The Montreal Sasquatch were a team of the Premier Basketball League (PBL) that played in the 2008–09 season under two different ownership groups.
History Réal Bourassa was granted an expansion franchise in the PBL for the 2009 season. However, on February 5, 2009, the PBL canceled the franchise after it emerged that players weren't being paid. A dispersal draft of Sasquatch players was then conducted.
On February 11, the PBL announced that Soar Enterprises, another ownership group, would take over the franchise and play the remainder of the season. The squad was to be known as Team Montreal as Bourassa retained the rights to the name Sasquatch.
The Sasquatch were one of four teams in the PBL Atlantic Division that enhanced their 20-game PBL schedule with 6 exhibitions to compete for the "Champlain Cup." When the Sasquatch were removed from the league, the other teams decided that the remaining, unplayed exhibitions involving the Sasquatch would be treated as forfeits.
The PBL, which arranged all league travel, intervened heavily to ensure that the next three road games took place. However, the venue arranged for the reconstituted team's first home game, on February 27, fell through; the visiting Halifax Rainmen objected to an alternate gym and the PBL ruled that it did not meet league standards. A home game against Wilmington the next day was likewise cancelled, and the remaining home games were played at the opponent's venue.
2009 roster
First half This is the Sasquatch roster before the PBL removed the Sasquatch from the league.
Head Coach: Alejandro Hasbani
#Pos.Ht.PlayerAcquiredCollege3SG6'2Randy Gill2008Bowie State4PG6'2Manix Auriantal2008New York6PG5'10Bobby Miller2008Southern New Hampshire11SF6'8Louis-Patrick Levros2008Rhode Island CC13PG6'4Kevin Dulude2008Royal Military College15PG6'0Lantrice Green2008Virginia Union21PG5'7Denburk Reid2008McGill21SG6'5Buster Perkins2008Virginia Union23SG6'6Steve Pellan2008Mobile24SG6'6Quilninious Randall2008Northeastern32PF6'6Jamaal Wise2008Rhode Island34C6'8John Daryl Ruffus2008Fayetteville State
In the PBL dispersal draft four players were selected: Randy Gill by the Detroit Panthers John Ruffus by the Quebec Kebs (traded to Manchester on March 9) Xavier Morton by the Rochester RazorSharks Jamaal Wise by the Manchester Millrats (traded to Quebec on March 9)
All other Sasquatch players were given their unconditional release and became free agents.
Second half Head Coach: Tito Destin
#Pos.Ht.PlayerAcquiredCollege2SG5'11Todd 'Tinkle' Tinkhalm20095SG6'2Kevin John200912PG6'2Shawn Corbin2009Brandon University14PG6'0John Bethia200922PG5'6Denburk 'Berky' Reid2008McGill25SF6'8Louis-Patrick 'LP' Levros2008Rhode Island31SF6'4Frank Filoa200935SF6'6Kevin Benjamin200941PG5'10Bobby Miller2008Southern New Hampshire42SG6'5Buster Perkins2008Virginia Union43PG6'2Mario Kinsey2009Texas College44C6'10David Dubois2009Idaho
2009 season schedule DateOpponentHome/AwayScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecordJanuary 2Manchester MillratsHome97-100John Ruffus (24)Jamaal Wise (8)Randy Gill (4)Centre Pierre Charbonneau1-0January 3Halifax RainmenHome127-125 (OT)Randy Gill (38)Jamaal Wise (13)Jamaal Wise (3)Centre Pierre Charbonneau1-1January 9Vermont Frost HeavesAway111-133Randy Gill (28)Jamaal Wise (9)Randy Gill (6)Barre Auditorium1-2January 11Halifax RainmenAway105-103John Ruffus (31)John Ruffus (10)Randy Gill (8)Halifax Metro Centre2-2January 23Manchester MillratsHome131-113Randy Gill (19)Xavier Morton & Kevin Dellude (6)Louis-Patrick Levros (3)Centre Pierre Charbonneau2-3January 24Vermont Frost HeavesAway107-86Randy Gill (24)Xavier Morton (9)Randy Gill (7)Centre Pierre Charbonneau2-4January 31Quebec KebsAway98-73Jamaal Wise (35)Jamaal Wise & Kevin Dellude (9)Randy Gill (9)Pavillon de la Jeunesse3-4February 1Vermont Frost HeavesAway78-103Louis-Patrick Levros (19)Xavier Morton (10)Randy Gill, Jamaal Wise, Kevin Dellude, & Lantrice Green (1)Barre Auditorium3-5February 5–11 Franchise transferred and roster reconstituted; see textFebruary 13Manchester MillratsAway85-137David Dubois (26)David Dubois (19)Kevin John (7)Southern New Hampshire Fieldhouse3-6February 20Manchester MillratsAway82-121Freddie Petkus & Mark Flavin (14)David Dubois (12)Buster Perkins (4)Southern New Hampshire Fieldhouse3-7February 21Wilmington Sea DawgsAway92-111Ratana Sak (31)David Dubois (11)Lennox Malcolm (4)Schwartz Center3-8February 27Halifax RainmenHome Game cancelled: Unavailability of suitable venueGame moved to Halifax on March 29February 28Wilmington Sea DawgsHome Game cancelled: Unavailability of suitable venueMarch 8Detroit PanthersAway115-119Ratana Sak (28)David Dubois (15)Buster Perkins (15)Groves High School3-9March 14Vermont Frost HeavesAway*91-116Tristan Martin (25)David Dubois (11)Tristan Martin (4)Barre Auditorium3-10March 22Quebec KebsAway89-130Tristan Martin (37)Tristan Martin (11)Buster Perkins (7)Pavillon de la Jeunesse3-11March 28Halifax RainmenAway89-130Andrew Richards (23)Jasen Hunt (13)Tristan Martin (5)Halifax Metro Centre3-12March 29Halifax RainmenAway*109-147Tristan Martin (34)Andrew Richards (14)Tristan Martin (4)Halifax Metro Centre3-13March 31Rochester RazorsharksHomeAttack Athletics * Originally a home game for Montreal
See also Premier Basketball League Canada Basketball Canadian Interuniversity Sport Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Montreal
References
External links Official Site News release announcing Sasquatch's entry