Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
April 23, 2019 - XFL (XFL)

Last week the XFL named head coaches in New York and St. Louis, the Alliance of American Football filed for bankruptcy, and Major League Soccer announced it will be expanding to 30 teams. Highlights from this week are from Major League Soccer, the National Women's Soccer League, American Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, International League, Southern League, Carolina League and the National Lacrosse League.

FOOTBALL

XFL

The XFL announced that Kevin Gilbride, a former NFL head coach with nearly four-decades of football coaching experience, has been named the head coach and general manager of the XFL team in New York.

The XFL announced that Janet Duch, most recently Senior Vice President of On Location Experiences and a long-time executive at Madison Square Garden, has been named President of the XFL football team in New York.

The XFL announced that Jonathan Hayes, the Cincinnati Bengals tight ends coach for the last 16 seasons and a standout NFL tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, has been named the head coach and general manager of the XFL team in St. Louis.

Alliance of American Football

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) has ceased all business operations and has started the process of liquidation pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. AAF's bankruptcy petition was filed on April 17, 2019, with the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas (San Antonio Division).

Canadian Football League

In a move that underlines the importance of Canadian players, the Canadian Football League (CFL) will include territorial picks in next month's CFL Draft. The two teams with the highest waiver priority will each get to make one Territorial Draft Pick - to be used to select a player born within their territorial limits at the end of the second round. That means the Toronto Argonauts will now receive the second round's 10th pick and the Montreal Alouettes will receive the second round's 11th pick in the May 2nd draft.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer today unveiled plans to expand to 30 clubs in the coming years, as Commissioner Don Garber addressed the news media following today's Board of Governors meeting in Los Angeles. Garber also confirmed the expansion fee for each of the next two teams -- clubs 28 and 29 -- will be $200 million.

Talk about a super sub! Forward Jordan Hamilton came on and scored 2 goals in 2 minutes to get Toronto FC a big 4-3 win Minnesota United FC!

National Women's Soccer League

Portland Thorns forward Christine Sinclair scored her second career hat-trick against the Chicago Red Stars!

Alanna Kennedy scores Orlando Pride's first goal of the season in style! With a bicycle kick goal against Reign FC!

Major Arena Soccer League

The iconic Mesquite Arena has been home to rodeos, concerts, fundraising events and sports; now the Mesquite Outlaws will join that legacy for the 2019-20 season as the Major Arena Soccer League's newest professional club.

United Soccer League Championship

Reno 1868 FC announced that Doug Raftery had been promoted as the new General Manager of the club. Raftery first came to Reno in November of 2016, where he started as the Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Reno Aces and Reno 1868 FC. Most recently, he was the Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for both clubs.

HOCKEY

American Hockey League

The American Hockey League announced that Mike Vellucci of the Charlotte Checkers is the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding coach for the 2018-19 season.

The American Hockey League announced today that Alex Nedeljkovic of the Charlotte Checkers is the winner of the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding goaltender for the 2018-19 season.

From one end of the ice to the other, Cooper Zech put on a show for the Providence Bruins!

Jeremy Bracco dazzled in overtime yesterday to give the Toronto Marlies a two-game series lead against the Rochester Americans.

Southern Professional Hockey League

The Evansville Thunderbolts Professional Hockey Team of the Southern Professional Hockey League and General Manager, Adam Stio, have chosen to part ways.

Ontario Hockey League

OHL goaltenders are simply sensational in this second round playoffs.

Edmonton Oilers prospect Ryan McLeod scored on a sensational solo effort 6:52 into overtime to give the Saginaw Spirit a 4-3 win over the Guelph Storm in Game 2 of the Western Conference Championship Series.

BASEBALL

International League

Baseball's top overall prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. blasted a 441 foot home run for their Triple A affiliate the Buffalo Bisons.

Cleveland Indians prospect Columbus Clippers outfielder Oscar Mercado GOT ON UP!

Southern League

Is Pensacola Blue Wahoos Dusten Knight's flipping save celebration the best in baseball?

Carolina League

Scenes from the Fayetteville Woodpeckers' first ever home game!

Midwest League

Bryan Valdez, Andy Toelken and Blake Workman combined to no-hit the Quad Cities River Bandits (7-7) in a 1-0 Kane County Cougars (10-6) win on Friday night at Dozer Park. It was the 10th no-no in franchise history and the first since Connor Grey's perfect game in September of 2017.

Atlantic League

The Somerset Patriots have announced that right-handed pitcher Tyler Cloyd's contract has been purchased by the Seattle Mariners. He will report to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

Pacific Coast League

The Albuquerque Isotopes tied their single-game record for runs scored with 23. They defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 23-2. The only other time they scored 23 was on July 30, 2009 vs. Oklahoma City (23-6).

LACROSSE

National Lacrosse League

Rochester Knighthawks defender Graeme Hossack with a beauty from behind the net goal against the Vancouver Warriors!

OTHER SPORTS

National Pro Fastpitch

The Chicago Bandits drafted University of Florida right-handed pitcher Kelly Barnhill with the first overall selection in the 2019 NPF Draft in Nashville, Tennessee, marking the second year in a row the Bandits bolstered their pitching staff with the No. 1 pick.

Major League Rugby

USA Rugby and Major League Rugby (MLR) announced a finalized strategic partnership centered around the shared goal of developing the game of rugby in the US.

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 23, 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.