Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
August 3, 2021 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
This past week the LA Giltinis won the Major League Rugby Shield, the NBA G League team in Birmingham announced it will be known as the Birmingham Squadron, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes become a new member of the Major League Soccer Sporting Kanas City ownership group. Highlights from this week are from Major League Rugby, American Ultimate Disc League, NBA G League, Women's National Basketball Association, Big3, Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, United Soccer League Championship, United Soccer League One, Canadian Premier League, Double-A Central League, Western Hockey League and the Premier Lacrosse League.
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
In front of 7,000 fans at the LA Memorial Coliseum, the LA Giltinis won the Major League Rugby Shield in their inaugural season with a 31-17 win over Rugby ATL. Following a tight start both of Rugby ATL and the LA Giltinis registered a penalty each, but it was after the water break that the home team took control of the game.
Here are the Highlights - 2021 Championship Final: LA vs Atlanta
Top 5 Tries Season 4
American Ultimate Disc League
Top 10 Plays from Week 8
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch is suspending operations effective immediately. The cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, necessitated by the combination of the COVID pandemic and preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, has effectively shut off all sources of league revenue and necessitated the termination of league staff and other essential services. At this point, resumption of activity is impossible to predict.
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
The New Orleans Pelicans and the NBA G League announced "Birmingham Squadron" as the official name of the club's new G League affiliate. The Squadron is set to begin play of their inaugural 2021-22 season in November and will play home games in the newly renovated Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham.
The New Orleans Pelicans and the NBA G League announced "Birmingham Squadron" as the official name of the club's new G League affiliate.
A new era of Charge basketball begins in The Land! The Cleveland Charge will bring their blend of developing premier basketball talent and providing affordable, family fun entertainment to Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center this fall. The franchise is keeping the Charge name and logo featuring the sword-wielding Cavalier and now proudly adds "Cleveland" to the logo representing the team's new home in their traditional wine & gold colors.
Jalen Green becomes the first G League Ignite player to be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft, going No. 2 to the Houston Rockets.
Jonathan Kuminga becomes the second G League Ignite player to be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft, going No. 7 to the Golden State Warriors.
Women's National Basketball Association
Relive the best moments of the first half of the 25th season of the WNBA
BIG 3
BIG3 couldn't have had a successful 2021 SuperDraft without the technology provided by Microsoft. Thank you for your partnership and hospitality.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
Sporting Kansas City announced that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes has become a new member of the Sporting Club ownership group. "I am grateful for the opportunity to join Sporting Kansas City's ownership team and strengthen my connection to the fans and the city I love," Mahomes said. "Sporting is a community-oriented club and I am excited to continue supporting the growth of soccer in Kansas City."
Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, has joined the ownership group of Sporting Kansas City.
Major League Soccer announced that the three MLS Canadian clubs will host all remaining regular season and postseason home matches in Canada. The announcement was made as the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Minister of Immigration have approved a National Interest Exemption that outlines stringent health and safety protocols allowing for all MLS players to participate in cross-border matches.
Nani scored his 8th of the season which gave Orlando a late winner against their rivals Atlanta United.
National Women's Soccer League
Making it all happen for the OL Reign in Orlando, Tziarra King's performance earns her Budweiser Player of the Week honors for Week 10.
Orlando Pride Ashlyn Harris takes home Verizon Save of the Week honors for this PK save in Week 10.
United Soccer League Championship
The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week Presented by Cleer Audio for Week 14 of the 2021 regular season, with Charleston Battery goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky voted Player of the Week after becoming the first goalkeeper in the Championship's history to record a penalty save, an assist and a shutout in the same contest against the Charlotte Independence
United Soccer League One
USL League One Goal of the Week Winner - Week 16 - Noah Fusion - Forward Madison FC
Canadian Premier League
All the best goals from the kickoff of Canadian Premier League 2021 season
BASEBALL
Double-A Central League
Another day another SportsCenter Top 10 Dominic Fletcher ROBS this homer in a win!
HOCKEY
Federal Prospects Hockey League
The Elmira Enforcers are disappointed to have to announce that the team will have to go dormant ahead of the 2021-2022 FPHL season. This decision was not an easy one, but one that comes from a complete lack of communication from the CCIDA. The CCIDA has not only declined requested meetings for the past two years, but has refused to participate in any way in discussions about keeping the arena going in downtown Elmira after CAN-USA Sports made offers both to extend the lease and/or to buy the property outright. The Enforcers players will go into a dispersal draft on loan for 2021-2022, but will be returned back to Elmira for the 2022-2023 season when the Enforcers hope to return.
Western Hockey League
NHL Draft 1-On-1: Cole Sillinger. Medicine Hat Tigers forward Cole Sillinger was selected in the first round, 12th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Draft.
United States Hockey League
Scott Langer has officially been named the new Head Coach of the Fargo Force. Along with him, Langer brings the Force's newest Assistant Coach, Michael Hill. The duo comes to Fargo from the Aberdeen Wings of the NAHL and have coached together there for the past 3 years. In their time together in Aberdeen the pair put up three winning seasons and some impressive accolades: Central Division Champions (x2), Central Division Playoff Champions (X2), Regular Season Champions, Robertson Cup Finalists, and even the biggest award in the NAHL, Robertson Cup Champions (2018-19). During the 2020-21 season Langer and Hill set the Aberdeen Wings all time win record with 51 wins and only 4 losses.
In eight of the last 13 years, the first man to raise the Stanley Cup has been a former teammate of new Waterloo Black Hawks Head Coach Matt Smaby. The Black Hawks revealed Smaby's hiring. His experience in the game as a player brought him into close contact with some of the contemporary National Hockey League's most renowned leaders, including Stanley Cup champion captains Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Steven Stamkos.
North American Hockey League
The Odessa Jackalopes are proud to announce the hiring of Scott Deur as the team's next GM of Hockey Operations and Head Coach. Deur, 32, began his coaching career in the North American Hockey League with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in 2015 as an assistant coach. For the past six years, Deur has helped oversee four Midwest Division championship teams, as well as a Robertson Cup championship team in 2016 and a NAHL league regular-season championship in 2017-18.
Aberdeen Wings head coach Scott Langer has accepted a new head coaching position with the Fargo Force, a member of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Assistant coach Michael Hill will also head to Fargo with Langer. Steve Jennings has accepted the open position in Aberdeen and will be assuming the duties of head coach effective immediately. Jennings has worked directly with Langer since the 2004-05 hockey season and has been the Wings' Director of Player Personnel since 2016.
FOOTBALL
The Montreal Alouettes mourn the passing of co-owner Sid Spiegel. He had purchased the team in January 2020, along with his son in law Gary Stern. Spiegel was the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Crawford Steel. He had investments in Quebec, including steel plants in Longueuil and Rouyn-Noranda, as well as real estate holdings.
LACROSSE
Premier Lacrosse League
Inside the 2021 PLL All-Star Game - Skills Challenge
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
Major League Rugby Stories from August 3, 2021
- 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.
