MNUFC ACQUIRE DEFENDER KEMAR LAWRENCE FROM TORONTO FC
Minnesota United today announced the club has acquired defender Kemar Lawrence via trade from Toronto FC in exchange for the college protected period priority rights to 2021 MNUFC MLS SuperDraft pick Sean O’Hearn and a conditional $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) in either 2022 or 2023 if certain performance metrics are met. Lawrence is a U.S. permanent resident and will not occupy an international roster spot for the Loons. “Kemar [Lawrence] is a player we’ve been looking at for three to four years. He’s someone who is highly experienced and knows the league inside out,” said MNUFC Head Coach Adrian Heath. “He’s just come back from a successful spell at Anderlecht, playing in the biggest club in Belgium, where he did so well, they wanted to keep him. [We are] delighted to bring him in. A lot of competition for places, and it just got heightened even more with this introduction. Really pleased he’s decided to join us, and we think he’s going to be a great addition to the squad.” The Jamaican international heads to Minnesota United after one season with Toronto FC. A strong defender who can deliver service from the left side, Lawrence is an MLS veteran with 143 game appearances. The “Taxi” was originally signed by the New York Red Bulls in 2015, scoring five goals and notching ten assists in his four seasons in Harrison. He was on the squad that won the Supporters Shield in 2017 and 2018 and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2018. The left back spent the 2020 season with Anderlecht of the Belgian First Division and returned to MLS ahead of the 2021 season. Lawrence began his professional career in 2011 with Harbour View where he made 50 game appearances between 2011 and 2014, winning the Jamaican National Premier League in 2013. Internationally, Lawrence has over 70 caps with the Jamaica National Team, where he’s played with current Loon defender Oniel Fisher. His appearances include three games in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. TRANSACTION: Minnesota United acquires defender Kemar Lawrence via trade from Toronto FC in exchange for the college protected period priority rights to 2021 MNUFC MLS SuperDraft pick Sean O’Hearn and a conditional $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) in either 2022 or 2023 if certain performance metrics are met.
VIKINGS AGREE TO TERMS WITH LB JORDAN HICKS
Jordan Hicks LB | Ht: 6’1 | Wt:236 | Age:29 | Exp*: 8 | College: Texas Hicks signs with the Vikings...
MINNESOTA UNITED FC @ PHILADELPHIA UNION
SUBARU PARK | CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA02.26.22 | MLS Regular Season | Week 112:00 p.m. CT (BSN/The CW Twin Cities/MNUFC Radio on SKOR North) 2021 RecordMIN: 13-11-10 (3-7-7 on the road)PHI: 14-8-12 (11-3-3 at home) GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. (Feb. 25, 2022) – After a Round One loss at Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup Playoffs, Minnesota United is back with a cross-conference matchup against Philadelphia Union, Saturday, February 22 at 12:00 p.m. CT. Game will broadcast on BSN, The CW Twin Cities and SKOR North. The Union return in 2022 hungry for a trophy after just missing the MLS Cup, losing to eventual-MLS Cup Champions NYCFC. The Loons will look to start 2022 hot, after adding more attacking depth than ever before with the return of Abu Danladi and Luis Amarailla, and the addition of South African-international Bongokuhle Hlongwane. With the defensive core back and a focused and fresh attack, the march towards the MLS Cup Playoffs begins at Subaru Park. HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH ON WHAT’S BEEN MOST IMPRESSIVE THIS PRESEASON“The work ethic of the group, everything we asked of them, we have had a tough preseason, we have probably worked harder than we have in the previous years, and their attitude to work has been outstanding. I thought in the second half against Viking FC, we looked like what we are. Played with a lot of intensity and determination and enthusiasm and all the words that we talk about. That’s been this whole preseason.” FORWARD LUIS AMARILLA ON WHAT HE’S MOST EXCITED ABOUT BEING BACK[SPA]: “Bueno lo más emocionante para mí, obviamente es, ser las cosas bien. Yo sé que no tuve un gran año el 2020, lastimosamente lo de la lesión, pero ahora estoy acá con la intención de hacer bien las cosas. Me refiero a hacer lo que prometí de ayudar al equipo, de marcar goles. Y bueno yo creo que lo deseos y la predisposición fueron fundamentales para poder estar acá.” [ENG]: “Well the most exciting thing for me, obviously, is doing things right. I know that I didn’t have a great year in 2020, unfortunately with the injury, but now I am here with the intention of doing things right. I mean to do what I promised the team, to score goals. And well, I think I my aspirations and the history, they were fundamental to being able to be here.” NEW BECOMES OLD AND OLD BECOMES...
