May 19th, 2025

Article by Weldon Genies

Photography by Norman Timonera

CHICAGO—The Chicago Union began their 2025 campaign with an impressive 16-11 victory against the Minnesota Wind Chill this past Saturday in Minnesota. 

The UFA selected this highly anticipated matchup as Week 4’s “Game of the Week,” and neither squad disappointed. The game started with a 7-1 run by the Union via capitalizing on break chances, leading to an effective 61% break percentage for Chicago. The Wind Chill responded with a 5-2 run, clawing back into the game with crucial defensive stops, but the Union ultimately played a cleaner game with 21 turnovers to the Wind Chill’s 26. This led to the Chicago Union walking away victorious 16-11, starting 1-0 on the season.

Co-head coaches Dave Woods and Charlie Furse could not have asked for a better start this season, as their new additions to the Union impressed in their debuts. Belgian superstar Daan De Marrée had a spectacular game this past Saturday, tallying 272 total yards and two and three hockey assists. There was a strong synergy between De Marrée and the entire squad, which usually is not palpable in a UFA debut. Xavier Payne also had a stellar first game, recording 175 throwing yards, two assists, two blocks, two hockey assists, and one goal. William Wettengel showed lots of promise, with 134 total yards, two blocks, and one assist. Simon Dastrup, in his Union debut, made his mark with 135 receiving yards and a goal. This Union squad has already begun to gel rapidly, making their potential for the season very high.

Chicago showcased a strong veteran presence, headlined by the return of Kyle Ruttledge, who showed up in his first match with the Union since 2022 with 249 total yards, two goals, two blocks, and one assist. Alongside the new additions, the Union’s team captains made their mark in this match. Jack Shanahan, a four-time team captain, was very reliable, tallying 76 receiving yards and 64 throwing yards with an assist. In his fifth season, team captain Sam Kaminsky had an impressive outing, tallying 134 total yards, two hockey assists, one assist, and one goal. Team captain Dex Dremann recorded 84 yards, two assists, one goal, and one block. Team captain Ben Preiss had 104 receiving yards, two goals, and one assist. Team captain Andrew Sjogren secured 28 receiving yards and one goal to begin his third year with the Union.

Henry Goldenberg began his second season with the Union with a bang, tallying 225 total yards with one assist and one hockey assist. Pawel Janas returned to the Union with 115 total yards, two assists, two hockey assists, and one goal. Jeff Weis had a nice start to his eighth season with 84 throwing yards, two blocks, and one goal. Jake Rubin-Miller, the youth director for the Chicago Union, tallied 69 total yards, two blocks, a goal, and an assist. 

For the Wind Chill, Will Brandt and Josh Klane had spectacular days, combining for 726 total yards. The Union was able to contain Will Brandt to an extent, following his 300/300 game last week against the AlleyCats. The Union’s defense was on full display all game, forcing Minnesota to turn the disc over in pivotal moments, which was very uncharacteristic for the defending champion Wind Chill. Minnesota’s offense was out of sorts at times, something to pay attention to in the following weeks.

Both teams showcased a lot of emotion and passion throughout the game and after each score, as both teams have a winning pedigree and have built a strong camaraderie. Even when the game was out of reach, the Wind Chill still showed heart and played hard until the end. The next matchup between the Union and the Wind Chill will be on July 4th in Evanston, so expect great turnout with an excellent display of quality ultimate.

Next week, the Union looks to continue this positive momentum into the Chicago Classic @ De La Salle Institute against the undefeated Atlanta Hustle on Saturday, May 31st. Fans can score tickets to the game including a $49 all-you-can-eat and drink special at our online shop. The opening pull is at 6:00 P.M. CT and will stream live on WatchUFA.tv.