Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
November 16, 2021 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
This past week United Soccer League Championship announced Detroit City FC will join the league next season, the Indoor Football League's Frisco Fighters named Billy Back their new head coach, and the National Women's Soccer League team in San Diego announced it will be known as the San Diego Wave Futbol Club. Highlights from this week are from the United Soccer League Championship, United Soccer League One, National Women's Soccer League, Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, United States Football League, Canadian Football League, American Hockey League, ECHL, Federal Prospects Hockey League, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, NBA G League, Women's National Basketball Association, National Basketball League of Canada, and Major League Rugby.
SOCCER
United Soccer League Championship
The United Soccer League and Detroit City FC announced the renowned, community-driven club will join the USL Championship for the 2022 season. Over the past decade, Detroit City FC has become widely recognized for its commitment to inclusivity, passionate fan base, and fantastic matchday experience at Keyworth Stadium.
Detroit City FC will join USL Championship in 2022
USL Championship Player of the Month - Kyle Murphy - Memphis 901 FC
United Soccer League One
USL League One Player of the Month - Emiliano Terzaghi - Richmond Kickers
National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League's 12th and newest franchise will be called San Diego Wave Futbol Club. Taking inspiration from the city's pristine and powerful coastline and diverse cultural heritage, San Diego Wave FC has every intention to be a bold force in today's professional sports landscape. The team will begin play at its temporary home, Torero Stadium in spring 2022. The club's crest and permanent venue will be announced at a later date.
NWSL San Diego Name Reveal - San Diego Wave FC
The Chicago Red Stars will face off against the Washington Spirit in the 2021 NWSL Championship, presented by Budweiser, set for noon ET on Saturday, November 20 at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. The match will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live on Paramount+ and internationally outside the U.S. on the NWSL's Twitch channel. Both Washington and Chicago will look to earn their first league title.
The National Women's Soccer League announced that Angel City Football Club has been found in violation of the league tampering policy regarding NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Allie Long. As a result of the league's findings, Angel City Football Club has been fined $20,000 in cash and $20,000 in 2022 unfunded allocation money.
Major League Soccer
The San Jose Earthquakes announced that the club has hired Chris Leitch as general manager, effective immediately. Leitch has held a variety of roles with the Earthquakes over the past 13 years, including player (2009-11), technical director (2012-21), interim general manager (2016), and head coach (2017).
MLS all-time goal scorer Chris Wondolowski announces his retirement from MLS.
Canadian Premier League
Canadian Premier League (CPL) Commissioner David Clanachan formally announced they have awarded a CPL expansion club to SixFive Sports & Entertainment LP (SixFive) in Vancouver, British Columbia today. The ninth Canadian Premier League club plans to join the league for the 2023 season playing out of Vancouver.
Vancouver expansion with CPL Commissioner David Clanachan
FOOTBALL
United States Football League
Mark from XFL News Hub talks with Author Paul Reeths about the history of the USFL, its downfall and if a Spring Football league could work in the US.
Canadian Football League
The Grey Cup is coming to Hamilton!
The Canadian Football League will welcome the hardest working band in Canada, Arkells, to take centre stage at the Twisted Tea Grey Cup Halftime Show. The 108th Grey Cup from Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field will air live on Sunday, December 12 on TSN and RDS â Canada's exclusive home of the CFL.
Indoor Football League
The Frisco Fighters announced earlier today the hiring of their new head coach, Billy Back. Coach Back will be bringing an impressive indoor football pedigree to the state of Texas. Sporting an impressive overall record of 112-45 in 10 seasons and a five-time indoor football champion as a head coach. Back comes to the Fighters after coaching the 2021 season up in Spokane before losing to this same Frisco Fighters team in the first round of playoffs. Back spent two seasons in Carolina where he led the expansion Carolina Cobras. The Cobras quickly became the NAL's top team as Back took them to consecutive title game appearances (2018/2019), winning the 2018 league championship.
The San Diego Strike Force announced the hiring of premiere athletic trainer, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker Todd Durkin as General Manager. Durkin, a San Diego business leader, will build the team's culture from the front office to the players and oversee football operations. He will report directly to team president, Vivi Lin.
