Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
December 7, 2021 - Canadian Premier League (CPL)
This past week the National Lacrosse League returned to play after the 2020-21 season was cancelled due to COVID-19, New York City FC and the Portland Timbers advanced to the MLS Cup Final, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats advanced to the 108th CFL Grey Cup, and Pacific FC was crowned Canadian Premier League champions. Highlights from this week are from the National Lacrosse League, Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, United Soccer League Championship, Canadian Premier League, Canadian Football League, American Hockey League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, NBA G League, Major League Rugby and American Ultimate Disc League.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, announced that ESPN will televise an exclusive slate of 10 regular season games on its linear networks during the 2021-22 season, beginning with the San Diego Seals vs. the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday, December 11. The schedule, which will feature every U.S.-based NLL team at least once, will include games airing on ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPNEWS. As previously announced, all NLL regular season games will be distributed on ESPN+, the largest number of live televised games in the history of the league.
This weekend, there were games in the National Lacrosse League for the first time since March 2020 and all 14 teams were in action. Last month, over eighty players met in Toronto and Vancouver for media day and a great reunion of sorts. The NLL's Devan Kaney sat down with the players to learn what they are looking forward to most in getting back to the box.
Travis Cornwall makes NLL history by recording the first franchise goal for Panther City.
2020 NLL Draft number one pick New York Riptide Jeff Teat impressive debut! 3 goals 2 assists, 8 shots
After a Joey Cupido pass, Colorado Mammoth's Zed Williams puts one on the highlight reel with a beautiful behind-the-back goal.
Opening weekend consisted of many overtime thrillers. Clutch overtime goals from Halifax Eric Fannell, Philadelphia Matt Rambo, and Rochester Thomas Hoggarth led their teams to victory.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
The ESPN FC crew previews the MLS Cup New York City FC vs. Portland Timbers, Discussing New York City FC's dilemma with who to start with first-team players returning from injury. The crew also make predictions on who they think will take home the cup.
FC Dallas named Nico Estevez the eighth full-time head coach in club history. Estevez joins FC Dallas from U.S. Soccer where he served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's National Team. The 41-year-old has more than 22 years of coaching experience that includes stints in Spain's La Liga and Major League Soccer.
Fox announced that the network's broadcast of the Portland-Colorado MLS Playoffs match on Thanksgiving drew 1.850 million viewers, the most-watched MLS match ever on Fox and the most ever for an MLS match since 2004.
National Women's Soccer League
Portland Thorns FC have named Rhian Wilkinson as the club's head coach entering the 2022 NWSL season. Wilkinson, the fourth head coach in Thorns FC history, is a former Canadian international and most recently served as an assistant coach with the England Women's National Team. Wilkinson, 39, arrives in Portland after her time as an assistant coach with the England Women's National Team.
Rhian Wilkinson first interview as Thorns head coach.
The Kansas City Current acquired U.S. Women's National Team midfielder Samantha 'Sam' Mewis in a trade with the North Carolina Courage. In exchange, North Carolina will receive defender Kiki Pickett and the Current's natural first round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. In a separate transaction related to this trade, the Courage will obtain the discovery rights of Malia Berkely from the Current in exchange for the Courage's natural first round pick in the draft.
The North Carolina Courage announced that Sean Nahas has officially been named head coach. Nahas has been with the Courage first team since 2017, working as an Assistant Coach before transitioning into an Interim Head Coach position in late September of this year. Throughout his tenure with the Courage, Nahas has helped lead the team to two NWSL Championship titles, three NWSL Shields, and an ICC Championship title.
Sean Nahas Named Head Coach of the North Carolina Courage
Angel City Football Club (ACFC) confirmed that the team obtained the playing rights for U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) star Julie Ertz and NWSL Defender of the Year nominee Sarah Gorden through a trade with the Chicago Red Stars, effective immediately. In addition, Angel City will receive an international slot from Chicago in 2022 and 2023. With these moves, the Red Stars will have full roster protection from ACFC in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft.
United Soccer League Championship
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward, Hadji Barry, was announced as the 2021 Most Valuable Player in the USL Championship league. Barry has had an incredible season with the Switchbacks, resulting in being awarded the Golden Boot Award this season as well as being named to the USL Championship's All League First Team. With 25 goals to his 2021 record, he has tied the all time league record for most goals in a single season.
2021 USL Championship Most Valuable Player Hadji Barry - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
The Oklahoma City Energy FC will be suspending their 2022 season as Taft Stadium undergoes renovation. Will resume play in 2023.
