Photo by Rich Moll
Written By: Ryan Baker, Journalist
Can the Minnesota Wind Chill get back on track? That question will be answered after their game this Saturday night at 6 p.m. EST against the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds. Yes, it may seem dramatic to ask that question after a 1-1 start, but there are high expectations around the reigning champs, and every game matters.
The Wind Chill will be traveling to Highmark Stadium for their third game of the year, just a week after suffering a tough home opening loss to the Chicago Union. Last week’s game showed a lot of unforced errors by Minnesota resulting in sloppy offensive play. Luckily for Minnesota, they play well on the road as they haven’t lost an away game since June 24, 2023, giving them ten straight road wins.
“We need to play confidently and run hard. Those are the focus this week. There were lots of passive play and execution lapses last week, and those need to go away,” said 2024 Championship Weekend MVP Will Brandt.
Photo by Meghan White
However, Pittsburgh is in the same boat. The T-birds are coming off a loss to the Madison Radicals, where they went down 8-2, dropping an easy dump on the first point of the game. While Pittsburgh stands at 2-1, their wins have been against the lackluster Indianapolis AlleyCats and Detroit Mechanix.
The crew that will be attempting to right the ship for Minnesota will be without the likes of some big names. Matthew Rehder, Quinn Snider, Leo Sovell-Fernandez, Noah Hanson, Bret Bergmeier, and Thomas Shope will not be on the road trip. On the flip side, look for Becker Mathie, Charlie Schuweiler, and Mickey Walsh to all get their first touch on the field in 2025.
“We got a cast of guys who have been training and working, who are ready to go. I feel confident in our group that is going up against Pittsburgh, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the field,” said Feldman.
A highly anticipated return the Wind Chill welcome into their defensive unit is Sam Berglund. In the first two games of the year, Berglund was out with an injury and hasn’t seen the field due to it since the Division Championship game last year.
Photo by Jeff Gamza
“I'm focused on the team. How can I best support my teammates at practice, on the sidelines, and with my play on the field? That starts with effort, but what also matters is maintaining focus and discipline to get the little things right. That matters with defensive positioning, on-field communication, and making space on offense so my teammates can make plays. This next game is an opportunity for us to learn from the mistakes we made against Chicago,” said Berglund.
Pittsburgh is feeling much of the same as Minnesota when it comes to missing big names. Jimmy Towle, Aiden Landis, Anson Reppermund, Anil Driehuys, and John McMonigal will not suit up on Saturday night. You will see the offense run through Will Hoffenkamp, Jonathan Mast, and Marcel Oliart.
“When they are playing at their best, they are a tough team to beat. Their offense is driven by some talented guys, and you have to make them uncomfortable. It’s going to take a lot of defensive pressure to throw them off their game,” said Feldman.
The defense is going to need to step up to relieve some of the potential offensive struggles Minnesota could have. Doing so will help calm the offense, give them some cushion, and allow their decisions to be processed in a correct manner.
“Whichever team breaks first gets a huge advantage, so we can start there. Making other teams grind out back-to-back offensive possessions while our O-line gets time to rest and game plan pays huge dividends later in the game,” said Berglund.
One thing to look out for in this game is Dylan DeClerck potentially breaking Minnesota’s franchise record for career blocks, as he is tied with Jimmy Kittlesen at 142.
Photo by Jeff Gamza
Will Minnesota’s offense come back to life on the road and take care of business, or can Pittsburgh sneak a heavy right in on the reigning champs while they are down?
All of these questions will be answered this Saturday night at 6 p.m. EST. Click here to watch!
Join other Wind Chill fans at the team’s official watch party at New Bohemia in Golden Valley! Attendees who predict the exact score of the game in the Wind Chill FanZone app while attending the party will win a $350 Wind Chill team store gift card, which has increased $100 in value since no one won the prize last road game.
