Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
July 26, 2022 - Professional Box Lacrosse Association (PBLA)
This past week the XFL unveiled its eight team markets and venues for the 2023 season, the Professional Box Lacrosse Association was formed and announced it will begin its season in December, and World TeamTennis revealed it will not play this season but will return to home markets in 2023. Highlights from this week come from the XFL, Canadian Football League, United States Football League, Professional Box Lacrosse Association, Premier Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League, Major League Rugby, American Ultimate Disc League, Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, United Soccer League Championship, Women's National Basketball Association, NBA G League, BIG3, Federal Prospect Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, United States Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and 3ICE.
FOOTBALL
XFL
The XFL is excited to announce the cities and venues that its teams will call home, starting with the upcoming season which will kick off on February 18, 2023. The announcement was made this evening by Dany Garcia, Chairwoman and Owner, and Dwayne Johnson, Owner, at an XFL Townhall event hosted at Texas Live! in Arlington, TX and streamed live on the XFL's YouTube page. The XFL's cities and venues, as well as its Head Coach pairings, are as follows: Head Coach - Arlington, TX (Choctaw Stadium) Bob Stoops - Houston, TX (TDECU Stadium) Wade Phillips - Orlando, FL (Camping World Stadium) - Terrell Buckley - Las Vegas, NV (to be announced) Rod Woodson, San Antonio, TX (The Alamodome) Hines Ward - Seattle, WA (Lumen Field) Jim Haslett - St. Louis, MO (The Dome) Anthony Becht - Washington D.C. (Audi Field) Reggie Barlow.
XFL - A League of Eight Cities
XFL says St. Louis will have team in 2023 relaunch
Professional football is returning to San Antonio, but along with it, doubts about whether this will league will lead to another failed football franchise in the Alamo City.
The XFL announced it has selected the City of Arlington, Texas as its new football operations Hub, signing a three-year agreement that will provide a centralized performance facility and multiple practice venues for preseason and in-week training for the League's eight teams. This hybrid Hub model provides players access to full-time, on-site support from coaches and athletic training staff, while still developing team affinity and community relations within their local markets. The Hub will also serve as a content creation center, giving the league, its teams and its players an opportunity to build personal brands and engage with fans through social media, in-person events and other media platforms, tapping into the worldwide expertise and reach of XFL Owners, Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and RedBird Capital Partners.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Dany Gracia give a speech on why they brought back the XFL during the 2022 ESPYs.
Canadian Football League
The BC Lions Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Lions player and long-time CFL fixture Doug Mitchell. The club has issued the following statement:
Yesterday, we lost a long- serving member of the Canadian Football League. Doug Mitchell played for the BC Lions in 1960 and would later serve as CFL Commissioner from 1984 to 1988. Doug served as Alternate Governor and member of the Executive Committee of the Calgary Stampeders Football Club and was recently inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a builder.
CFL Plays of the Week
United States Football League
Top 10 USFL offensive plays of the season
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League is pleased to announce the 2022 Inductees into the IFL Hall of Fame. The 2022 Hall of Fame class will feature Nate Fluit, Carl Sims, and Charlie Bosselman. "It's an honor to be able to recognize and honor these three as difference makers for our great league," said Commissioner Todd Tryon. " Even though they came through at different times and played different roles, they all three had a direct impact on what the IFL is today. ¬Â The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Night of Champions on August 12, the night before our inaugural Dollar Loan Center IFL National Championship in Las Vegas, NV.
Champions Indoor Football
LACROSSE
Professional Box Lacrosse Association
The Professional Box Lacrosse Association (PBLA) announced the first season of a new, professional, American box lacrosse league. On July 19, the PBLA will be rolling out the cities and communities that will have a team to cheer for when the season begins this December. The launch of the league occurs just as lacrosse was officially labeled "the fastest growing sport in America" in a study conducted by the NCAA.
The Professional Box Lacrosse Association (PBLA) have announced the seven initial markets who will host teams for their inaugural lacrosse season, beginning December 2022. Binghamton, New York, Charlotte, North Carolina, Elmira, New York, Hampton Roads (Virginia), New England (Manchester, Springfield), Syracuse, New York. Trenton, New Jersey. The PBLA is weighing additional markets and will make further announcements as new communities and teams are brought onboard.
