Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
November 30, 2021 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
This past week Orange County SC won its first United Soccer League Championship, the Orange County Breakers won its third World TeamTennis title, New England Revolution coach Bruce Arena won the Major League Soccer Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year award for a record fourth time, and Tri-State's Julius Erving was named Big3 Coach of the Year. Highlights from this week are from the United Soccer League Championship, Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, World TeamTennis, Major League Rugby, American Hockey League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Canadian Football League, United States Football League, NBA G League, Canadian Elite Basketball League, and Double-A Northeast League.
SOCCER
United Soccer League Championship
Ronaldo Damus scored a pair of first-half goals after a key early penalty kick save by goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky as Orange County SC earned its first USL Championship title with a 3-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2021 USL Championship Final on before a sellout crowd of 7,521 fans at Al Lang Stadium. The victory was the second consecutive win earned by a road team in the USL Championship Final after Real Monarchs SLC's victory in 2019 against Louisville City FC.
Here are the highlights!
The Miami FC is pleased to announce that the club has hired Anthony Pulis as head coach ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season. The Bristol, England native takes the helm after spending the last two seasons as First Team Assistant Coach at Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF. Pulis originally joined Inter Miami ahead of the club's inaugural 2020 season under head coach Diego Alonso, helping the club reach the MLS Playoffs in their first season. Pulis holds both a U.S. Soccer Pro License and a UEFA Pro License.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer announced New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena as the 2021 MLS Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year. The coaching icon led the Revolution to a record-breaking campaign that surpassed the single season points record and won Supporters' Shield to secure the top seed in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, with homefield advantage and a Round One bye. Arena makes history, earning MLS Coach of the Year for a record fourth time in his MLS coaching career to become only the second individual in league history to win the award with three different MLS clubs (New England Revolution, 2021; LA Galaxy, 2011, 2009; D.C. United, 1997).
Nashville SC soccer stadium nearing completion. Fans are getting excited to see a plan over two years in the making come together.
Toronto FC announced the hiring of Bob Bradley as the club's head coach and sporting director. Bradley, 63, a three-time MLS Coach of the Year, becomes the 12th head coach in TFC history. Bradley brings over 20 years of head coaching experience to Toronto. In addition to his work as a club coach, Bradley has coached both the United States and Egyptian national teams. Canada will mark the sixth country where Bradley has served in a head coaching role.
A new era for Toronto FC begins with Bob Bradley
Chicago Fire FC announced that the Club has named Ezra Hendrickson the 10th full-time head coach in team history. With more than 25 years of domestic experience, Hendrickson joins the Fire with a proven track record of success in MLS, winning 15 major trophies as a coach and a player. A native of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Hendrickson, 49, comes to Chicago after spending the past 13 seasons coaching domestically and internationally.
The right guy for the job. Get to know more about our new coach.
National Women's Soccer League
The North Carolina Courage have traded Abby Dahlkemper to San Diego Wave FC in exchange for $190,000 in allocation money and San Diego's natural first round draft pick in 2023. In August, North Carolina traded Dahlkemper to the Houston Dash for the remainder of the 2021 season for $25,000 in allocation money as the first part of the three-way trade.
San Diego Wave FC Welcomes Abby Dahlkemper
OTHER SPORTS
World TeamTennis
The Orange County Breakers claimed their third World TeamTennis title in franchise victory with a 21-13 win over the Springfield Lasers in the 2021 WTT Finals Presented by Guaranteed Rate at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Orange County coach Rick Leach won his second title as coach of the Breakers and is one of four coaches in league history to win a title as a coach and a player, claiming the title as a player in 1996 with the St. Louis Aces.
Orange County Breakers are the WTT 2021 Champions! Defeating the Springfield Lasers 21-13.
Major League Rugby
Rugby United New York top 5 moments from the 2021 season.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
Ostap Safin's 2021 Teddy Bar Toss goal for the Bakersfield Condors.
ECHL
The. Jacksonville Icemen scored, and the teddy bears went flying!!
Plays of the Week
Saves of the Week
North American Hockey League
Top Plays of the Week
Western Hockey League
Top 10 Plays of the Week
Ontario Hockey League
OHL Plays of the Week
OHL Saves of the Week
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Plays of the Week
Saves of the Week
FOOTBALL
Canadian Football League
Regina's own Dan Clark opens up about his life away from football, where he prioritizes his young family and spends much of his time giving back to the community in his home province.
Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence has been known to make some big plays in his career. Hear him break down an interception from this season against Calgary that he took to the house to help seal the win.
United States Football League
The United States Football League revealed the new league's city affiliations, team nicknames and logos for all eight franchises. Owned by the FOX television network, the league is taking on the identity of the original USFL which competed directly with the NFL from 1983 to 1985. The new league is not expected to compete with the NFL for players. In the North, the USFL will feature the New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars, Pittsburgh Maulers and Michigan Panthers. The Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers and Tampa Bay Bandits will make up the South Division. Here is a look at the alternative football history for those eight franchises.
USFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston on USFL announcement and future of football in San Antonio
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
Top Plays of the Week
BIG3
Tri-State Julius "Dr. J." Erving was named Big3 Head Coach of the Year. The 11 time NBA All Star, three time champion, and four time MVP between the ABA and NBA pushed Tri-State to the top of the standings at the end of the regular season. Even though the season didn't end in a championship, Erving had Tri-State playing their best ball at the right time of the season.
Canadian Elite Basketball League
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), in partnership with Deacon Sports and Entertainment (DSE), announced that it is expanding to St. John's, Newfoundland starting with the 2022 season. The addition of the Newfoundland Growlers Professional Basketball Club completes the third round of expansion since Canada's only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball began play with six member clubs in 2019. It makes the CEBL the largest pro sports league in Canada with 10 teams in six provinces ranging from Newfoundland to British Columbia.
Deacon Sports and Entertainment announce they are bringing a new franchise in the Canadian Elite Basketball League to Newfoundland. They are staying on brand with the Growlers name to match this Growlers ECHL Hockey team. The team will be playing out of the Field House under a three year agreement with Memorial university. Details on out Website.
BASEBALL
Double-A Northeast League
Mayor Richard C. David and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies announced a 23-year lease extension at Mirabito Stadium early Thursday morning. As part of the agreement, $3.1M has been allocated to bring the facility into compliance with MLB's new Facility Standards. The New York Mets Double-A team, which has been playing in downtown Binghamton since 1992, will now be able to call Mirabito Stadium home through 2045. Additionally, New York-based Southpaw Resources LLC, led by David Sobotka, will assume ownership of the Rumble Ponies from John Hughes, Jr. of Evans Street Baseball.
Rumble Ponies Gets New Owner, Signs Extension
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
Canadian Football League Stories from November 30, 2021
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- 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.
