Toughness is the name of the game this year for the London Lightning.
The city's NBL team unveiled its roster Friday. The 13 member team includes five Canadian players who have been relentlessly training for the past few months, in preparation of the 2015-2016 season. They will play 40 games over the next four months.
Head Coach Kyle Julius says fans will see a stronger more aggressive team this season.
"We are going to play with grit, that's our model this year. To generate relentless intensity together, that is how we are going to live this year," says Julius. "You are going to see guys diving on the floor, fight for rebounds, great chemistry, pushing the ball, we are going to play with toughness. This being a hockey community first and foremost. I think the fans will appreciate that."
The Lightning have seen steady growth in their fan base since their formation in 2011.
"The first year our average attendance was about 2,200 and last year we were over 5,000," says Lightning General Manager Vito Frijia. "We would like to continue on the same accelerated growth. If we can increase it by 1,000 people per game that would be great."
The Lightning play their first home game of the season at Budweiser Gardens December 19. They will be taking on the defending NBL Champions, the Windsor Express.
