Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
Published on June 15, 2021 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
This past week the National Women's Soccer league announced San Diego will join the league next season, the NBA G League Canton Charge disclosed it will relocate to Cleveland this season, and the ECHL Trois-Rivieres (Quebec) team announced it will be called the Trois-Rivieres Lions. Highlights from this week are from the National Women's Soccer League, Major League Soccer, United Soccer League Championship, USL W League, United Soccer League One, NBA G League, BIG3, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Triple-A East, Premier Lacrosse, League, National Lacrosse League, United States Football League, Canadian Football League, The Spring League, Major League Rugby and American Ultimate Disc League.
SOCCER
National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced that San Diego will be home to an NWSL expansion team, set to begin play in Spring 2022. Jill Ellis, the only two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winning manager and a former FIFA World Women's Coach of the Year recipient, will serve as President of the San Diego NWSL team, which is owned by investor Ron Burkle. Burkle has tapped longtime friend and business associate Matt Alvarez to lead the project on his behalf. The club's name, crest, head coach and venue partner will be announced at a later date.
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced today that San Diego will be home to an NWSL expansion team, set to begin to play in Spring 2022. Jill Ellis, the only two-time FIFA Women's World Cup-winning manager and a former FIFA World Women's Coach of the Year recipient, will serve as President of the San Diego NWSL team, which is owned by investor Ron Burkle. Burkle has tapped longtime friend and business associate Matt Alvarez to lead the project on his behalf.
Commentator called it. Orlando Pride Ashlyn Harris takes home the Verizon Save of the Week for Week 4.
Major League Soccer
After a year of building anticipation, Major League Soccer announced that the 2021 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target will see the MLS All-Stars face off against the LIGA MX All-Stars on Wednesday, August 25, at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. For the first time ever, two rival leagues will go head-to-head in an unprecedented matchup that will be the showpiece event of the summer, as the entire soccer community unites to celebrate the sport and soccer culture in North America.
USL W League
Since the club's formation in 2015, South Georgia Tormenta FC has broken barriers, taken its communities to new heights and shined a spotlight on the growth of soccer in South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and today, Tormenta FC is excited to make history once again by announcing the formation of a new women's team, which will compete in the United Soccer League's new women's competition, the USL W League, beginning in 2022.
United Soccer League Championship
USL Championship Goal of the Week - Conor McGlynn Hartford Athletic
USL Championship Save of the Week - Matt Vanoekel - Birmingham Legion
United Soccer League One
USL League One Goal of the Week - Edison Azcona - Fort Lauderdale CF
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
The Charge NBA G League franchise announced that the team will not extend their expired lease at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The Charge will begin playing home games in downtown Cleveland at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center starting with the 2021-22 NBA G League season, which is expected to begin in early November. The move to the Wolstein Center concludes a 10-year, nine-season stay at the Civic Center in Canton, which served as the first home venue for the team after the franchise was acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, relocated from New Mexico and began play in Canton as the Charge in 2011.
Jaden Hardy, the nation's top guard among high school prospects, has signed with NBA G League Ignite, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced. The five-star recruit is the No. 2 player in the Class of 2021, according to ESPN. In the 2019-20 season, Hardy averaged 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists as a junior at Coronado High School in Henderson, Nev., earning the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year and the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Boys Athlete of the Year awards. Hardy was unable to play a normal season as a senior due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he was still named a 2021 McDonald's High School All-American and selected to the 2021 USA Nike Hoops Summit Team.
Isaiah Todd wants to be one of the greatest to ever play. He's ready for the challenge. Hear more about Todd's mindset going into the NBA Draft next month.
Jonathan Kuminga has big goals in mind. one is getting to the Hall of Fame. Hear more about Kuminga's mindset going into the NBA Draft next month
BIG3
BIG3 changes the game again with incentives to win by taking their playoffs to the sandy beaches of the Bahamas. The games will take place at the Atlantis on Paradise Island on August 28th and September 4th.
Charles Oakley shares his excitement for BIG3's return as he explains why Killer 3s decided to keep the same team and bring all five back from 2019. What does this mean for another Championships run?
Canadian Elite Basketball League
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) confirmed its 2021 regular season will tip off June 24 as the league had previously announced April 21. In preparing for the season, the CEBL developed a comprehensive return to play plan that prioritizes the safety of athletes, officials and staff. Approvals of the plan from public health and government stakeholders in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan have now been received, ensuring that the season will begin as scheduled.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
American Hockey League President and CEO Scott Howson announced that the league's Board of Governors has approved a schedule unification plan that will see all teams play a 72-game regular-season schedule beginning in 2022-23. As part of the plan, for the 2021-22 season, teams in the Atlantic, North and Central Divisions have the option of playing either 76 or 72 games, while teams in the Pacific Division will play 68 games. Additionally, there will be an increase in the number of teams qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs each year; details will be finalized and announced later in the offseason.
