Thunder Bay Chill League Opener vs Des Moines Menace
Chicago FC United Saturday
#LSN_Sports Matthew Mozynski.
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO – June 8, 2018 (LSN) The Thunder Bay Chill (2-0-0), runners up in last year’s PDL National Championship play their PDL league opener Friday as they host the division leading Des Moines Menace (4-0-0). The Chill, who last won the PDL National Champions in 2008, are coming off a sweep of WSA Winnipeg last weekend with two clean sheets for Campbell University graduate Matthew Mozynski.
The Menace who are in their 25th season in the league, rolled over their opponents in four consecutive wins to start the season and have outscored the opposition by 11-2.
During the past 18 seasons the Chill and the Menace have met on 60 regular season occasions with the Menace holding a 30-25-5 advantage. During the past 11 seasons the Heartland has been won by either the Menace or Thunder Bay. The Menace have replaced both their coach and general manager during the offseason. Tiley Nunninh and Alen Marcina take over theses respective positions.
The Chill will then play Chicago FC United (3-0-0) on Saturday night in the second game of this weekend’s doubleheader. United have also impressed in the early going with 3 consecutive clean sheets and outscored their opponents 10-0. For more information contact: Thunder Bay Chill S.C [email protected]
The Chill beat Chicago 2-1 here in Thunder Bay in their last meeting of 2017 and tied them 1-1 in Rockford, Illinois in their only other meeting last year under the current Chicago FC United team name.
The Chill are coming off a weekend sweep of WSA Winnipeg to open their 19th season in Winnipeg over the past weekend. Head coach Giovanni Petraglia returns for his 4th season at the helm. Recruitment efforts over the winter have landed another international contingent representing 9 countries. Petraglia feels they will keep the Chill competitive after a run at the Championship last year. Seven local players are also on the roster who have been developed through the Chill youth system. “I feel that we have recruited a team that can make the playoffs and hopefully take us to the Championship final again” said Petraglia. “But it is always difficult knowing that until you play the contenders in your division”, he continued. This weekend the Chill will be doing just that, as they battle two of the teams who will be looking for a post season berth.