THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – A Thunder Bay Chill (6-6-1) win on Tuesday at Shattuck Saint Mary in Fairbault, MN will clinch a playoff spot for the team for the eighth consecutive year. Kick off will be 12:00 noon EDT. The task won’t be easy, as the opponent for the last regular season game will be the St. Louis Lions (4-3-4), who have
already taken two out the three games played between the two this season, with the Chill winning one in St. Louis on July 3, 2014.
The Lions were held to a 1-1 draw in Des Moines on Saturday night, clinching the division crown for Des Moines and keeping the Lions hopes for a playoff spot alive as well. The Lions need a win against the Chill and then a tie in one of their last two games, or a tie against the Chill and at least a win and a tie in their last two games of the season to secure their first playoff appearance since 2007. T
he Chill can also back their way into the playoffs if they lose or tie, should St. Louis fail to gain additional points in their last two games.
“This is incredible”, said Chill head coach Tony Colistro. “During the last 7 years, if you had more than 2 losses in our division, you did not have a chance at the playoffs. This year we may get in with 6 or 7 losses” he continued.
“I am not happy about our record this year, but I am both hopeful and excited that we may make the playoffs”, said Colistro.
The Lions will face WSA Winnipeg on Wednesday, July 15th in Shattuck as well. These neutral site games are a result of the league rescheduling subsequent to the Chicago Inferno folding their operations in June.
Regardless of what happens in Fairbault on Tuesday, the Chill will return to play a friendly against Winnipeg ItalInter on Thursday, July 17th.
Should the Chill make the playoffs, they will most likely be traveling on the weekend of July 25th-27th to a yet to be determined location.