United Soccer League One
"The Charlotte Independence are excited to announce a continuation of the partnership we have had with the USL since 2015, as our men's professional team will prepare to compete in USL League One starting in 2022" said Jim McPhilliamy, CEO & Managing Partner of the Independence. The team will play its first full season in the newly renovated American Legion Memorial Stadium next season after enjoying a partial season there in 2021. The move to USL League One will allow the Independence to better serve the Charlotte soccer community.
Forward Madison FC's search for a head coach has officially concluded. FMFC is pleased to welcome Matt Glaeser to the organization as Head Coach and Technical Director. Glaeser brings years of playing and coaching experience to Madison and looks to move the Flamingos towards their first championship in USL League One. Glaeser comes to Wisconsin after spending one season as an Assistant Coach and Director of Goalkeeping for Sacramento Republic FC in the USL Championship.
Canadian Premier League
Pacific FC are Canadian Premier League champions. The Tridents, visiting Tim Hortons Field looking to knock off the defending champs in Hamilton, scraped out a gutsy 1-0 win over Forge FC to claim all the spoils in the 2021 CPL Final. Despite the lopsided possession figures, though, it would be Pacific who found the net first. Just before the hour mark, Forge's Elimane Cisse came through Gianni Dos Santos with a hard sliding challenge in the corner to earn himself a yellow card and give Pacific a dangerous set-piece from the side of the box. Dos Santos himself sent in the ball, and Alessandro Hojabrpour, running in toward the near post, headed the cross in to make it 1-0.
Here are the highlights.
FOOTBALL
Canadian Football League
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are headed back to the Grey Cup for the second straight year. Brianne Foley was live on location to catch up with blue and gold fans.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have advanced to the 108th Grey Cup here on home soil. Jason Gaidola reports.
An imposing figure and game-wrecker as a CFL football player, Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman Willie Jefferson is anything but when he gets off the field and plays the important positions of dad and husband.
National Arena League
The Jacksonville Sharks announce the signing of quarterback Malik Henry who enters his second season of arena football and first season with the Sharks. Henry (6'3, 198) last played with the Frisco Fighters of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Henry joined the team late in the season and made his pro debut against the defending IFL champion Sioux Fall Storm where he was 10 for 23 passing for over 110 yards. Henry finished his rookie season with 76 completions for 778 passing yards, 21 rushing yards, and 10 passing touchdowns.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
50th AHL GOAL for Nic Petan!
FIVE goals in the first period for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
ECHL
ECHL history will be made on Dec. 11 when the Worcester Railers host the Maine Mariners. For the first time in the 34-year history of the League, a woman will be a part of the officiating crew as Laura Schmidlein will serve as one of the linespeople in the game. Hockey has been an important piece throughout Schmidlein's life, including a four-year collegiate career at Amherst College. Following her graduation in 2019, officiating became a way for her to stay involved in the sport she loves.
Plays of the Week
Saves of the Week
North American Hockey League
Top Plays of the Week
Western Hockey League
Edmonton Oil Kings Teddy Bear Toss
Top 10 Plays of the Week
Ontario Hockey League
OHL Plays of the Week
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
2022 NHL Draft - Under the Microscope: Gantineau Olympiques forward Samuel Sovie
Plays of the Week
Premier Hockey Federation
The best players from across the Premier Hockey Federation are taking their talents to Toronto with an announcement that the 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase will be played on Saturday, January 29 at 2:00 p.m. ET at York Canlan Sports, home of the Toronto Six. This will be the sixth All-Star event in PHF history with the first five played in Buffalo (2016), Pittsburgh (2017), Minnesota (2018), Nashville (2019), and Boston (2020).
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
Scottie Lindsey Nails Game-Winning Three For Windy City Bulls
Top Dunks of the Week
BASKETBALL
Women's National Basketball Association
WNBA Draft Lottery 2022 presented by State Farm will be conducted on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. ET. ESPN will broadcast a 30-minute WNBA Draft Lottery special between games of its women's college basketball doubleheader that afternoon featuring Baylor vs. Michigan and Louisville vs. Connecticut. WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin will reveal the results of the Lottery during ESPN's coverage from Bristol, Conn. ESPN networks will present the Draft Lottery for the 10th consecutive year.
BASEBALL
Double-A Northeast League
The Reading Fightin Phils appreciate awarding of $7.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding by Governor Tom Wolf in support of the new facilities, and improvements, at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's investment of $7.5 million in the project, combined with investment of $3 million each from the R-Phils, City of Reading, and County of Berks, will allow for the planned $16.5 million project to move forward.
Major League Rugby
Austin Gilgronis top 5 moments from the 2021 season.
American Ultimate Disc League
The TOP 10 LAYOUTS from 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.
Canadian Premier League Stories from December 7, 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.
