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IL International League

Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
January 31, 2023 - International League (IL)


This past week the United States Football League added hub cities in Canton and Detroit for its 2023 season, Candace Parker announced she plans to sign with Women's National Basketball Association's Las Vegas Aces in free agency, and the International League's Durham Bulls named Michael Johns its new manager. Highlights from this week come from the United States Football League, XFL, NBA G League, National Lacrosse League, Premier Lacrosse League, American Hockey League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Premier Hockey Federation, and Major League Rugby.

FOOTBALL

United States Football League

At a press conference here today, USFL and Hall of Fame Village leaders announced that Canton will be the host site for two teams during the upcoming regular season, as well as the North Division Playoff Game in late June and USFL Championship Game in early July. "The USFL is excited that the Pittsburgh Maulers and the New Jersey Generals will practice and play games in Canton during the 2023 regular season," said Daryl Johnston, USFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. "The outstanding regional support we received during our first postseason from football fans in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including the great city of Pittsburgh, coupled with our successful partnership with the Hall of Fame Village, led to this moment. ‚¬Â

USFL's Pittsburgh Maulers and New Jersey Generals to play in Canton during 2023 season

On the 40th anniversary of the original Michigan Panthers winning the USFL Championship, the league announced today that Detroit will serve as the host city for the iconic team. "We're back!" said Daryl Johnston, USFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. "With the help of some great partners, the USFL is making history by announcing that the Michigan Panthers have returned home in 2023 to play at Ford Field. The USFL is proud to be part of the revitalization of downtown Detroit, and we're excited about turning up the Motown music and firing up a fan base for professional spring football in Michigan. ‚¬Â The League also announced that Detroit will host the Philadelphia Stars during the USFL 2023 regular season. In 1983 the Panthers and Stars faced off in the first USFL Championship game, the start of a historic rivalry that will be renewed this season.

USFL's Michigan Panthers to play at Ford Field

Your Pittsburgh Maulers will now be BLACK & GOLD

"Pittsburgh Appropriate ‚¬Â Coach Ray Horton reacts to the reveal of his new team colors

XFL

The XFL announced that quarterback Paxton Lynch has signed with the Orlando Guardians. Lynch, 28, joins the XFL after playing for the USFL in 2022, playing six games. Lynch was a first-round selection of the Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft, spending two seasons with the club. He also has experience with the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.

Dany Garcia XFL Chairwoman & Owner Sends a Message to all "Skeptical" XFL Fans Out There!!!

Welcome to The XFL HUB

Terrell Buckley XFL Orlando Guardians Head Coach Interview.

Canadian Football League

The Ottawa REDBLACKS have signed former CFL West All-Star, and two-time Grey Cup Champion, national OL Drew Desjarlais to a two-year contract. Desjarlais, 25, returns to the CFL for the first time since the 108th Grey Cup, after spending time with the NFL's New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints during the 2022 season. The Belle River, Ontario product helped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to Grey Cup championships in both the 2019, and 2021 seasons. Desjarlais started in all but eight games during his rookie season, and every game of his second. Drafted fourth overall by the Blue Bombers, out of Windsor, in 2019, Desjarlais was named a CFL West All-Star in 2021.

Indoor Football League

Tulsa Oilers Football, proud member of the IFL, announced that offensive lineman Larry Williams has joined the Las Vegas Vipers of the XFL while still retaining his IFL rights. Williams (27), a former signee with the Green Bay Packers and current Tulsa Oiler, signs a deal with the Las Vegas Vipers of the XFL in January 2023. The XFL and the Indoor Football League (IFL) announced on October 12, 2022, a wide-ranging player personnel partnership.

BASKETBALL

Women's National Basketball Association

Two time WNBA Champion Candace Parker announced she plans to sign with Las Vegas Aces in free agency. She will sign a contract with the Aces when WNBA free agency begins on Wednesday. Parker's contract with the Aces will be for one year, her agent, Boris Lelchitski, told ESPN on Saturday. Her salary is still being negotiated.

