By: Cole Shelton

Follow @coleshelton91

Karl Toulouse didn't expect to be receiving any kind of award when NBL Canada commissioner Audley Stephenson took the mic at a recent London Lightning game.

But, when Stephenson pointed at Toulouse, he thought he was looking at someone else as he didn't know what he would be honoured for.

"I did not see it coming. When Audley looked at me he was on the court with the microphone and he's pointing at me and waving at me and I looked behind me to see who he's looking at," Toulouse said in a phone interview. "I look back and smiled and said yeah it's you. Total surprise by the league."

When he got the award, Toulouse's emotions were high. He was just honoured by being inducted to his community's Hall of Fame. And, to get this award on top of it is humbling for him.

"Very humbling, the recognition is always wonderful. It is always wonderful to receive the recognition but it is always a team not just me," he said. "I'm glad Brenda got the award at the same time but it is very humbling."

Toulouse has worked on the stats table for the London Lightning since the very beginning. He also has the same job for the Toronto Raptors for 25 years where he was an NBA champion last season.

For Toulouse, he says there are similarities between working in the NBLC and the NBA.

"I work in a three person crew here in London and we are in our ninth season. With the Raptors I'm in my 25th season and I've had over 900 games in the NBA including playoffs," he said. "It is a five person crew and both leagues and crews we have a rotation. London is a great experience, I love the people, the franchise, the players. It is nothing short of outstanding."

In London, Toulouse is doing statistical input or calling as he needs to make sure the coaches, media and official scorer all have the right stats throughout the games to make their jobs easier.

"It is probably a three or four hour time commitment. My primary function is to do the statistical input or the statistical calling. I can either being on the computer doing the input or calling the game," Toulouse said. "A typical day for the most part is me coming into the arena, making sure everything is running properly and get my started and officials in there. Do my print for the coaches, media and official scorer. I make sure that everybody is on the same page."

Although Karl Toulouse is doing something that makes everyone else's job easier, he says being apart of winning teams certainly helps. He has seen the London Lightning win it all and last season he saw the Raptors do the same.

"It certainly has become more competitive. The league parity is so much better. There were points at time that London was beating teams handily and now that is not the case," he said. "There are great teams and it is really fun as you don't know who will win any night."

Even though he wad honoured, it is back to work for Toulouse who continues to love doing what he does with the Lightning. He also has seen the league changed a ton over the nine years but says NBL Canada has never been better with parity than it is right now.

"Being with winning teams the environment is always upbeat, the fans are engaged and it is such a wonderful and fun experience. Everybody loves a winner. When you have that culture of winning it is a great experience," he concluded.