Canton Charge

Canton Charge
Founded	2001
History	Huntsville Flight 2001–2005 Albuquerque Thunderbirds 2005–2010 New Mexico Thunderbirds 2010–2011 Canton Charge 2011–present
Arena	Canton Memorial Civic Center
City	Canton, Ohio
Team colors	Wine, Gold and White
Head coach	Steve Hetzel
Owner	Cleveland Cavaliers
Championships	1 (2005–06 as Albuquerque)
Division / Conference titles	1 (2012–13)
Affiliations	Cleveland Cavaliers
Website	cantoncharge.com

The Canton Charge is an NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Canton, Ohio, United States. The Charge's NBA affiliate is the Cleveland Cavaliers, which also owns the team. They play their home games at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

Franchise history

2001–2005: Huntsville Years

The team was formed as the Huntsville Flight and were established in Huntsville, Alabama in 2001 as a founding member of the NBA Development League, the affiliate minor league of the NBA. They used to play their home games at the Von Braun Center. In their first two seasons, they didn't make the playoffs, but in their third they reached the NBA D-League Finals, losing to the Asheville Altitude. The team ended its tenure in Alabama at the conclusion of the 2005 season after finishing third in the overall NBADL and making the playoffs.

2005–2011: Albuquerque/New Mexico Years

They became the Albuquerque Thunderbirds the following season. They played their games at the Tingley Coliseum. In 2006, the team also won the NBA D-League Championship game over the Fort Worth Flyers in their first year of existence in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In the 2006-07 season, they made the playoffs, but were defeated by the Colorado 14ers. They played in Albuquerque until the 2009-10 season. For 2010–11 the Thunderbirds moved from the Tingley Coliseum to the Santa Ana Star Center and re-branded as the New Mexico Thunderbirds. They played just one season in Rio Rancho, New Mexico and didn't make the playoffs.

2011–present: A new beginning in Canton

On July 7, 2011, it was announced the Thunderbirds had been purchased by the Cleveland Cavaliers and were moving to Canton, Ohio for the 2011–12 season.^[1] Alex Jensen was named the first head coach of the Charge on October 11. On October 13, the Canton Charge name, logo, colors, and court design were unveiled.^[2] On October 20, the team announced the first two players of the new team: Keith McLeod and Jamine Peterson.^[3] On October 25, the new uniforms were released.^[4] In the 2011 NBA D-League Draft, the Canton Charge selected Tyrell Biggs in the first round.^[5] In their first game as the Canton Charge, they were defeated by the 2010-11 champions Iowa Energy in an 82-100 game at home.^[6] Their first win came against the Texas Legends in their third game, which they won by 108-87.^[7]

On September 11, 2013, Steve Hetzel was named the head coach for 2013–14.^[8]

Season-by-season records

Logos and Uniforms

Huntsville Flight (2001–2005)

The first logo of the team, when it still was the Huntsville Flight, consisted of a yellow basketball with a red fighter aircraft flying around the ball, and below it was written "Huntsville" in blue and "Flight" in yellow. Their colors were red, yellow, navy and white. The home uniform was white with "Huntsville" and the numbers written in red, near the arm and in the neck there were black and navy little lines. Their away uniform was similar, but it was red instead of white and the numbers in yellow.

Albuquerque/New Mexico Thunderbirds (2005–2011)

Their logo as Albuquerque and New Mexico was the same, with just one difference, the name written below the logo. The logo consisted on a bird black head, with a basketball in its claw. Their colors were dark yellow, black, white and orange. As New Mexico, they removed the orange color and replaced with grey. Their home uniform was white, with "Thunderbirds" and the numbers written in orange, and black details on the side of the jersey. The away uniform was orange, with black details, and letters ("Albuquerque") in white. As New Mexico, it had a little change, the away uniform used "T-Birds" instead of "New Mexico".

Canton Charge (2011–present)

Under the Cleveland Cavaliers ownership, the Charge adopted a similar style. The logo consists of a musketeer style soldier, with his sword pointing forward, and below him there is written "Canton Charge" in gold and white. The musketeer hat is wine and his clothes are gold. Their colors are wine, gold and white. They have an alternate logo, similar to the "C Sword Logo" from the Cavaliers, with a sword crossing a "C". Their home uniform is gold with details, "Charge" and the numbers written in wine. The away uniform is the same thing with the colors swapped.

Home Arenas

• Von Braun Center (2001–2005)
• Tingley Coliseum (2005–2010)
• Santa Ana Star Center (2010–2011)
• Canton Memorial Civic Center (2011–present)

Season-by-season

Current roster

References

External links

• Canton Charge homepage
• Official NBA Development League website