Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
May 30, 2023 - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
This past week the Premier Lacrosse League announced it will be shifting to home cities for the 2024 season; the Pro Volleyball Federation added teams in Orlando and San Diego for its 2024 season, and the Oklahoma Warriors claimed their first ever North American Hockey League Robertson Cup. Highlights from this week come from the Premier Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League, Pro Volleyball Federation, North American Hockey League, American Hockey League, ECHL , Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, United States Football League, Canadian Football League, XFL, Indoor Football League, National Women's Soccer League, Canadian Premier League, United Soccer League Championship, United Soccer League One, and Women's National Basketball Association.
LACROSSE
Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) powered by Ticketmaster today announced that beginning in 2024, all eight PLL lacrosse clubs will be assigned to home cities. "Moving our eight teams into home cities will mark the biggest investment in the league since its inception," said Paul Rabil, co-founder and President of the Premier Lacrosse League. "This move will unlock deeper, more connected relationships between our fans, teams and players. Continuing to build a global presence around lacrosse and driving our mission forward will remain core to our approach. We're giving the PLL local love and global awareness. ¬Â The PLL will maintain its touring model with its eight teams playing in one city over a two-day weekend. Beginning in 2024, the home team will play a double-header when the league is competing in that team's market.
Paul Carcaterra sits down with President and Co-Founder Paul Rabil to discuss the biggest PLL announcement since the launch of the league. Hear about why the PLL teams are getting home cities and what to expect in the future.
National Lacrosse League
The Colorado Mammoth secured a scrappy 16-10 win over the visiting Buffalo Bandits Monday as the Loud House was at full capacity for the afternoon matchup. Explosive as always, Ryan Lee and Eli McLaughlin did the heaviest lifting with seven points each, while netminder Dillon Ward continued to showcase his All-World talent. Colorado will now head back to Buffalo for Game 3 of the NLL Finals, Saturday, June 3, just like last year, via the momentum of an insanely huge win inside the Loud House!
Here are the highlights
The National Lacrosse League announced Calgary Roughnecks goaltender Christian Del Bianco has been awarded Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 NLL season. Del Bianco, a Coquitlam, BC native, set a Calgary Roughnecks franchise record for wins this season with 13. His ability to hold onto the ball and make across-the-floor passes to his transition teammates led to a career high 19 assists for the goaltender, and he set the NLL record for goaltender minutes played in a regular season this year, with 1080:19.
Calgary Roughnecks Head Coach Curt Malawsky has been awarded the Les Bartley award for Coach of the Year for the 2022-23 National Lacrosse League season. In his 10th season with the team as Head Coach, Malawsky led the Roughnecks to a franchise record 13 wins in the regular season. In the final game of the regular season, he reached his 90th career win as Head Coach, becoming just the 8th in NLL history to do so.
The National Lacrosse League announced today that Rochester Knighthawks general manager and vice president of lacrosse operations Dan Carey has been named the General Manager of the Year for the 2022-23 season. Carey, along with head coach Mike Hasen, engineered one of the most incredible, yet unexpected transformations by an NLL franchise this past season. The 2022-23 campaign was one of significant change and remarkable growth for the Knighthawks, who after combining for just six wins through their first two years of the expansion-era, finished the season fourth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 10-8 record, culminating with the organization's first-ever playoff berth.
OTHER SPORTS
Pro Volleyball Federation
Pro Volleyball Federation, the premier women's professional volleyball league in North America, has announced its fifth market for the 2024 season, adding Orlando, FL, to the list of inaugural season teams. The team is owned by Florida businessman David Forman. "This is very exciting for me and my family, and we can't wait to bring professional women's volleyball to Orlando," said Forman. "Orlando is a city known worldwide for making dreams come true, and that's what Pro Volleyball Federation is all about - providing a new horizon for these amazing athletes to be able to live out their dreams by playing professionally at the highest level, and doing so at home in the United States. ¬Â
Iconic United States volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings was announced as the lead owner of a new Pro Volleyball Federation team in San Diego, becoming the sixth announced team of the new women's professional volleyball league. "This is one of the most exciting days of my professional career," Walsh Jennings stated. "I have been very fortunate to be in a position to achieve so many dreams in my life, but today marks the beginning of me being able to establish a true legacy. I am passionate about the vision of Pro Volleyball Federation and making this San Diego team the very best it can be. ¬Â
Pro Volleyball Federation announces first west coast team in San Diego
American Ultimate Disc League
The TOP 10 plays from Week 4 of the 2023 AUDL season!
HOCKEY
North American Hockey League
The Oklahoma Warriors claimed first ever NAHL Robertson Cup National Championship as they scored a power play goal late in the 3rd period to defeat the Austin Bruins in front of a sold-out crowd at Fogerty Arena by a score of 4-3. The Robertson Cup is awarded to the national playoff champion of the North American Hockey League. The oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States, the Robertson Cup is named in honor of Chuck Robertson, a pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan. This marks the 48th season the NAHL has awarded the cup.