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NAME KEVIN O’CONNELL 10TH HEAD COACH IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
Eagan, Minn. (February 16, 2022) – The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O’Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. Coming off a Super...
Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp Wins Pete Rozelle Trophy as Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP was voted the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy awarded to the Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player. Kupp recorded eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown catch with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. He also had seven rushing yards. He is the eighth wide receiver to be named Super Bowl MVP and the first since New England wide receiver JULIAN EDLEMAN in Super Bowl LIII. Kupp joins Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (1989) as the only players to win Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in the same season. Kupp recorded 33 receptions during the 2021 postseason and surpassed TRAVIS KELCE (31 receptions during the 2020 postseason) for the most receptions in a single postseason all-time. He also registered 478 receiving yards this postseason, trailing only LARRY FITZGERALD (546 receiving yards in 2008) for the most in a single postseason ever. The award is chosen by a panel comprised of 16 media members and fans interactively through the National Football League’s official website, NFL.com.
Edwards and McDaniels will be in the 2022 NBA Rising Stars game.
Minnesota Timberwolves players Anthony Edwards, the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and the 28th pick, Jaden McDaniels, will...
Wild to Host Winter Coat Drive for DinoMights supported by ORORO
Fans who donate coats will receive $50 off select ORORO apparel SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Wild today announced a...
SUPER BOWL LVI: LOS ANGELES RAMS vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS
For 54 years, no team had played a Super Bowl in its home stadium. After the LOS ANGELES RAMS (15-5) earned the right to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVI, it’s now happened in consecutive seasons. Those Rams will meet the AFC Champion CINCINNATI BENGALS (13-7) in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13 (6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT, NBC). For 49 years, no starting quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall had met in a Super Bowl, until Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (1998 NFL Draft) and the Denver Broncos defeated Carolina’s CAM NEWTON (2011 NFL Draft) in Super Bowl 50. Now, it will have happened twice in seven seasons, after the Bengals’ JOE BURROW (2020 NFL Draft) meets the Rams’ MATTHEW STAFFORD (2009 NFL Draft) on Sunday. The Bengals, who were founded by Pro Football Hall of Famer PAUL BROWN and began play in 1968, are looking for their first Super Bowl title, playing in the game for the first time since the 1988 season. The Rams, who began play in 1937, have won three NFL championships: 1945, 1951 and 1999, when they captured Super Bowl XXXIV led by Pro Football Hall of Famers ISAAC BRUCE, MARSHALL FAULK, ORLANDO PACE and KURT WARNER. The two head coaches on Sunday, Cincinnati’s ZAC TAYLOR (age 38) and the Rams’ SEAN MCVAY (age 36), will be a combined 74 years and 299 days old on Sunday, the youngest combined age for opposing head coaches in Super Bowl history. Previously, the youngest head-coaching matchup was Super Bowl XLIII with Pittsburgh’s MIKE TOMLIN (36 years, 323 days old) and Arizona’s KEN WHISENHUNT(46 years, 339 days old). With a Rams win, McVay (36 years, 20 days on Sunday) would edge Tomlin (36 years, 323 days old in Super Bowl XLIII) as the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl. McVay, who was hired by the Rams in 2017 and led the team to a Super Bowl LIII appearance during the 2018 season, is the fifth individual in league history to advance to two Super Bowls within his first five seasons as an NFL head coach. The individuals to advance to two Super Bowls within their first five seasons as a head coach in NFL history: HEAD COACH TEAM SUPER BOWLS Sean McVay L.A. Rams LIII, LVI Mike Tomlin Pittsburgh XLIII, XLV...
