Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
December 6, 2022 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
This past week Rhian Wilkinson, head coach of the National Women's Soccer League's Portland Thorns, resigned; the Canadian Football League's Ottawa RedBlacks named Bob Dyce their new head coach; the Pro Volleyball Federation launched intending to begin play in February 2024; and the National Lacrosse League started its season. Highlights from this week come from National Women's Soccer League, Canadian Premier League, Canadian Football League, United States Football League, Pro Volleyball Federation, National Lacrosse League, American Hockey League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and NBA G League.
SOCCER
National Women's Soccer League
Portland Thorns FC announced that head coach Rhian Wilkinson has notified the club that she will resign this month. Late in the season, Wilkinson followed internal processes by self-reporting a matter to Club leadership, who then elevated it to the NWSL. A joint investigation was then conducted in partnership with the NWSLPA. The investigation concluded following the end of the 2022 season, at which point Wilkinson was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Rhian Wilkinson announced she's resigning. An investigation cleared Wilkinson of any wrongdoing.
Merritt Paulson to sell the Portland Thorns FC. Paulson says he feels the Thorns need a fresh voice to lead the team into the future.
Canadian Premier League
The Halifax Wanderers named Canadian Patrice Gheisar as the club's new head coach. "I was ecstatic when I got the news; words can't express it. I am just looking forward to getting started," Gheisar said. "Halifax fits all the things I wanted, I loved the city when I came here, and it has the best fans in the league; it's the opportunity of a lifetime."Gheisar joins the Wanderers after a storied career at Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario. In 2022 he was named the league's coach of the year after leading his team to an undefeated season and league championship.
As voted by the fans, Ballou Tabla of Atletico Ottawa wins the 2022 Goal of the Year award.
As voted by the fans, Nathan Ingham of Atletico Ottawa wins the 2022 Save of the Year.
FOOTBALL
Canadian Football League
With two Grey Cup appearances and a championship under his belt in the nation's capital, Bob Dyce was officially named the third Head Coach in Ottawa REDBLACKS franchise history. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the 56-year-old Dyce has served as the REDBLACKS' special teams coordinator since 2016, before being named interim head coach in the midst of the 2022 season. In six seasons at the helm of one of the league's top special teams units, Dyce was a key piece of a REDBLACKS coaching staff that won the Grey Cup in 2016, before once again making it to the big game in 2018.
Since 2016, Bob Dyce's special teams have been among the best in the CFL. Now, he's going to get an opportunity to help the Redblacks become one of the CFL's best teams ... again as their head coach.
The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced, that they have hired former Grey Cup champion Khari Jones as Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach for the 2023 Canadian Football League season. Hailing from Hammond, Indiana, Jones spent the bulk of the 2022 CFL season as a Football Operations Consultant with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, following three years as Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator of the Montreal Alouettes. The 51-year-old guided the Als to the playoffs in both 2019, and 2021.
The Toronto Argonauts are the 109th Grey Cup champions thanks to a closely-contested victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium. Re-live all of the key moments from the CFL's championship game with our Grey Cup 109 game reel.
United States Football League
WGNO Exclusive: Interview with new New Orleans Breakers head coach John DeFilippo
National Arena League
The Albany Empire announced that the team has re-signed 2022 team captain and Quarterback, Sam Castronova, for the 2023 National Arena League season. Castronova was a new face in Albany last season but after taking over the starting Quarterback position in week two, he put together a resume in 2022 that has made him a fan favorite in the Capital Region. Castronova had an impressive 2022 season while not only helping to lead the Empire to Back-to-Back National Arena League titles.
OTHER SPORTS
Pro Volleyball Federation
A historic day for women's professional sports in North America has arrived with the launch of Pro Volleyball Federation. The indoor volleyball league will take the court in February 2024, providing a new professional horizon for volleyball players throughout North America. Eight to 10 initial teams will debut in volleyball hotbeds throughout the nation in 2024, with additional markets added in subsequent years. Pro Volleyball Federation, which has already identified ownership groups in five markets, will begin announcing markets and ownership groups in December. The regular season will consist of 16 matches during the inaugural campaign. Rosters will include 14 players and the league expects to have a minimum of three National Game of the Week windows on major broadcast networks and a worldwide streaming partner.
DP Fox Sports Launches Women's Pro Volleyball Team in Grand Rapids, MI. The pro volleyball team will play at Van Andel Arena as a member of the newly formed Pro Volleyball Federation beginning in February 2024.
American Ultimate Disc League
The AUDL is proud announce that TCO Stadium in Eagan, MN will be the host site for 2023 AUDL Championship Weekend on August 25-26, 2023. Similar to the past two league championship events, both semifinal games will be played on Friday, August 25, with the winners of each matchup advancing to the 2023 AUDL Championship Game on Saturday, August 26. The New York Empire won this year's title 22-14 over the Chicago Union in Madison, WI to complete their second undefeated season in their last three campaigns. The 7,500-seat TCO stadium opened in 2018 and is part of Viking Lakes, a multi-use development that is home to the Minnesota Vikings Football Club and the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League the world's largest and most successful professional lacrosse league, announced its eight-team playoff format for the 2022-23 season. The format will again feature the top four teams from the East Conference and top three from the West Conference, plus a "wild card" entry with the best record between the fourth-place team in the West standings and the fifth-place finisher in the East. This "wild card" will play in the West Conference side of the bracket as the fourth seed.
