May 25, 2025
The first ever outdoor basketball game in Canada, between the Montreal Alliance and Ottawa Blackjacks called off due to weather
The first ever professional outdoor basketball game in Canadian history took place this evening, between the host Montreal Alliance and the visiting Ottawa Blackjacks – on a day where rain yet again threatened to ruin the festivities. Ironically, the game was called off at half-time, but not due to rain.
Originally scheduled to take place two days prior, but pushed ahead due to a massive amount of rain that was scheduled to – and did – fall on the city, and with tensions high as more rain fell in the hours leading up to tonight’s match up. Yet everything was dry and ready to go come tip-off.
See Also: Alliance take convincing win over Honey Badgers
Early on, it was apparent that the Montreal Alliance had come to play, eager to prove that their dominant win over the Brampton Honey Badgers last week wasn’t a fluke. It took a few attempts before either team got on the scoreboard; which the Ottawa Blackjacks did first (remember that for future quiz nights, folks), and from there, it was all Montreal. And I mean all Montreal.
The first quarter ended with the Montreal Alliance doubling Ottawa’s score, thirty to eleven and things were only just starting. The Alliance continue to strike off of strong defensive plays. Forcing turnovers and giving the Blackjacks nowhere to shoot from. Counter-punching with slick offensive plays and running the score up on the Blackjacks.
At half-time, the Montreal Alliance headed to the dressing room having built up a solid twenty-three point lead over the Blackjacks. Fifty-two points to twenty-nine. The Montreal Alliance are for real.
When the teams came out to start the second half, following a concert from Montreal rapper Fouki, then noticed that condensation from the rapidly dropping outdoor temperature had made the court damp and slippery. Water and varnished hardwood don’t mix, and basketball sneakers don’t have the best grip to begin with. The begin of the end was in sight for what had otherwise been a really great night of basketball.
The efforts to save this game were nothing short of beautiful. First, staff tried hard to dry the court with towels but it was soon evident that that wouldn’t be enough. So the teams returned to their dressing room while literally everyone got involved. A giant metal fan was wheeled out. An employee dragged a massive zamboni-like thing around and when that all failed to dry the court up to a safe condition, then everyone got down on their knees with towels and anything that might absorb the water. Dozens of people. Employees and fans alike; a true community like effort that Montreal, as a whole, should be proud of.
Alliance fans are something else. Extra.
Sadly, despite these amazing efforts, the court was just too slick to justify playing on. Somebody would have gotten hurt, without a question of a doubt. So, with league Commissioner Mike Morreale on-hand, together with both teams, the decision to call off the game was made and, yeah, it was the right call.
As of yet, the outcome of the game is unknown. Commissioner Morreale will make a decision on whether the score stands, or the match will be continue – or even replayed, in the coming days.
Still – three records were set tonight; the first ever outdoor pro basketball in Canada, a Montreal Alliance record attendance of 9305 fans (The Calgary Surge hold the CEBL record with 12,327 fans in attendance) – and an unprecedented unfinished game – something so unprecedented that the FIBA rulebooks don’t even have a rule for what happens should this occur. Maybe the night didn’t go as was planned, but what an incredible night it was, while it lasted.
Let’s run this back!
Read More:
>> Quincy Guerrier signs with the Montreal Alliance
>> Montreal Alliance select Jaheem Joseph
>> Montreal Alliance co-captain Kemy Ossé announces his retirement
While visiting fans that may have booked hotels for Friday night may feel a little cheated, it is worth pointing out that water on a hard court is a recipe for injuries, and nobody wants to see that. The initiative to hold an outdoor was brilliant, and the atmosphere unlike anything see in our nation before, and those that organized it and worked tirelessly to make sure the match went down as faultlessly as it did, deserve applause. While we can’t control the weather, allegedly, perhaps this sort of outdoor event is better suited for the dryer, mid-summer months. Still, tonight was special, and there was most certainly magic in the air.
The Montreal Alliance next take on the Honey Badgers in Brampton on June 4th, where the Badgers will certainly look to extract some revenge for the beating they took at Verdun Auditorium last week. The Ottawa Blackjacks, meanwhile, kick off a tough stretch in their schedule when next play in Toronto on May 27th, when they take on the Scarborough Shooting Stars at Pan Am Sports Centre. They’ll follow that up with a game two days later in Winnipeg on May 31st, against the Sea Bears.