NBA G League

Catching Up With Ignite center Eric Mika

Eric Mika Was Electric and Posted 22 PTS, 11 REB, and 4 AST in Game Against the Salt Lake City Stars

Canadian Elite Basketball League

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) unveiled its 2023 season schedule Tuesday as it enters a milestone fifth season. The regular season will see 100 regular season games played in 56 days across 10 Canadian cities in six provinces. The season tips off May 24 when the 2022 CEBL champion Brampton Honey Badgers head to the nation's capital to face off against the Ottawa BlackJacks at TD Place Arena at 7:30 p.m. local.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced that league Commissioner and Co-Founder Mike Morreale has been signed to a six-year contract extension, running beyond the 2028 season. Morreale has served as league commissioner since its inception, leading the league before its formal launch in 2018, through the Covid-19 pandemic, and to becoming the largest pro sports league in Canada with 10 franchises across six provinces.

BASEBALL

International League

The back-to-back Triple-A National Champion Durham Bulls, in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Rays, have announced their field staff for the 2023 campaign at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, with Opening Night 2023 set for Friday, March 31. Michael Johns is set to join Durham as Manager, succeeding Brady Williams, who was elevated to the role of Tampa Bay Rays Third Base Coach after three seasons as Bulls skipper. Johns has served as the Rays' Minor League Field Coordinator since 2018. He boasts eight years of managing experience with the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs (2015-17), Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (2014), Single-A Hudson Valley Renegades (2013), and Short-Season Princeton Rays (2010-12), winning the Florida State League title in his first year with Charlotte in 2015. In those eight seasons, he has accumulated 400 managerial victories.

Pacific Coast League

John Russell, a former MLB catcher/outfielder and field manager, has been named Tacoma Rainiers manager for 2023 by the Seattle Mariners. Russell, 62, becomes the 12th skipper of the club in the "Rainiers" era and Seattle affiliation (since 1995), and brings a wealth of experience at the highest levels to the position. 2023 will be Russell's return to both a Triple-A dugout and the Pacific Coast League. In 2001 and 2002 he led the Edmonton Trappers (Minnesota), and skippered the '02 club to an 81-59 regular season record and the PCL Championship. He led Philadelphia Triple-A affiliates in the International League in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and then Ottawa from 2006-07; his '06 SWB club qualified for the postseason with an 84-58 record.

Texas League

The Arkansas Travelers in conjunction with their parent club the Seattle Mariners are proud to announce the Travs coaching staff for this season led by Manager Mike Freeman. Mike Freeman, 35, a former Major League player will be in his first coaching role, taking over as the Arkansas skipper. He concluded his playing career in 2021 splitting that season between the Cincinnati Reds and their Triple-A club in Louisville.

California League

The Stockton Ports named former Major League and Ports player, Gregorio Petit, as manager, as well as the rest of the field staff for the upcoming 2023 season. This will be Petit's second stint as a minor league manager as he spent the past two seasons as the manager of the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.

The Stockton Ports are saddened to hear about the passing of former Ports player, Frederick William Michalski. Fred was a Chicago native and All-American shortstop at Western Michigan University. He went on to play five years of professional baseball while playing for the Stockton Ports in 1967.

LACROSSE

National Lacrosse League

Will Malcom set a career high in points scoring five goals and eight assists as PCLC beat Vancouver.

Dane Dobbie has a four goal night including his 1000th career point to lead the Seals to a victory.

Premier Lacrosse League

Best Assists of 2022

HOCKEY

American Hockey League

Your first look at the jerseys being worn at the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic!

PSA: Flying teddy bears in Hershey!!