Robert Church had a dominant performance with 4 goals and 6 assists in Saskatchewan Rush win against the Colorado Mammoth.
Curtis Dickson scored five goals and three assists to lead the San Diego Seals in his first game with his new team.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
ECHL
Plays of the Week
North American Hockey League
The top plays in the NAHL from November 21-27, 2022
Western Hockey League
The Brandon Wheat Kings have announced they are making a coaching change, parting ways with Head Coach Don MacGillivray. Current Wheat Kings General Manager Marty Murray will assume coaching duties moving forward. MacGillivray has spent the past seven seasons in the Wheat Kings organization, coming on board as an Assistant Coach in 2016-17 before taking on the role as Head Coach during the 2020-21 season. MacGillivray finishes his head coaching tenure in Brandon with a regular season record of 61-47-7-2. The team currently sits at the bottom of the East Division with a record of 8-15-2-0.
WHL Top 10
Teddy bears filled the Saddledome during the Calgary's Hitmen's 27th annual Teddy Bear Toss.
2022 Spokane Chiefs Teddy Bear Toss (called no goal)
Ontario Hockey League
OHL Plays of the Week
The Niagara IceDogs have announced Ryan Kuwabara as the team's new Head Coach. "I am extremely excited to join the Niagara IceDogs organization," said newly named Head Coach, Ryan Kuwabara. "I look forward to working with Darren and the coaching staff to create a winning culture here in Niagara. ¬Â Kuwabara joins the Niagara IceDogs with professional experience both behind the bench and on the ice. Last season, Ryan served as an Assistant Coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Top 5 - Week 10
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
G League's Top Dunks of November 2022
Women's National Basketball Association
Kelsey Plum wants WNBA players to get their due. ¬ÂWe're not asking to get paid what the men get paid. We're asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared."
The WNBA released its game schedule for the 2023 regular season, which will begin on Friday, May 19 and feature a record-high 40 games per team. All 12 teams will be in action during the opening weekend of the league's 27th regular season as part of WNBA Tip-Off 2023 presented by CarMax. The regular season will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 10, followed by the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google.
The Connecticut Sun announced Darius Taylor as the franchise's General Manager. Additionally, Connecticut Sun Director of Franchise Development, Morgan Tuck, will add the role of Assistant General Manager to her current responsibilities. Taylor and Tuck will work closely with Sun President, Jen Rizzotti, and recently appointed Head Coach, Stephanie White, to ensure the franchise's continued success on the court. Taylor joins the Sun after a stint with the Atlanta Dream, where he served in several roles throughout his time there as Assistant Coach, Interim Head Coach, and Assistant General Manager.
Connecticut Sun introduces new GM and assistant GM
Canadian Elite Basketball League
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) introduced the Winnipeg Sea Bears as its newest member during a news conference at Canada Life Centre, the team's home arena when it begins play in the 2023 season. The CEBL welcomed Winnipeg businessman and lawyer David Asper as the team's owner. "Winnipeg is an ideal market for the Canadian Elite Basketball League with a rich basketball history that dates back 120 years, with its multiculturalism, and with a location that unifies the CEBL's geographic reach from British Columbia to Quebec," said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. 
National Basketball League of Canada
The NBL Canada released its 17-week, 73-game regular-season schedule for 2023, which tips off Saturday, Jan. 7 when the Sudbury Five welcome the Lansing Pharoahs of the TBL to the Nickel City in an Opening Night event. All four NBL Canada teams return to action in 2023, playing an unbalanced regular season schedule that runs through May 3. Sudbury and London will play 33 and 30 games, respectively, while Windsor will play 27, and KW 24. KW will enter the schedule on Feb. 20 as the franchise undergoes an ownership change. Rounding out the regular season schedule will be nine TBL franchises. Familiar foes Flint United, Jamestown Jackals, Kokomo Bobkats, Lansing Pharoahs, and Syracuse Stallions return to the slate alongside four teams making their NBL Canada debut, including Alma Academy Jeannois (Académie d'Alma), Toledo Glass City Wranglers, Kalamazoo Galaxy, and Newfoundland Rogues.
BASEBALL
The Toronto Blue Jays today announced that Casey Candaele will serve as Buffalo Bisons manager for the 2023 season. Candaele returns to Buffalo after splitting last year as Bisons manager and as interim bench coach for the Blue Jays after being promoted by Toronto in mid-July. The 2023 season will mark Candaele's third year as Bisons manager with the former Herd player compiling a 122-89 record (.578 winning pct) in his first season and a half with the club. Candaele began the 2022 season leading the Bisons to a 43-42 record before his promotion to the Blue Jays on July 13. In Toronto, Candaele helped then-interim manager John Schneider lead the Blue Jays to a Wild Card berth.
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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National Women's Soccer League Stories from December 6, 2022
- Casey Stoney Discusses Wave FC Free-Agent Signings, Looks Ahead to 2023 - San Diego Wave FC
- NC Courage Re-Sign Midfielder Meredith Speck to Two-Year Deal - North Carolina Courage
- Angel City Football Club and Klarna Announce Giveback Partnership with Downtown Women's Center - Angel City FC
- Washington Spirit Set to Play Full Home Schedule at Audi Field - Washington Spirit
- DiBernardo to Leave Chicago Red Stars - Chicago Stars FC
- 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.
