Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

BASEBALL Frontier League: The independent Frontier League's new Ottawa (Ontario) team, which will start play in the 2021 season, announced a name-the-team contest with suggestions open until October 28, 2020. This team will replace the city's most recent team called the Ottawa Champions that played five seasons (2015-19) in the independent Can-Am League, which was merged into the Frontier League after the 2019 season. Prospect League: The summer-collegiate Prospect League's expansion te... Full Story

IceMen Bring Back Luke Shiplo & Craig Martin

JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Jacksonville Icemen, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets and AHL's Manitoba Moose announced Monday that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Luke Shiplo and forward Craig Martin for the 2020-2021 season. Martin, 25, returns to the Icemen after collecting 23 points (8g, 15a) during his rookie season split between Jacksonville and the Adirondack Thunder during the 2019-20 year. The 6-1, 182-pound forward totaled 75 points (27g, 48a) in 134 games during his four collegiate seasons at Quinnipiac University from 2015-2019. The Trail, BC resident Martin ... Full Story

Lions Clinch First Playoff Berth in Club History with 1-1 Draw at New York Red Bulls

HARRISON, N.J. - Orlando City SC (8-2-8, 32 points) clinched a berth in the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday night, earning a 1-1 draw on the road against the New York Red Bulls (8-8-3, 27 points) at Red Bull Arena. With Toronto defeating Atlanta later in the evening, the Lions earned their first playoff berth in Club history, coming in the midst of a Club-record 12-game unbeaten run. Nani scored his fifth goal in regular-season action for the Lions in the match, converting from the penalty spot in the 56th minute to give City the lead. Brian Rowe started his third-straight match, regis... Full Story

Columbus Crew SC Clinches Berth in Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs

COLUMBUS - Columbus Crew SC has officially clinched a spot in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. With five regular-season contests remaining, Crew SC is assured of finishing no lower than 10th place in the Eastern Conference by virtue of its result against New York City FC during tonight's match. Final postseason seeding will be determined in the coming weeks as the Black & Gold (10-4-4, 34 points) conclude the regular season along with all other MLS clubs. Ticket sales information for potential Crew SC Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs home matches will be made available in the near future. Dates f... Full Story

• Fogarty Agrees to One-Year Deal with Sabres - Rochester Americans (AHL)
• Aviators Announce Field Manager for 2021 Season - Lafayette Aviators (Prospect)
• Argentina Commits to Boston College - Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
• IceMen Bring Back Luke Shiplo & Craig Martin - Jacksonville IceMen (ECHL)
• Northwoods League Announces Executive and Organization of the Year - (Northwoods)
• Marcotty Named QMJHL Player of the Week for Week 3 - (QMJHL)
• Eastern Conference Final's Kickoff Time Adjusted - Louisville City FC (USL)
• Player Spotlight: Ryan Lee - Denver Outlaws (MLL)
• Quakes hold Western Conference leaders to scoreless draw - San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
• Dynamo Rally Late for 2-2 Draw at Minnesota - Houston Dynamo (MLS)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• Nashville SC to acquire Handwalla Bwana in trade from Seattle Sounders - MLS Nashville Tennessean
• Columbus Crew clinches playoff spot, improves in win vs. NYCFC - MLS Columbus Dispatch
• Former Delmarva Shorebirds outfielder still giving back to the community - SAL Salisbury Daily Times
• Kai Koreniuk's late goal snaps Galaxy's six-game losing streak - MLS Los Angeles Daily News
• Sky president: WNBA followed science to put together successful season - WNBA Chicago Daily Herald
• Red Bulls steal a point with Brian White's stoppage time goal to tie Orlando City - MLS New York Newsday
• Columbus 3, NYCFC 1 | Crew get crucial win, snap winless streak - MLS Columbus Dispatch
• Union Omaha defeats league's top team; Owls eye shot at championship match - USL1 Omaha World-Herald
• Orlando City clinches playoff spot for first time in club history - MLS Orlando Sentinel
• Home victory over Union would boost Revolution as they aim for a top-four spot in the playoffs - MLS Boston Globe
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• Baseball Mexico by Bruce Baskin
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Baseball Mexico by Bruce Baskin
• Inside the XFL by Fran Stuchbury

Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei makes a save against the San Jose Earthquakes

See All Today's Images The following minor league and alternative professional sports teams on OurSports Central have been viewed the most over the last seven days:

1. B.C. Lions - Canadian Football League (CFL)
2. Wyoming Mustangs - Champions Indoor Football (CIF)
3. Northern Arizona Wranglers - Indoor Football League (IFL)
4. Albany Empire - National Arena League (NAL)
5. Fort Worth - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
6. Oakland Roots - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
7. Tampa Bay Tornadoes - National Arena League (NAL)
8. Motor City Rockers - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
9. Gastonia - Atlantic League (AtL)
10. Angel City - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)

The most recent minor league and alternative professional sports teams added to OurSports Central:

• Wyoming Mustangs - Champions Indoor Football (CIF)
• Ottawa - Frontier League (FL)
• Oakland Roots - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
• Northern Arizona Wranglers - Indoor Football League (IFL)
• Albany Empire - National Arena League (NAL)
• Motor City Rockers - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
• Gastonia - Atlantic League (AtL)
• Tampa Bay Tornadoes - National Arena League (NAL)
• Fort Worth - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
• Angel City - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)

OurSports Central provides coverage of select alternative and minor league professional sports leagues in addition to the top junior hockey leagues and college wood bat baseball leagues:

BASEBALL
Affiliated Minor League Baseball
AzFL, AzL, CalL, CarL, EL, FSL, GCL, IL, ML, MWL, NWL, NYPL, PCL, PL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
ApL, Northwoods, TCL
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, PA, Pecos

BASKETBALL
Men's Minor League Basketball
BIG3, G League, NBL Canada
Women's Basketball
WNBA

FOOTBALL
Indoor/Arena Football
CIF, IFL, NAL
Outdoor Football
CFL, XFL

HOCKEY
Junior Hockey
NAHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL
Minor League Hockey
AHL, ECHL, FPHL, SPHL
Women's Hockey
NWHL

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL
Outdoor Lacrosse
MLL, PLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR
Other Women's
NPF, WTT

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
CPL, MLS, USL, USL1
Women's Soccer
NWSL