THUNDER BAY – Sports – Although the Chill still have two final regular season games to play against WSA Winnipeg next Friday and Saturday, they were able to clinch a 6thHeartland Division title last night thanks to the help of the Springfield Demize who came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the Real Colorado Foxes.
Thunder Bay Chill Division Champs
The Thunder Bay Chill (11-1-0) sit comfortably at the top of the division with 33 points with Real Colorado claiming 2nd with 23 points and only 3 games left to play. The Foxes can secure 2nd and a place in the Central Conference play downs with a win or tie over the Menace Saturday night. The Conference play downs will include the Chill who are first and the Heartland Division 2nd place finisher. The two Heartland Division teams will cross over games with the Great Lakes division on July 27 and 28th. Location to be determined by the league – see below for more information.
“Our players have been focused all season long and have worked very hard for this position, however, at the end of the day a loss in the play-offs will nullify anything we have accomplished,” warns Coach Colistro.
National League Title on the Line
Head Coach Tony Colistro also went on to say that the final two games vs. Winnipeg (3-8-1) will not be taken lightly as there is more at stake by winning the two games. Two wins from the Chill will also guarantee the team 1st overall in the PDL. This is a feat that has never been accomplished by the Club since it was established in 2000. At the present time the Austin Aztex 9-1-1 and the Fresno Fuego 10-0-2 are all battling to claim the league title. Thunder Bay holds its own destiny and could win it by claiming their final two wins vs. WSA Winnipeg at home in Thunder Bay on July 19th and 20th.
Striker Sullivan Silva expected to return
In addition to clinching the Heartland Division, the Chill received additional good news that Sullivan Silva, 2012 PDL MVP is expected to return to the line up soon. Silva has received the green light from medical staff and has been in training for the past week.
“Sullivan is a fighter and he wants to contribute to this team. I can see he is working hard to be part of this and we will make that decision next week about whether we will add him to the roster”, commented Colistro. The league roster freeze is July 17th and the Chill will need to finalize their 23 players who will qualify to finish the season. A return from Sullivan will mean that the club will have to release a player to open a roster spot.
Chill chatter: Central conference play-offs will be held July 27th & 28th. The battle for 1stoverall will determine who will host the event by league officials. At the present time only FC London can mathematically win this position over the Chill. Any FC London loss, tie, or Thunder Bay Chill win will give the Chill hosting rights.
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