WINDSOR

Halifax Rainmen basketball team will be back to play next season: owner

The Canadian Press Published Monday, May 4, 2015 2:33PM EDT

Halifax Rainmen's (from left) Chris Hagan, Justin Johnson and Eric Crookshank look on in the dying seconds leading to London Lightning winning the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) championships series final in 2012. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Dave Chidley)

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HALIFAX -- The owner of the Halifax Rainmen says the team will be back to play next season, despite fines and suspensions following the forfeit of the National Basketball League of Canada championship last week.

At a news conference today in Halifax, Andre Levingston said his team plays an important role in the city and continues to have support from fans.

The team forfeited last Thursday's championship game to the Windsor Express, citing safety concerns following an altercation between the teams earlier in the day.

As result, the league handed out $90,000 dollars in fines, suspended 11 Rainmen players and permanently barred the coach and assistant coach from the league.