The top plays in the NAHL from the 2023 Robertson Cup
Presenting the best sights and sounds from the 2023 Robertson Cup playoffs
American Hockey League
The Calgary Flames announce that Craig Conroy has been named General Manager. Conroy becomes the 8th General Manager in the history of the franchise*. "We conducted an extensive search process and today we are thrilled to introduce Craig Conroy as our General Manager," said Flames President of Hockey Operations Don Maloney. "It is rewarding for the organization to learn that the most qualified individual for the position has been preparing in house. Craig brings a fresh approach; high energy; he is a tremendous communicator; decisive; a worker; and he is relationship driven. His passion for the Flames and the community are unmatched. Craig is ready for the challenge to lead our team to the Stanley Cup. ¬Â
It was a long 29 years, but the Hershey Bears finally got a postseason victory in Rochester, New York.
ECHL
Today's A.M.Ice clips display John McCarron's effort for Florida. First, it's a great rush which results in a rebound goal to tie the game. Then a deft third-period tip-in puts the Everblades ahead to stay in the win which gave then a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals against Newfoundland.
Federal Prospect Hockey League
The Motor City Rockers announced the hiring of Scott Brand as Team President. Brand's duties will include creating corporate partnerships, ticket sales, promotions, and business operations. Brand, a Michigan native, recently served as the President of Ignite Sports and Entertainment where he oversaw the expansion of the following professional sports organizations: Columbus River Dragons (hockey), Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots & Chattahoochee Monsters (baseball). Scott also oversaw the renovation of historic Golden Park in Columbus, GA.
Ontario Hockey League
Sights and sounds from Game 6 of the 2023 OHL Championship Series in Peterborough as the Petes defeated the Knights 2-1, hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL Champions.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The top five plays from the 2023 Final
FOOTBALL
United States Football League
USFL Top 10 plays from week 7
Canadian Football League
Following a trip to the Western Final in 2022, the BC Lions look ahead to the 2023 CFL season with a revamped roster. Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke departed the Lions to pursue NFL opportunities, putting Vernon Adams Jr under centre for his first full season in BC. New additions on both sides of the ball make the Lions a serious contender for the 110th Grey Cup.
Following a trip to the Eastern Final in 2022, the Monteal Alouettes prepare for the 2023 CFL season after some notable departures in free agency. Player of the Year nominee Eugene Lewis left for the Edmonton Elks in the offseason while wide receiver Jake Wieneke and starting quarterback Trevor Harris left for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Filling Harris' shoes is Cody Fajardo, who looks to lead the Alouettes offence to success alongside his former offensive coordinator in Saskatchewan and newly appointed head coach Jason Maas.
After a disappointing loss in the Eastern Semi-Final in 2022, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have brought in free agents who can immediately make an impact on the field. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, linebacker Jameer Thurman, and wide receiver Duke Williams join the Tiger-Cats as they look to secure a home Grey Cup birth in 2023.
XFL
The XFL 2023 season is in the books. Here is a recap of the league from opening day all the way to the 2023 XFL Championship Game
Indoor Football League
Week 10 Plays of the Week!
Player Spottlight Arizona QB Drew Powell! Drew has been on a hot streak since returning from injury!
SOCCER
National Women's Soccer League
North Carolina Courage Rikke Madsen scores from an impossible angle, and celebrates her first NWSL goal in style!
Claire Emslie curls it in from the corner for an Olimpico goal to put Angel City in front!
Canadian Premier League
CPL Productions: Marco Carducci reaches 100 games with Cavalry FC
United Soccer League Championship
The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 11 of the 2023 regular season on Tuesday, with Detroit City FC's Nathan Steinwascher voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording a three-save shutout and posting the first assist of his career - and the second by a goalkeeper in the USL Championship this season - in Le Rouge's 1-0 victory against San Antonio FC at Keyworth Stadium
United Soccer League One
Three-goal week for the Brazilian - Joao Gomiero - USL League One Player of the Week
BASKETBALL
Women's National Basketball Association
The 2022 WNBA Champions, the Las Vegas Aces unveil the first ever championship trophy in Las Vegas Aces and receieve their Championship Rings.
NBA G League
Guard Thierry Darlan, a top international prospect and an NBA Academy Africa graduate from the Central African Republic, has signed with NBA G League Ignite, General Manager Anthony McClish announced. The 19-year-old Darlan becomes the sixth NBA Academy graduate to sign with Ignite and the third from NBA Academy Africa, an elite basketball training center in Saly, Senegal, for top high school-age prospects from across Africa. Darlan was a teammate of fellow 2023-24 Ignite player Babacar Sane at NBA Academy Africa.
Canadian Elite Basketball League
Highlights of the Winnipeg Sea Bear first ever game. A 90-85 home victory over the Vancouver Bandits.
BASEBALL
Minor League Baseball Plays of the Week
Did we miss anything newsworthy or fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
Pro Volleyball Federation Stories from May 30, 2023
- 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.
