The Newfoundland Rogues are back, but with some new company.

The team announced today that it will be joining the TBL, a basketball league based in the United States, which aims to bring basketball to smaller markets.

However, there will be some familiar faces coming to town when the 40-game season starts in January, as teams from the National Basketball League of Canada, the league that once housed the St. John’s Edge, will be playing against the Rogues.

The Rogues will play 28 home games and 12 away.

TBL, a six-year-old league, will have up to 52 teams this year, with around 10 of those playing in St. John’s. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, costing only a little over $12.00.

League President David Magley says the TBL plays a style of basketball closer to the NBA and FIBA than that seen in the CEBL.

He says they play that style because they want the game to be as familiar as what North Americans see as pro basketball. He says because the only team in Canada is the Raptors, that’s what most Canadians want to see.