Noel Moffatt, the former two-sport star at Gonzaga high school in St. John’s, recalls many a trip to Mile One Centre over the years to watch the St. John’s Maple Leafs, and later the IceCaps, skate in the American Hockey League.
So needless to say, Moffatt is giddy with the thoughts he could be playing at Mile One Centre this winter, as a professional basketball player.
The St. John’s Edge signed the former Memorial Sea-Hawks star to a tryout contract Wednesday, making Moffatt the first native Newfoundlander to join the National Basketball League of Canada squad.
The Edge and Patrick’s Cove native Carl English, the former NCAA, Canadian national team and European pro star, are still in contract talks. However, time is ticking down, as the expansion team opens training camp Monday in St. John's..
In NBL Canada, players are signed first for training camp. If they make the final 12-player roster, they are then signed to contracts for the season.
The Edge are expected to have around 18 players in camp.
Moffatt, a 6-5 forward, is no stranger to the NBL Canada, having played last season with the Windsor Express. The Express drafted Moffatt 18th overall in the 2016 NBL draft.
“To play at home is pretty special to me,” said Moffatt, who starred in both hockey and basketball at Gonzaga, before embarking on a collegiate hoops career at Memorial.
“I mean, I’ve been here my whole life, except for last season when I was in Windsor. I remember going to Mile One to watch the AHL so to be there as a player now … that’s pretty special.”
Moffatt, who just turned 24, didn’t see a lot of minutes in Windsor last season.
He played five years with the Sea-Hawks, averaging 5.4 points and 7.7 rebounds a game. In his last season, 2015-16, he had 10.3 points per game and 5.9 boards.
