Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
April 2, 2019 - XFL (XFL)

Last week the XFL named team presidents for the Seatte and Washington DC franchises, the NBA G League handed out its regular season awards, United Soccer League One played its first ever games and Minor League Baseball implemented rules to speed up the game in Double and Triple A. Highlights from this week are from Alliance of American Football, Major League Soccer, United Soccer League Championship, United Soccer League One, National Lacrosse League, American Hockey League and Western Hockey League.

FOOTBALL

Alliance of American Football

Arizona Hotshots quarterback John Wolford launches one to wide receiver Rashad Ross, 58 yards for the score. Ross leads the Alliance in touchdown receptions with seven.

XFL

The XFL announced that Ryan Gustafson, most recently the Vice President of Business Strategy & Development for Sounders FC, has been named President of the XFL football team in Seattle.

The XFL announced that Erik A. Moses, most recently the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Sports, Entertainment & Special Events for Events DC, has been named President of the XFL football team in Washington, D.C.

Vince McMahon sold shares of WWE stock worth roughly $272 million to help fund the XFL's relaunch.

CFL

Schooners Sports and Entertainment (SSE) and the Canadian Football League (CFL) announced that the 2019 edition of Touchdown Atlantic will be played on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at the Stade Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium, located on the grounds of Université de Moncton. The Toronto Argonauts will host the Montréal Alouettes in the first CFL regular season game down east since 2013, and the first presented by the Atlantic Schooners, who are working to become the CFL's tenth team.

Schooners Sports and Entertainment (SSE) has announced that they have partnered with Sport Nova Scotia on a plan to create a year-round, multi-use sports venue that will be open to the broader public for amateur and recreational sport, and serve as the home for the proposed Atlantic Canadian CFL team.

Indoor Football League

The Arizona Rattlers defeated the visiting Sioux Falls Storm 58-40 for Head Coach and General Manager Kevin Guy's 200th win of his coaching career.

Congratulations to Green Bay Blizzard WR/KR B.J Hill for becoming the second player in IFL history to surpass 7,000 all-purpose yards.

BASKETBALL

NBA G League

Rio Grande Valley guard Michael Frazier has been named the 2018-19 NBA G League Most Improved Player. The award honors the player who demonstrated the most significant improvement during the 2018-19 season.

Lakeland Magic guard Gabe York has received the 2018-19 NBA G League Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, as voted on by all NBA G League players.

The NBA G League announced that Long Island Nets head coach Will Weaver was named the 2018-19 NBA G League Coach of the Year and Long Island Nets general manager Trajan Langdon was named the 2018-19 NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year.

Agua Caliente Clippers center Angel Delgado has been named the 2018-19 NBA G League Rookie of the Year. Delgado (6-10, 240, Seton Hall) a two-way player with the LA Clippers, averaged 18.5 points and an NBA G League-high 14.8 rebounds in 44 games for Agua Caliente.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

Los Angeles FC forward Carlos Vela with a stunner, his third goal of the game, for a hat trick against the San Jose Earthquakes.

D.C. United forward Wayne Rooney scores a ridiculous free kick from from the tightest of angles against Orlando City SC, his fourth goal of the season.

United Soccer League Championship

Prosper Kasim scored the first Birmingham Legion FC goal in their history when he received a pass from Eric Avila against Louisville FC.

United Soccer League One

The United Soccer League announced that every game of USL League One's inaugural 2019 season will air internationally on YouTube. The live-streaming service will supplement the previously announced partnership with ESPN+ for streaming rights in the United States.

Marco Micaletto and Alex Morrell create a moment to remember for South Georgia Tormenta FC: the first goal in United Soccer League One. South Georgia Tormenta FC defeated Greenville Triumph SC 1-0 in the league's first game.

National Women's Soccer League

Sky Blue FC announced that, beginning on April 1, the team will train at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J. for the remainder of the 2019 season.

The North Carolina Courage will host the 2019 edition of the Women's International Champions Cup (ICC) August 15-18 at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The format of the tournament will be similar to the 2018 edition with semifinal matches on Thursday, August 15, and third place and final matches to take place on Sunday, August 18.

HOCKEY

American Hockey League

The Boston Bruins announced that the organization has agreed to a 10-year partnership agreement with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, through the 2028-29 season.

Cleveland Monsters center Zac Dalpe is on fire with his 2nd hat trick of the season. The Cleveland Monsters defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 6-3.

ECHL

The Idaho Steelheads and St. Luke's Health System have announced the total donations from the Pink in the Rink weekend Jersey Auction on March 8 and 9 from CenturyLink Arena. Steelheads fans contributed $20,900 toward the St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI), the region's largest provider of cancer care and a leader in cancer research.

Western Hockey League

Vince Loschiavo of the Edmonton Oil Kings converts in overtime to send his team into the second round of the WHL playoffs with a 4-3 victory over Medicine Hat Tigers.

National Women's Hockey League

The NWHL today announced that Buffalo Beauts forward Maddie Elia has been named the NWHL's Most Valuable Player for the 2018-19 season. Elia led all NWHL players with 12 goals this season and tied for second in the league with 19 points in 16 games.

BASEBALL

International League

Minor League Baseball announces pace-of-play rule changes for 2019, including a three-batter minimum for pitchers in Double-A and Triple-A:

The Louisville Bats welcome back Jim Kelch to their broadcast booth for the upcoming season. Kelch served as the radio voice of the Louisville Redbirds, RiverBats and Bats for 21 seasons from 1989-2009.

Appalachian League

Boyd Sports, LLC has announced that Brice Ballentine will be the General Manager of the Elizabethton Twins, effective immediately. Ballentine spent the 2018 season as a Senior Account Executive with the Mobile BayBears selling groups tickets and sponsorships.

Bristol Baseball, Inc. (BBI) announced today that it has signed a five-year lease to help the Bristol Pirates professional baseball team in the Twin Cities. 2019 marks BBI's 50th year of operating a professional baseball team in Bristol.

Atlantic League

The Sugar Land Skeeters today announced that longtime Minor League Baseball executive and Fort Bend resident Christopher Hill has been hired as the team's president.

LACROSSE

National Lacrosse League

Calgary Roughnecks forward Curtis Dickson with the one-handed behind the back goal against the San Diego Seals.

Major League Lacrosse

After three seasons of playing at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the Atlanta Blaze will be calling Grady Stadium their home starting with the 2019 season. Located in Midtown Atlanta, south of Piedmont Park, Grady Stadium boasts a synthetic turf field and capacity of 6,500.

Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.

XFL Stories from April 2, 2019

• Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.