ECHL

Plays of the Week

North American Hockey League

NAHL Top Plays - January 16-22, 2023

Western Hockey League

WHL Top 10

Ontario Hockey League

OHL Plays of the Week

Premier Hockey Federation

The Premier Hockey Federation's Canadian All-Stars emerged victorious in the showcase event, defeating Team World 3-2 in the championship final on home ice at Toronto's Mattamy Athletic Centre. Jade Downie-Landry of the Montreal Force broke the 2-2 tie with the winning-goal inside the game's final three minutes. Boston's Loren Gabel earned MVP honors with three goals and one assist over three tournament games, including a goal and an assist in the final.

Canada vs World PHF All-Star Showcase Championship Game

The Toronto Six has announced a significant addition to their lineup, acquiring forward Daryl Watts, a superstar throughout her NCAA career. The Patty Kazmaier Award winner has officially signed a two-year Premier Hockey Federation contract with the organization that includes the remainder of the 2023-23 season and the 2023-24 campaign. Her historic two-year agreement carries an average annual value of $88,500 USD (approximately $118,000+ CAD) which represents the highest salary ever announced for a professional women's hockey player in North America. "The Toronto Six is an incredible program and I feel really grateful and lucky to be able to join them mid-season," said Watts. "I would say that the drawing point that has me here mid-season would be the doubling of the salary cap that occurred in December. That sparked my interest back in hockey because playing hockey has been a passion of mine from when I was a kid, and now financially it's a really viable option. I couldn't be more excited."

SOCCER

National Women's Soccer League

The Orlando Pride has announced Haley Carter as the club's Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager, a newly-created and elevated executive leadership role within the organization.

NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that U.S. Women's National Team defender, two-time FIFA World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and NWSL champion Kelley O'Hara has returned to the club after signing a two-year contract through the 2024 NWSL season. "I'm beyond excited to enter the next chapter of my playing career with Gotham FC," said O'Hara. "The team culture, the city, the people - there's so much to look forward to with a team like this. I can't wait to get started. I'm so excited to be back in NYC/NJ! ‚¬Â

The North Carolina Courage have acquired defender Emily Fox, the first overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft out of the University of North Carolina, from Racing Louisville in a trade that sends defenders Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett to Louisville. At 24 years old, Fox has already eclipsed 20 caps with the U.S. Women's National Team and was most recently on the roster for the team's January trip to New Zealand. She started three matches in the 2022 Concacaf Women's Championship, including the final, which the U.S. won against Canada.

MLS NEXT Pro

Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced that Enrique Duran will serve as the head coach of LAFC2, the club's MLS NEXT Pro team that will begin play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2023. LAFC2 is one of seven MLS-affiliated clubs joining MLS NEXT Pro in 2023, when 28 clubs will compete in the league's second season. Duran was named the head coach of the Las Vegas Lights, LAFC's former USL affiliate on February 4, 2022.He led the Lights to the best season in their history, with the team finishing in 9th place with a 12-9-13 record (45 points), setting club records for wins and points. In 2021, Enrique served as an assistant coach in Las Vegas under current LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo.

OTHER SPORTS

Major League Rugby

Rugby ATL announced updated branding, including logos, uniforms, and merchandise. The updated logo echoes Atlanta's influence on the region, the "North Star of the South," with four-pointed stars. Encompassing the energy and pulse of the city and the team, the "A" is designed with fluid and dynamic lines, coming alive with design. On second glance, fans will notice the "A" reveals an additional "t" and "l" -symbolism to reinforce individual parts that make up the whole, just like the team. "We're entering the 2023 season with an infectious amount of energy and anticipation from the Atlanta community," said Amanda Windsor White, President of Rugby ATL. "Our new look reflects that excitement while celebrating Atlanta's resilience-influential, strong, and bold. We look forward to setting ourselves apart in the Atlanta sports landscape, introducing ourselves to new fans, and staying true to our roots and loyal fanbase. As we grow the game of rugby in Atlanta and establish the RATL culture, our growth depends on enthusiasm and support from those who have been with us since day one. ‚¬Â

Rugby ATL 2023 Season Teaser

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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