Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
October 31, 2023 - Canadian Premier League (CPL)

This past week Forge FC won its fourth Canadian Premier League championship, the Indoor Football League added an expansion team in Indianapolis for the 2025 season, former American Hockey League player Adam Johnson died after being slashed by a skate, and former NBA All-Star Grant Hill and his wife Tamia joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC and the National Women's Soccer League's Orlando Pride. Highlights from this week come from the Canadian Premier League, Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, Indoor Football League, Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, American Hockey League, ECHL, Southern Professional Hockey League, Western Hockey League, North American Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, United States Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Professional Women's Hockey League, Big3, and American Ultimate Disc League.

SOCCER

Canadian Premier League

Forge FC have been crowned as the Canadian Premier League Champions after defeating Cavalry FC 2-1. This is the fourth CPL championship in the club's history and the second year in a row they have lifted the title.

Check out all the highlights from last night as Forge FC beat Cavalry FC to win the 2023 North Star Cup!

Every angle of the GREATEST GOAL EVER SCORED in a Canadian Premier League Final.

Major League Soccer

Golazo Galore: September's Best MLS Goals

National Women's Soccer League

Tamia and Grant Hill have joined the ownership group for Orlando City SC and the Orlando Pride. Leaders in the Orlando sports and philanthropic community, the Hills join as limited partners in the Club after many years as Season Ticket Members for both teams. "We're very excited to add both Tamia and Grant Hill as part of our ownership group for Orlando City and Orlando Pride. Over the past few years, we have gotten to know and appreciate Tamia and Grant, their passion for our clubs, and their commitment to the community," said Mark Wilf, Club owner and chairman. "Both boast professional resumes that speak for themselves and are highly accomplished individuals in the business world but, more importantly, they are incredible contributors to the greater Orlando area. Tamia and Grant have shown passion and support for our teams for many years, including being staunch supporters of the Orlando Pride since day one, so we are looking forward to continuing to build our organization through their influence and dedication."

Tamia and Grant Hill Join Orlando City/Orlando Pride ownership group

Racing Louisville and head coach Kim Björkegren have mutually parted ways. Björkegren will return home to Europe to pursue other opportunities there while general manager Ryan Dell and Racing Louisville immediately begin a global search for the team's next head coach. "We appreciate all that Kim did for us here at Racing," said John Neace, chairman of Soccer Holdings, the parent company of Racing Louisville. "The team showed continued improvement under his leadership. We wish him the very best in his next position."

Racing Louisville, head coach Kim Björkegren 'mutually' part ways

Utah Royals FC president Michelle Hyncik speaks about the groundbreaking of the Royals' new training facility and multi-million dollar expansion to the club's Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman, Utah.

United Soccer League One

North Carolina FC and USL League One announce a kickoff time change for the league championship match. The Final will now be played on Sunday, November 5, at 5:00 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park between the 2-seed NCFC and 4-seed Charlotte Independence. The match will still air on ESPN2, as previously scheduled.

Greenville Triumph Soccer Club Head Coach and Sporting Director John Harkes has announced he will not seek to renew his contract after five years with the club. Harkes, the winningest coach in USL League One history, joined the Triumph shortly after the club's inception in 2018. The former US Men's National Team captain came to the Triumph after serving as the head coach of FC Cincinnati for the club's inaugural season in 2016. He led the club to a 16-6-8 record and a playoff berth, also being named a finalist for Coach of the Year. He continued his coaching success in Greenville, building a roster from scratch in less than a year that finished as League One runner-up in the club's inaugural season. Harkes' side dominated the COVID-shortened 2020 season, going wire-to-wire at the top of the league table to win the club's first League One title.

FOOTBALL

Indoor Football League

The Indoor Football League (IFL) is proud to announce the addition of an Indianapolis expansion team for the 2025 season. The Indy expansion team was announced at the grounds of the Fishers Event Center by IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon and Team Owner Jim Hallett. The brand-new Fishers Event Center will be the home of the newest IFL franchise. "Great leadership, great market, a beautiful new arena and great ownership. Everything we are looking for," said IFL Commissioner, Todd Tryon. "2025 will be here before you know it and the Indy market is going to love this." The team will be managed by the same front office as the Indy Fuel of the ECHL who are set to begin play in the new event center towards the end of 2024.

Indy Fuel announces new indoor football team. A professional indoor football team is coming to Hamilton County.

Canadian Football League

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced that Head Coach Craig Dickenson will not have his contract renewed. "I want to thank Coach Dickenson for everything he has given to the Saskatchewan Roughriders over his ten years in Green and White. From his time as Special Teams Coordinator to his five seasons as a Head Coach, he gave all he had to the team and did it with kindness and respect," said O'Day. "We appreciate his hard work and dedication and wish him all the best moving forward."

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced the team is parting ways with head coach Craig Dickenson. The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

Henoc Muamba and Donnovan Bennett react to CFL team awards being announced and discuss who should emerge as MOP for the 2023 CFL season with potential nominees for the award now reduced to 9 players.

