Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
Published on March 30, 2021 under Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
This past week the Boston Pride won their second Isobel Cup as champions of the National Women's Hockey League, Delaware Blue Coats forward Paul Reed was named the 2020-21 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Rookie of the Year, and Lyle Thompson was the first overall pick in the 2021 Premier Lacrosse League Entry Draft by the Cannons Lacrosse Club. Highlights from this week are from National Women's Hockey League, American Hockey League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, United States Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, NBA G League, Women's National Basketball Association, Appalachian League, Major League Rugby and Fan Controlled Football.
HOCKEY
National Women's Hockey League
For the second time in National Women's Hockey League history, the Boston Pride are Isobel Cup champions skating to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Whitecaps at Warrior Ice Arena. The Pride were also the league's first winner back in 2016 and became the first team in the league's six seasons to celebrate a second title.
Three second-period goals propelled the Boston Pride to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Whitecaps on Saturday, giving the Pride their second Isobel Cup title.
American Hockey League
San Jose Barracuda center Alexander True with the nice move in the shootout.
ECHL
ECHL Plays of the Week
ECHL Saves of the Week
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced that its Board of Governors has approved the membership application for an NAHL team in Anchorage, Alaska owned by NAHTSIITH LLC, an entity owned and operated by Aaron Schutt, Ryan Binkley, Kai Binkley Sims, John Ellsworth Jr, and Jay Frawner. Sims will serve as the President of the organization. The team will be known as the Anchorage Wolverines will compete in the Midwest Division beginning in the 2021-22 season.
NAHL Plays of the Week
Western Hockey League
WHL Top 10
United States Hockey League
USHL Plays of the Week
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Charlottetown Islanders goaltender Colten Ellis was able to tie Philippe Cadorette's QMJHL record for most career shutouts with 17!
QMJHL Plays of the Week
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
Delaware Blue Coats forward Paul Reed has been named the 2020-21 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Rookie of the Year. He becomes the third player to win both awards in the same season, joining Tim Frazier (2014-15) and Devin Brown (2002-03). A two-way player with the Philadelphia 76ers, Reed (6-9, 210, DePaul) averaged 22.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.93 steals and 1.80 blocks while shooting 58.8% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range in 15 regular-season games with the Blue Coats. Among qualified players, Reed ranked third in the NBA G League in scoring and rebounding and tied for third in steals. He also recorded a league-high 12 double-doubles.
Paul Reed 2020-21 NBA G League MVP & Rookie of the Year Highlights
Check in with NBA G League Final's MVP Devin Cannady of the Lakeland Magic.
Women's National Basketball Association
The LA Sparks unveiled a new primary logo and icon, paying homage to the organization's rich 25-year history in Los Angeles as one of the three remaining, original WNBA franchises.
BASEBALL
Double-A South League
The Chattanooga Lookouts announced that they have officially accepted the Cincinnati Reds invitation to continue as the Reds' Double-A affiliate. The player development license, which begins with the 2021 season, will run through the 2030 season. The 2021 season will mark the 24th season of affiliation between the Reds and the Lookouts. The teams signed a two-year player development contract in 2018 after having spent 21-years as partners from 1988-2008.
Low-A Southeast League
The Cincinnati Reds and Daytona Tortugas announced the Tortugas 2021 coaching staff, headlined by former Major Leaguer and Olympic gold medalist Travis "Gookie" Dawkins. Gookie Dawkins is in his seventh season in the organization, his first as manager of the Daytona Tortugas. He was slated to manage Class A Dayton last year before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the season. Dawkins spent the 2019 and 2018 seasons as manager at Rookie Greeneville, piloting the team in its first 2 seasons of existence.
Appalachian League
The Princeton Baseball Association has announced their new identity, the Princeton WhistlePigs. The new identity comes as the Appalachian League converts into a collegiate wooden bat league this summer in a partnership with Major League Baseball and USA Baseball. The WhistlePigs will make their 2021 season debut at home June 3 against the Burlington Sock Puppets.
Princeton Baseball Club renamed WhistlePigs
Just seven days after the Danville Otterbots brand was announced to local, national, and worldwide fanfare, the team has announced 11-year MLB veteran Desi Relaford as the club's manager for the inaugural season of the revamped Appalachian League. Desi Relaford brings a plethora of baseball experience and knowledge from nearly every spot on the diamond to the Otterbots. In 2018, Relaford began his coaching career as the bench coach for the Daytona Tortugas, Advanced-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, where he helped guide the team to a 69-66 overall record and a Florida State League Championship Series berth.
Boyd Sports, LLC announces Steve Brice as the General Manager of the Kingsport Axmen. Steve's career began in the Appalachian League where he served as General Manager of the Burlington Royals for five seasons. He then went on to serve in various roles for the Gwinnett Braves, Cincinnati Reds, IMG Learfield at Miami University (OH) and most recently as the Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Louisville Bats.
Northwoods League
With the recent announcement that the Thunder Bay Border Cats will not participate in the 2021 season, the Northwoods League has announced that the Minnesota Mud Puppies will take their place as the visiting team in the Great Plains division for the summer. The Minnesota Mud Puppies are unique in that they will only play a 36-game road schedule, picking up the road games originally scheduled for the Thunder Bay Borders Cats. The team will be based out of the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, with all players living or staying locally with family.
Frontier League
For the first time since 2007, the Gateway Grizzlies will have a new manager on Opening Day: 2019 Frontier League Manager of the Year Cameron Roth has been named the fifth skipper in franchise history and only the third since 2003. Roth began his managerial career with the Lake Erie Crushers in 2017 and led the Northeast Ohio club to a pair of winning seasons over his three years in charge, including the 2019 Frontier League West Division championship, which the Crushers won by seven games.
LACROSSE
Premier Lacrosse League
University at Albany alumnus Lyle Thompson was picked first in the 2021 Premier Lacrosse League Entry Draft by the Cannons Lacrosse Club. In Major League Lacrosse, Thompson won the 2019 MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards, leading the Chesapeake Bayhawks to the league title. Thompson's brother Miles plays for the PLL's Chaos Lacrosse Club. Former NFL wide receiver Chris Hogan declared for Premier Lacrosse League draft was not selected.
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
Top Five Tries - Week One
LA Giltinis home opener
FOOTBALL
Fan Controlled Football
Highlights from the first-ever FCF People's Championship. The Wild Aces defeated the Glacier Boyz 46-40.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from March 30, 2021
- Riveters Free Agent Camp June 13 - Metropolitan Riveters
- Lisa Haley Appointed NWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations - PHF
- 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.