Mammoth Sports and Entertainment announces a Professional Box Lacrosse Association team coming to Elmira.
Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) powered by Ticketmaster has announced the completion of a Series D round of funding. The financing was led by return investor The Chernin Group (TCG), with continued participation from Blue Pool Capital and Brett Jefferson Holdings. New investors include World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Thirty Five Ventures, led by two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant and entrepreneur Rich Kleinman, Wheelhouse Entertainment and Pomp Investments.
PLL TOP 10 ALL STAR GAME PLAYS
National Lacrosse League
In part two of this three-part series, we go behind the scenes of the dramatic comeback in Game 2 of the NLL Finals
OTHER SPORTS
World TeamTennis
World TeamTennis, the nation's only professional, mixed-gender team tennis league, has announced that it is accepting expansion proposals from prospective ownership groups and markets that are interested in acquiring a WTT franchise. WTT, which played in single locations during the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is also planning to return match play to venues hosted by the individual teams' markets in the summer of 2023.
Major League Rugby
The Utah Warriors have hired Greg Cooper to be the franchise's newest Head Coach, the team announced. Cooper becomes the fourth Head Coach in franchise history. Cooper becomes the most experienced Head Coach in Major League Rugby. He joins the Utah Warriors from the Mitsubishi DynaBoars in Japan, who he helped elevate to Japan Rugby League One for the first time in 12 years. Prior to coaching in Japan, Cooper helped lead Stade Francais to a European Challenge Cup Championship - the first European trophy in Stade Francais history - as an assistant coach before being promoted to Head Coach in 2017. Additionally, Cooper has served as Head Coach to the New Zealand U21 team and Head Coach for the Highlanders of Super Rugby and Otago Rugby Union.
Introducing Coach Coops!
The Dallas Jackals have named Santiago "Santi" Sodini as the team's General Manager. From Rosario, Argentina, Santi comes with a long history in rugby as a player, coach, and administrator. He has played and coached professionally around the world including in Australia, Italy, and England. Santi comes to Dallas with previous MLR experience having been Director of Operations for Rugby ATL in 2021 when the side were MLR runner-ups. With Rugby ATL, Santi aided in creating a successful pathway for players and coaches to the USA Eagles.
American Ultimate Disc League
The Top 10 plays from Week 12 of the 2022 AUDL regular season!
Ross Barker makes the incredible possession-saving throw from out of bounds to setup the Chicago Union score!
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
An emotional night at Yankee Stadium as fans gives Valentín "Taty" Castellanos a standing ovation after potentially his final curtain call.
In his debut at BMO Field, Federico Bernardeschi opened his MLS score sheet after an assist to Michael Bradley.
National Women's Soccer League
San Diego Wave Fútbol Club has announced the signing of 17-year-old midfielder and U.S Youth National Team star, Jaedyn Shaw, through 2023 with no option year. Shaw, who will turn 18 in November 2022, had the strong desire to turn professional as soon as possible and forgo her NCAA eligibility. Due to her unique circumstances, the NWSL opened the Discovery Process for Shaw rather than require her to wait until the 2023 Draft.
Budweiser Player of the Week - Ebony Salmon, Houston Dash - Week 11
Adrianna Franch (KC Current) is the Verizon Save of the Week Winner for Week 11
10th Anniversary Best Goals: Sam Kerr
United Soccer League Championship
The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 19 of the 2022 regular seasonwith Las Vegas Lights FC goalkeeper Abraham Romero voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording an eight-save shutout in his side's 1-0 victory on the road against Rio Grande Valley FC on Sunday night.
BASKETBALL
Women's National Basketball Association
Diana Taurasi had 28 PTS, 7 REB & 7 AST for the Phoenix Mercury in their win over Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm. This was the Taurasi's 500th WNBA game and the last regular season matchup between Taurasi and Bird.
