Welcome to Mailmen basketball!

So the NBA is in lockout mode...the BMRL, Brunswick Mens Rec Basketball League, is not.

The league will begin play, on schedule, this Sunday, November 20th.

As you can recall, the Reignmakers came up short in their goal of a championship last fall and decided to rename the team, in order to get a fresh start and new outlook this season.

The team also made a few roster changes, hopefully resulting in more wins and hopefully a championship run this season.

A few of the names from last year are returning. Jason Hunter (10.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Brandon Hunter (21.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Kerry Hunter (10.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Brent Hunter (17.3 ppg, 2 rpg), and Andy Kempf (2.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg). There have been changes however. After losing Ryan Stuver and Mike Petrilli to a switch in sports, Chad Dobson to a Michigan league, and Clintion Weigel to a contract dispute, the now "Mailmen", had to search for replacements.

Pat Cripple, Michael Giardina, and Johno Reminder are the new faces on the roster, all which bring different aspects to a team in need of varying dynamics.

Johno Reminder comes back after a year hiatus from the team. He brings more size and toughness inside and on the glass. Reminder was out of basketball last season while developing his skills overseas and has now found a place on the Mailmen's roster. Familiarity with Reminder's game, and his added size, were a big reason why Coach Jason Hunter decided to bring the big man back. "With Kerry out for about a month after knee surgery, Johno will step in with major minutes early in the season."

Michael Giardina will ultimately take Weigel's place in the lineup this year as a defensive hustler and slasher on the offensive end. "Mike brings a lot of things we like to the table," Coach Hunter said. "He thrives on the defensive side of the ball, playing passing lanes and pressuring the ball handler. We don't have a ton of quickness on that side of the ball and he brings that added dynamic to our roster." Giardina was signed after playing overseas basketball this past season.

Pat Cripple, or Crip, will be another addition with some size and athleticism being added to the team this year. Again with big man Kerry Hunter sidelined for some time after successful knee surgery and newly acquired Johno Reminder already scheduled to be out for the first preseason game, Crip will be thrown into the fire right away. The Mailmen are only listing 6 players on their roster for that first game, and we will get to see how Crip fits into the system on night number one.

The Mailmen will be playing PBR's Finest for their first preseason game. There is not much of a scouting report on Finest due to the fact they are a new team to the BMRL. After a dissapointing end to the season last year, the new-look Mailmen have their championship goal in mind.

Another report will be added later in the week with new player interviews and a look back at last year.

"It's basketball time...!"