ECHL
Deacon Sports & Entertainment is proud to officially unveil the name and logo of its ECHL team affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens: the Trois-Rivières Lions. The team will play in the NouveauColisée de Trois-Rivières starting in the 2021-2022 season. The name of the team refers to the sporting history of the city: the Lions are the only professional hockey team to have represented the city of Trois-Rivières in the late 50's.
The expansion club unveiled its nickname and logo paying homage to the city's roots with a fleur-de-lis inspired mark, and a nod to the former Lions franchise that represented Trifluvians from 1955 to 1959.
ECHL Plays of the Week
ECHL Saves of the Week
The ECHL announced that Anthony Beauregard of the Wichita Thunder has been selected as the Warrior Hockey ECHL Most Valuable Player for 2020-21. Named to the All-ECHL First Team last week, Beauregard led the ECHL with 49 assists, ranked second with 71 points and was tied for third with a +27 rating while he was tied for eighth with five game-winning goals. Beauregard appeared in 62 of Wichita's 71 games in the regular season with the Thunder posting a 37-17-8 record with him in the line-up and going 4-5-0 in the nine games he missed.
The Wichita Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers, AHL's Bakersfield Condors are excited to announce that Head Coach Bruce Ramsay has been chosen as the 2020-21 recipient of the John Brophy Award as the league's Coach of the Year. Ramsay led Wichita to a 41-22-8 record and a second-place finish in the Western Conference during the regular season. It marked Wichita's first 40-plus win season since 2011-12 in the Central Hockey League. The Thunder went 22-10-4 on the road, which is a new franchise high for road wins in a single season and led the ECHL in road victories.
North American Hockey League
NAHL Plays of the Week
Jake Sibell of the Aberdeen Wings has been named the 2020-21 NAHL Most Valuable Player and Goaltender of the Year
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League (USHL) announced Bill Robertson as its 10th President and Commissioner. Robertson joins the USHL after seven seasons as the President and Men's League Commissioner of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).
Chicago Steel forward Sean Farrell was named 2021 USHL Player of the Year. Farrell, selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round (#124 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, became just the second player in USHL history to eclipse the 100-point mark in a single season with 101 points (29G, 72A) in 53 games played during the 2020-2021 campaign.
The United States Hockey League (USHL) announced the USHL Board of Directors has formally approved the sale of the Lincoln Stars to Alberto Fernandez. Fernandez, a 35-year transportation technology industry executive, has owned and operated ice hockey businesses for more than a decade, including most recently serving as owner of the North Iowa Bulls (North American Hockey League - NAHL) and Mason City Toros (North American 3 Hockey League).
Western Hockey League
Brent Sutter, President and General Manager of the Red Deer Rebels, is proud to announce that Steve Konowalchuk has been named the 6th Head Coach in team history. Konowalchuk joins the Rebels from the New York Rangers, where he is currently a Pro Scout. Prior to the Rangers, he served as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche (2009-11), and Anaheim Ducks (2017-18). From 2011 to 2017, he lead the Seattle Thunderbirds as their head coach, including back to back WHL Finals appearances in 2016 and 2017, culminating in a WHL Championship in his final season.
National Women's Hockey League
The Toronto Six have announced that Mark Joslin has been appointed head coach ahead of the club's 2021-22 campaign. When the 57-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ontario steps behind the bench in Season 7 he will officially become the first Black head coach in National Women's Hockey League history. Joslin has been involved at elite levels of the game for over 20 years and most recently spent four seasons with the Toronto Patriots of the Ontario Junior Hockey League from 2016-20. His tenure with the club began as general manager where he earned OJHL Executive of the Year honors in 2018, then added head coach to his title for two seasons prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BASEBALL
Triple-A East
Did Royals' Gabe Speier just make the play of the year for Omaha Storm Chasers??
LACROSSE
Premier Lacrosse League
PLL TOP 10! The Best of Boston - Week 1
National Lacrosse League
Don't miss John Grant Jr.'s first reaction to learning he has been elected to the Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
FOOTBALL
United States Football League
Rob Parker & Ryan Hollins (in for Chris Broussard) react to the pending return of the USFL in Spring of 2022. Will football fans embrace more football in the NFL's offseason?
Canadian Football League
CFL.ca's Marshall Ferguson takes a look at the Saskatchewan Roughriders heading into the 2021 season, and likes what he sees. Despite some losses in the trenches, Marsh predicts offensive growth for the squad under QB Cody Fajardo and new OC Jason Maas.
CFL.ca's Marshall Ferguson looks at a completely overhauled Toronto Argonauts team looking to rebound in 2021 with a new GM, new coach, new quarterback and new additions throughout the roster.
The Spring League
Check out ALL THE ANGLES of Lucky Jackson's walk-off Hail Mary grab to give the Blues a win over the Jousters in Week 5
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
Top 5 Tries - Round 12
Biggest Hits - Week 12
American Ultimate Disc League
The Top 10 plays from the opening weekend of the 2021 AUDL season!
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from June 15, 2021
- OL Reign Sign Jimena López Through 2023 Season - Seattle Reign FC
- 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.