NBA G League
Jonathan Kuminga & Moses Moody's Top Plays of the Season
Chris Clemons' Crazy Top Plays of the Season
BIG3
TJ Cline pulls out the NASTY moves in this 1v1 Bring the Fire
FLIGHT of the Killer 3
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League released the complete schedule of games for the 2022-23 regular season, the league's 87th year of operation. The season, with an all-time high of 32 teams playing 72 games apiece - a total of 1,152 games - begins on Friday, October 14 and concludes on Sunday, April 16.
Tucson Roadrunners Head Coach Jay Varady has been named Assistant Coach for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. In three seasons as Roadrunners Head Coach, Varady led the Coyotes AHL affiliate to a record of 93-84-17. The Roadrunners were Pacific Division Champions in 2019-2020 under Varady in a season where he also served as Head Coach of the Pacific Division All-Stars at the AHL All-Star Classic.
The Grand Rapids Griffins and the Detroit Red Wings announced a five-year extension of their affiliation agreement, ensuring that one of the most fruitful and passion-inducing partnerships in hockey will continue through at least the 2026-27 season. This 20-year-old affiliation has seen the Griffins win the American Hockey League's Calder Cup on two occasions (2013 and 2017), making Grand Rapids one of three active AHL franchises to ever claim two cups within a span of five seasons.
The Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Hershey Bears, have hired Scott Allen as an assistant coach. The announcement was made by Washington senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan. Allen, 56, departs Hershey after spending three seasons with the club, including serving as head coach in 2021-22. He worked as an assistant coach from 2019-2021, and was named the 27th head coach in franchise history on Aug. 5, 2021, guiding Hershey to a 34-32-6-4 record last season, clinching a Calder Cup Playoff berth.
Federal Prospect Hockey League
The Binghamton Black Bears announced that the club has named Gary Gill as the new head coach for the 2022-23 season. Gill, a native of Montreal, QC, joins the Black Bears after being the head coach and general manager of the Vermont Lumberjacks in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). Gill also served as an assistant coach for the Federal Prospects Hockey League's Columbus River Dragons during the 2019-20 campaign.
Meet the new head coach of the Binghamton Black Bears, Gary Gill!
Western Hockey League
The Edmonton Oil Kings announced that Head Coach Brad Lauer has accepted an Assistant Coach position with the NHL's Winnipeg Jets. "The Edmonton Oil Kings organization is extremely proud of Brad and his new coaching opportunity with the Winnipeg Jets," said Oil Kings President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kirt Hill. "Brad has done a tremendous job developing our players both on and off the ice for the next steps in their hockey careers.
Hear from Seattle Thunderbirds forward Reid Schaefer after he was selected 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Hear from Moose Jaw Warriors forward Jagger Firkus after he was selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Seattle Kraken.
Ontario Hockey League
Mississauga Steelheads forward Luca Del Bel Belluz met with the media after being selected 44th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Saginaw Spirit forward Matyas Sapovaliv met with the media after being selected 48th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Erie Otters defenceman Christian Kyrou met with the media after being selected 50th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2022 NHL Draft.
United States Hockey League
Ryan Healey was selected 121st overall by the Minnesota Wild. Our very own Chistiano Simonetta has you covered with the interview from Montreal.
Cameron Whitehead was selected 128th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights. Our very own Chistiano Simonetta has you covered with the interview from Montreal.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Cape Breton Eagles are excited to the announce Jon Goyens as the new Head Coach of the hockey club. Goyens was Head Coach of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar during the 2019-20 season, following a lengthy successful tenure with Lac St-Louis in the Quebec M18 league. In total Goyens has 28 years of coaching experience, holding various coaching roles within hockey operations.
2022 NHL Post-Draft Interviews - Jordan Dumais
2022 NHL Post-Draft Interviews - Jeremy Langlois
3ICE
3ICE in 3 Minutes: Week 5
3ICE Inside The Glass: The Players
BASEBALL
Top 10 Plays of the Week
Local artists make a career of designing minor league baseball logos
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
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Professional Box Lacrosse Association Stories from July 26, 2022
- 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.