CFL Plays of the Week

United States Football League

Todd Haley will not return as head coach of the Memphis Showboats, the USFL announced. Haley spent the last two years in the USFL, both years of the league's return. He spent one year as head coach of the Memphis Showboats and went 5-5 just missing the playoffs. The USFL released a statement: "The USFL leadership team has decided to make a head coaching change for the Memphis Showboats. We thank Todd Haley for his contributions over the last two years to make the USFL a reality while also helping players maximize their potential. We've already begun the search process for a new head coach to lead the Showboats and continue our momentum of professional football in Memphis."

Arena Football League

The Oregon Black Bears will join teams from all over the country for the revived league.

HOCKEY

American Hockey League

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are deeply saddened and devastated at the news of the sudden passing of former Phantom Adam Johnson during a game in England with the Nottingham Panthers.

The Phantoms send our condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Adam, as well as all of his former teammates and those who knew him. We offer and wish comfort and strength for everyone during this shocking and immensely difficult time. Adam was a wonderful person with a positive energy and was also a great teammate during his time in Lehigh Valley in the 2021-22 season. His life was far too short. Rest in Peace, Adam.

American ice hockey player Adam Johnson has died after being slashed by a skate.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters announced a long-term, multi-year affiliation extension through the current decade of their current National Hockey League and American Hockey League partnership agreement. The Monsters have been the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate since the 2015-16 season, which culminated with the club capturing the 2016 Calder Cup championship, the first in franchise history and the first by a Columbus affiliate. The Monsters play their home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The Blue Jackets play their home games at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Cleveland Monsters Captain Brendan Gaunce skates off in OT victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Grand Rapids Griffins say that the actions of a few fans at its game against the Cleveland Monsters cost the team the chance at victory.

ECHL

Gustavs Davis Grigals made 42 saves in the Atlanta Gladiators' 6-0 win over the Allen Americans. None were better than this spectacular glove save that had teammates and opponents alike putting their hands on their heads in disbelief.

Pavel Novak, who missed all of last season as he recovered from a battle with Hodgkins lymphoma, scored two big goals for the Iowa Heartlanders in just his second ECHL game. Novak is currently under NHL contract with the Minnesota Wild.

Southern Professional Hockey League

Week 1 SPHL goals of the week

Western Hockey League

WHL Top 10

North American Hockey League

NAHL Top Plays - October 16-22, 2023

Ontario Hockey League

OHL Saves of the Week

United States Hockey League

USHL Goals of the Week

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

QMJHL Plays of the Week

Professional Women's Hockey League

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) has revealed the league's official logo ahead of its inaugural season. The unique mark projects a bold simplicity that undeniably represents the sport and its athletes, with a stylized 'W' to highlight women, and crossed hockey sticks and a puck that nestle perfectly within the middle of the letterform. "We love the prominence of the 'W' used in a clean and strong design that celebrates PWHL trailblazers and their legacy across women's sports," said Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board member. "When people see the logo, they will recognize how it represents women and immediately know it's about hockey. The 'W' symbol speaks for itself but offers versatility to fit nicely when used inside our PWHL lettering."

The PWHL Has REVEALED Their LOGO!

BASKETBALL

NBA G League

The Texas Legends selected Jack White (6-7, 225, Duke) with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA G League Draft. Texas then traded White's rights to the South Bay Lakers for the rights to second overall pick Teafale Lenard Jr. (6-7, 175, Middle Tennessee), a 2024 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick. With the third pick, the Capital City Go-Go selected David Muoka (6-10, 235, UNLV). After spending his first two professional seasons with Melbourne United of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), White signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets in July 2022, following a stint with the team during NBA Summer League. The Duke product appeared in 26 games with the Grand Rapids Gold last season across Showcase Cup and Regular Season action, averaging 19.2 points and 9.4 rebounds. White also played in 17 games for 2022-23 NBA Champion Nuggets.

BIG3

From Chicago to London...In Season 6, we took over 10 cities and brought the party to each one. Take a look at our year in review...

BASEBALL

Appalachian League

As the Danville Otterbots look to make a championship run during the 2024 Appalachian League season, the club announced that Mickey Tettleton will take the helm in his first season as Otterbots manager. The 14- year MLB veteran and two-time All-Star brings his experience on the field and in the dugout to the Otterbots as they seek to win their first Appy League championship since rebranding. After retiring from his playing career in 1997, Tettleton entered the world of collegiate coaching at Oklahoma Christian University, a member of NCAA Division II in the Lone Star Conference. Tettleton is no stranger to collegiate summer ball, as he spent the 2018-2019 seasons with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and spent the 2023 season as the hitting coach of the Appalachian League's Greeneville Fly Boys.

OTHER SPORTS

American Ultimate Disc League

Max Sheppard was a scoring machine for the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds in 2023, and earned All AUDL honors for the third time in four seasons.

Did we miss anything newsworthy or fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.

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Canadian Premier League Stories from October 31, 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.