Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
Published on July 23, 2019 under XFL (XFL)

Last week Denver was named the host city for October's Major League Lacrosse Championship, Riquna Williams of the Los Angeles Sparks was suspended without pay for ten games as a result of a domestic violence incident and Houston basketball superstar James Harden joined the ownership groups of the MLS Houston Dynamo and NWSL Houston Dash. Highlights from this week are from the Canadian Football League, XFL, Pacific Coast League, Carolina League, Northwoods League, Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, Big3, Premier Lacrosse League and World TeamTennis.

FOOTBALL

Canadian Football League

The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced a new partnership with Vancouver-based HeadCheck Health, Inc. (HeadCheck) to bring all teams onto an innovative digital concussion platform. HeadCheck's mobile and web-based technology will equip team medical staff with the tools to more easily execute the CFL's concussion protocol and enable the league to monitor the effectiveness of the protocol in real-time.

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. scores on a 21-yard touchdown trick play reception against the Edmonton Eskimos.

Saskatchewan Roughriders Marcus Thigpen returns a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against the BC Lions.

XFL

If you're not rooting for Jerimiah Spicer already, you will be after watching this and learning his path to the XFL Showcase

Indoor Football League

The Nebraska Danger is for sale.

The Cedar Rapids River Kings and Head Coach Mark Stoute have decided to part ways following the 2019 IFL season, effective immediately.

BASEBALL

Pacific Coast League

6 homers. 5 games. Oklahoma City Dodgers' Gavin Lux has no regard for baseball life.

Atlantic League

The Oakland Athletics have purchased the contract of Lancaster Barnstormers' second baseman, Dan Gamache. He will report to Class AA Midland of the Texas League. Gamache, 28, was batting .303 with six home runs and 46 RBI.

Carolina League

For the first time in 19 years a Wilmington Blue Rocks pitcher has thrown a no-hitter. In fact, Jonathan Bowlan was a second-inning defensive miscue away from tossing a perfect game in the Blue Crew's 3-0 victory over the Carolina Mudcats.

Fan catch of the year at a Carolina Mudcats game.

Northwoods League

This 6-year old manager got tossed from a game and he got his money's worth via Kalamazoo Growlers.

Justice Bigbie (Western Carolina) of the Madison Mallards went 2-4 with two home runs and three RBI while leading the Great Lakes Division to a 5-2 victory over the Great Plains Division in the 2019 Northwoods League All-Star Game. Bigbie earned "Star of Stars" honors for his monster performance.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

Seattle Sounders FC started 8-year-old Bheem Goyal who is battling leukemia in goal during their pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund. Makes the opening save and then subs out to a standing ovation.

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a hat trick against Los Angeles Football Club

Houston basketball superstar James Harden has joined the ownership group of the Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash and BBVA Stadium. On the court, Harden was the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player and has led the United States to gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Canadian Premier League

Watch Forge FC forward Kadell Thomas's goal over and over again.

Major Arena Soccer League

Soles de Sonora will return to action ahead of the 2019-2020 season, following a one-year absence from the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) lineup. Soles de Sonora debuted in the MASL during the 2015-2016 season. They were Ron Newman Cup Finalists in 2016 and 2017 and also reached the playoffs in 2018.

The 2019-2020 MASL season will see 17 teams compete for the chance to lift the Ron Newman Cup in April 2020. These teams will be split into two tables, an Eastern Conference and Western Conference.

BASKETBALL

Women's National Basketball Association

The New York Liberty's Tina Charles and the Indiana Fever's Candice Dupree lead the list of 12 players - six guards and six frontcourt players from across the WNBA - who will serve as reserves in AT&T WNBA All-Star 2019.

Riquna Williams of the Los Angeles Sparks has been suspended without pay for ten games as a result of a domestic violence incident. Williams was arrested on April 29, 2019, and charged with two felony counts, one involving the assault of an individual with whom she was in a relationship and the other involving the threatening of another person with a firearm. Her criminal case is ongoing.

The Sacramento Kings have hired former Duke and WNBA star Lindsey Harding as an assistant coach.

Big3

Brandon Rush drops Ricky Davis and and drains the game winning three point shot for the Aliens win over the Ghost Ballers.

HOCKEY

American Hockey League

The Anaheim Ducks announced that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Kevin Dineen head coach of the San Diego Gulls, Anaheim's primarily development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). With the announcement, Dineen becomes the second head coach in Gulls AHL history, and rejoins the Ducks organization for his second stint as the club's AHL head coach.

ECHL

The ECHL announced that the League's Board of Governors has approved the Transfer of Controlling Interest in the Jacksonville Icemen's Membership from EI Acquisitions, a group led by Ronald Geary, to SZH Hockey LLC, a group led by Andrew Kaufmann. They are the affiliate of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets and AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Western Hockey League

Brandon Wheat Kings General Manager Darren Ritchie has announced the appointment of Dave Lowry as the Western Hockey League club's new head coach. An Ottawa, Ontario native, he has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

LACROSSE

Major League Lacrosse

Major League Lacrosse announced Denver as the host city for 2019 MLL Championship Weekend in October. This marks the first time in MLL's 19-year history that the championship game will be played in Denver.

National Lacrosse League

The Halifax Thunderbirds today introduced Mike Accursi as the new Head Coach of the city's new National Lacrosse League franchise. Accursi is a highly respected former professional lacrosse player and coach. Mike Accursi enters his first season as the head coach of the Halifax Thunderbirds. In April of 2018, Accursi completed his second season as an assistant with the Rochester Knighthawks after serving for three seasons as the team's lacrosse operations assistant.

The NLL announced that Buffalo Bandits Head Coaches Rich Kilgour and John Tavares have been named the recipients of the Les Bartley Award, which is awarded to the NLL's Top Head Coach at the conclusion of each season.

The National Lacrosse League announced that Calgary Roughnecks forward Dane Dobbie has received the 2019 NLL Most Valuable Player Award.

Premier Lacrosse League

Absolutely ridiculous assist by Paul Rabil in All-Star game.

Matt Rambo goes air in goal scored.

OTHER SPORTS

World TeamTennis

Sometimes you hit the ball, sometimes the ball hits you. You've got to love Washington Kastles star and future Hall of Famer Venus Williams' reaction to getting nailed in the back by partner Nathan Pasha's serve in their match against the New York Empire.

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 July 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.