2016 Major League Ultimate season facts for kids

The 2016 Major League Ultimate season was the fourth and final year for this exciting frisbee league. Eight teams competed, split into two groups: the East and West conferences. Each team played 10 games during the season. The best two teams from each conference moved on to the playoffs. These teams then played against each other to see who would make it to the championship game. On July 16, the Philadelphia Spinners won the final game 14–11 against the Portland Stags. This made them the 2016 MLU Champions!

Team Standings: Who Was on Top?

The teams played hard to earn their spots in the playoffs. Here's how they finished in their conferences:

Eastern Conference Teams

The Philadelphia Spinners were super strong, winning 9 out of 10 games. The Boston Whitecaps were right behind them with 8 wins. Both teams earned a spot in the Conference Final.

• Philadelphia Spinners: 9 wins, 1 loss
• Boston Whitecaps: 8 wins, 2 losses
• DC Current: 3 wins, 7 losses
• New York Rumble: 2 wins, 8 losses

Western Conference Teams

The Portland Stags dominated the Western Conference, also winning 9 games. The Seattle Rainmakers took the second playoff spot with 7 wins.

• Portland Stags: 9 wins, 1 loss
• Seattle Rainmakers: 7 wins, 3 losses
• San Francisco Dogfish: 2 wins, 8 losses
• Vancouver Nighthawks: 1 win, 9 losses

Playoffs: The Road to the Championship

The playoffs were where the top teams battled it out to reach the final game.

Source:

Conference Finals: Who Made It to the Big Game?

These games decided which team from each conference would play in the MLU Championship.

• Western Conference Final: The Portland Stags beat the Seattle Rainmakers 18–9. This game took place on June 25, 2016, in Milwaukie, Oregon.
• Eastern Conference Final: The Philadelphia Spinners won against the Boston Whitecaps 20–16. This match was played on June 26, 2016, in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

MLU Championship: The Grand Final!

The big game was held on August 16, 2016, in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Spinners faced the Portland Stags. The Spinners won the championship 14–11, becoming the 2016 MLU Champions!

Season Awards: Celebrating the Best Players

At the end of the season, special awards were given to players who stood out.

Most Valuable Players (MVPs)

The MVP award goes to the player who was most important to their team's success.

• Billy Sickles from the Philadelphia Spinners was the MVP for the Eastern Conference.
• Cody Bjorklund from the Portland Stags was the MVP for the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference MVP Rankings

Western Conference MVP Rankings

Spirit Awards: Fair Play and Good Sportsmanship

This award is voted on by other players. It celebrates players who show great sportsmanship and respect, both on and off the field.

• Quinn Hunziker (New York Rumble) won for the Eastern Conference.
• Clay Dewey-Valentine (Seattle Rainmakers) won for the Western Conference.

Rookies of the Year: Amazing First Seasons!

This award is for players who had the best first year in the league.

• Sean Mott (New York Rumble) won for the Eastern Conference.
• Graeme Barber (Vancouver Nighthawks) won for the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference Rookie Rankings

Western Conference Rookie Rankings

Breakout Player of the Year: Most Improved!

This award goes to the player who showed the most improvement from the previous season.

• Raphy Hayes from the Portland Stags won this award.

Breakout Player Rankings

Offensive Players of the Year: Top Scorers!

This award celebrates the best players at scoring goals and making plays.

• Delrico Johnson (DC Current) won for the Eastern Conference.
• Brad Houser (Seattle Rainmakers) won for the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference Offensive Player Rankings

Western Conference Offensive Player Rankings

Defensive Players of the Year: Best at Stopping Opponents!

This award is for the players who were best at preventing the other team from scoring.

• Marques Brownlee (New York Rumble) won for the Eastern Conference.
• Peter Woodside (Portland Stags) won for the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference Defensive Player Rankings

Western Conference Defensive Player Rankings

Coaches of the Year: Guiding the Teams to Victory!

This award recognizes the coaches who did an amazing job leading their teams.

• Danny Quarrell (Portland Stags) and Darryl Stanley (Philadelphia Spinners) both won this award. Both coaches led their teams to the championship final, losing only one game each in their conferences!