There’s a ton of background on her hiring in this Spec piece we ran when it was announced last week, the chat we had on Sunday was of a bit wider scope and it’s why I came away fully believing this under-taking will be a success.

I think there’s going to be a far more distinctly Canadian look to it – the summer schedule will allow the dozens and dozens of Canadians playing all over the world to come home and make some money in front of family and friends – and most important – scouts from North America and bigger European leagues who will surely take time to check out the games.

Now, there will be non-Canadians in this league – G Leaguers, maybe, Summer League vets who can’t catch a contract, other European pros – but what I came away with from the chat with Chantal and old friend John Lashway, the president of the Hamilton franchise and league executive vice-president, was that the uniquely Canadian feel and look is important to them.

And as we’ve seen, the growing number of Canadian professionals and U Sports grads would mean, obviously, that the talent level will be legit.

Vallée, who coached the dynastic University of Windsor women’s program and will keep doing that job while working in Hamilton as well, was telling me she’ll work closely with Joe Raso, the league’s director of basketball operations, and GMs of the other teams to identify and acquire talent.

That’s a powerful duo right there and I would suspect that the other teams will be equally well-managed, another reason I have no doubt of its ultimate success.

I also don’t see this new league as any kind of direct competition for the NBL-Canada that began its season this month. I doubt that the CEBL sees it as any threat or competition, it’s a different time of the season, leagues with different focuses and different goals.

I hope they both make it, the more basketball opportunities in our country, the better.