Photo by Chris Hurd

Written By: Ryan Baker, Journalist

Wind Chill fans rejoice! Minnesota is finally kicking off its 2026 UFA season this Saturday at 6 p.m. CT when they host the Chicago Union at Sea Foam Stadium!​

Head Coach Ben Feldman and company get to start their season off in the confines of their own home for the first time since 2022. However, the task ahead is historically daunting; the Wind Chill have struggled at home against the Union, giving up five of the last seven matchups. This sets the tone for a challenging opener.​

When asking Feldman where the team’s head is at days before the first game of the season, the answer was simple. “Beat Chicago.”​

There is a lot of history in this matchup. To many, it is known as the best rivalry in the Central Division—especially after Minnesota halted Chicago’s undefeated season last year by eliminating them in the Central Divisional Championship in an absolute barnburner.​

For this matchup, the Wind Chill roster features significant additions: former Defensive Player of the Year Lukas Ambrose and First Team All-UFA selection Noah Coolman, with the rest of the core group remaining. Meanwhile, the Chicago Union's roster has changed notably since their 12-0 season last year, with several key departures and new faces for this game.​

Photo by Josiah Phifer

“I’m super excited to be putting on a Wind Chill jersey in front of these fans,” Ambrose exclaimed. “You hear a lot about the Wind Chill fan engagement, the energy at the stadium, and I'm excited to be a part of that for the first time.”​

Choosing an active 20 every week is a challenge for Feldman. Minnesota has one of the deepest rosters in the league. The season opener may be Feldman's easiest selection, as no college players will be available until later.​

“It's a little more challenging with a new composition and roster for Chicago to game plan, but the leadership team is doing everything we can on paper to prepare our guys to be ready to go for the weekend,” said Feldman.​

Tristan van de Moortele and Greg Cousins are two of the most notable players not suiting up for their first game, excluding the aforementioned college situation. However, we get to see the debuts of the new additions, but we also get to see the return of defensive anchor and veteran Brandon Matis, who returns from a leg injury after being sidelined all of 2025.​

“Practicing with the team has been awesome,” said Amrbose. “There's not a bad egg on the team. It’s obviously taken some time to mesh with a system and a team that's already been successful and has been together for a number of years. I feel like I've gotten a lot more aligned with what the team looks for and wants from me as a player, and that's been really great.”​

For Chicago, key players will miss the season opener, including Pawel Janas, Charlie Vukovic, Jack Shanahan, and Jace Bruner. Ben Preiss is uncertain as a game-time decision. The Union will rely on Wilson Matthews, Jake Rubin-Miller, Jeff Weis, and Andrew Sjogren to step up.​

“Our mindset doesn’t change regardless of who they bring to Sea Foam,” said Josh Klane, Wind Chill’s all-time scoring leader. “We played some of our worst frisbee against Chicago during the regular season last year, and we’re hungry to not let that happen again this year.”

Photo by Rich Moll

The game within the game to watch is how Coolman and Ambrose get integrated. Coolman will see a lot of offensive looks, helping an offense that has struggled with early consistency. In the last two seasons, Wind Chill turned the disc over 85 times in the first quarter and had a hold rate of 58.82 percent in the first quarter last year.

Klane emphasized the importance of trusting the systems in place, the talent on the field, and avoiding unforced errors, which has been a big focus this offseason for the team.

“We have some of the most talented offensive players in the league, and we know that we haven’t played up to our potential consistently,” said Klane. “Remember that this core O-line won a championship 2 years ago. Our confidence will always be high because we know what we are capable of when we play our best.”

Obviously, a win is the ultimate goal, but there is another piece Feldman hopes to see throughout the game this Saturday.

Photo by Chris Hurd

“Efficiency and resilience,” Feldman stated. “Both teams will go on their runs, and I want us to bounce back from breaks or missed opportunities without missing a beat.”

Expectations are sky high for the Wind Chill this season. The defense is expected to have one of the best years ever. The offense should improve. All expectations, storylines, and narratives end once the first pull goes off. For Minnesota, execution starts this weekend.

To watch the Wind Chill’s season opener, go here!

To buy tickets to Sea Foam Stadium, go here!