Ottawa Skyhawks blocked from NBL

After a troubled off season the Ottawa SkyHawks have been denied permission to enter and participate in the Canadian NBL for the coming 2014/2015 season.

The National Basketball League of Canada reached the decision on Wednesday in a unanimous vote that saw the board block the Ottawa SkyHawks from league competition for the coming season. The removal also includes Bytown Sports & Entertainment Inc., the organization that owns and operated the franchise.

Consistency across the League is our goal, and all teams are required to meet certain requirements to protect the quality of league operations going forward. We thank the fans of the SkyHawks in Ottawa for their support last season, and we assure you we are committed to returning as soon as possible. The League will be holding a draft of the six players on the SkyHawks next week so those players rights will transferred to a new club. – NBL Canada Commissioner Paul Riley.

The SkyHawks have been surrounded in controversy since the franchise changed its name from the Tomahawks. The organization has been seeking a new arena to play in, and in May owner Gus Takkale (main image) said negotiations were progressing towards securing the TD Place Arena. Those plans eventually fell down and since the team has failed to adhere to deadlines and broke guidelines set out in the NBL Operating Agreement.

The SkyHawks have yet to comment on the decision, but the franchise said it would release a statement on August 5th.