National Arena League
The National Arena League introduced its newest expansion franchise in San Antonio, TX. The San Antonio Gunslingers will play in the upcoming 2022 National Arena League season. In the coming weeks they are expected to announce more team news including their new franchise logo, staff, and signing their first NAL players. The San Antonio Gunslingers will play all of their home games at the Freeman Coliseum just outside of downtown San Antonio, TX. The Freeman Coliseum has a seating capacity of over 9,000 for sporting events.
Capital Region business owner Mike Kwarta has assumed majority ownership of The Albany Empire. Kwarta is taking over the controlling shares from previous majority owners Ron Tridico and Nate Starling. Kwarta is also the owner of Tech East Fire & Water Restoration located in Colonie, NY.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
Incredible skill in the Hershey Bears - Syracuse Crunch shootout. The Hershey Bears skated away with a win.
ECHL
Saves of the Week
Federal Prospect Hockey League
FPHL hockey fights Binghamton and Watertown
North American Hockey League
Top Plays of the Week
Western Hockey League
Top 10 Plays of the Week
Ontario Hockey League
OHL History - Kirsten Welsh Regular Season Referee Debut and Interview
The Erie Otters Head Coach Chris Hartsburg has been relieved of his coaching duties, effective immediately. The team and General Manager Dave Brown announces today that long-time Associate/Assistant Coach B.J. Adams has been named as the ninth Head Coach in Erie Otters history. Adams, a native of Scarborough, Ontario has been part of the Otters' coaching staff since the 2015-16 season.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Plays of the Week
Saves of the Week
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
Top Plays of the Week
Top Dunks of the Week
Women's National Basketball Association
Check out the biggest blocks of the 2021 season!
Watch the best clutch plays of the 2021 season.
National Basketball League of Canada
"We're Back." It's official, after a near two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, Canada's longest standing professional basketball league is back. Season 10 is on the way, stay tuned.
BIG3
Trilogy Isaiah Briscoe was named 4th Man of the Year. Isaiah Briscoe burst into the BIG3 this season as the youngest player in the league and quickly made his presence felt. Briscoe played a major role off the bench in Trilogy winning the championship this season. He averaged 12.8 points per game with only one start in week five where he had 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists. While his stats don't jump off the page, Briscoe had a strong impact for Trilogy this season on both offense and defense.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, announced a partnership with the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League of the Ontario Lacrosse Association, focusing on game-related matters, from coaching and officiating development to marketing and sponsorship initiatives. The OJLL has perennially provided top level talent to the NLL and 2021 was no exception- 48% of all selections in the 2021 NLL Entry Draft were developed in the OJLL, including 12 first-round picks.
BASEBALL
Triple-A East League
The accolades continue to roll in for the Durham Bulls, who were named the 'Best Team' of the 2021 season, as announced by MiLB.com. The 2021 Bulls squad posted an 86-44 record, earning their third Triple-A National Championship. Durham also won the Triple-A Final Stretch Tournament with a 9-1 record over their final ten games, in addition to posting a .662 win percentage, the best mark over the course of a full season in franchise history. The team's 263 run differential also tied for the highest among all minor league teams with their fellow Tampa Bay Rays affiliate, the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs.
Atlantic League
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) announced it has added a 10th team for 2022. Referred to as the Kentucky team (KY), the club will be listed on the league's official 24th Championship Series Season. The club is owned by Lexington-based Stands LLC, which plans to announce a team name shortly. The club will play a full Atlantic League schedule while co-occupying the home of the defending ALPB Champion Lexington Legends. The two clubs will also play each other in select matchups.
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
Entering its fifth season, Major League Rugby (MLR) has announced that its 2022 season will begin with matches on February 5, 2022. The regular season will include 18 weeks of action, with two bye weeks for each team. The 13 teams, with the addition of the Dallas Jackals, will be competing within and across two conferences: the Eastern Conference (Old Glory DC, New England Free Jacks, NOLA Gold, Rugby ATL, Rugby United New York, Toronto Arrows) and the Western Conference (Austin Gilgronis, Dallas Jackals, Houston SaberCats, LA Giltinis, Seattle Seawolves, San Diego Legion, Utah Warriors).
The Toronto Arrows top 5 moments from the 2021 season.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
• Discuss this story on the Indoor Football League message board...
Indoor Football League Stories from November 16, 2021
- Storm Return Key Receiver - Sioux Falls Storm
- Tucson Gains Three Receivers for the 2022 Season - Tucson Sugar Skulls
- 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.
