5, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Lehigh Valley Legends
March 10, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Albany Patroons
March 17, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Syracuse Stallions
March 19, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Syracuse Stallions
April 28, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Lehigh Valley Legends
April 29, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. York Mighty Ants
May 6, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Syracuse Stallions
May 7, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Lehigh Valley Legends
May 27, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Pennsylvania Kings
May 28, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Lehigh Valley Legends
AWAY GAMES
March 24, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs Lehigh Valley Legends
March 26, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Albany Patroons
March 31, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Reading Rebels
April 1st, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. York Mighty Jackals
April 13, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Albany Patroons
April 14, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Lehigh Valley Legends
April 20, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Reading Rebels
April 21, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Pennsylvania Kings
May 12, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Jamestown Jackals
May 13, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Reading Rebels
May 14, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Albany Patroons
May 19, 2023, Montreal Tundra vs. Albany Patroons
