Photo by Rich Moll
Written By: Ryan Baker, Journalist
The timer is ticking on who is going to be named the champion of the UFA for the 2024 season. That timer starts for the Minnesota Wind Chill when they take on the D.C. Breeze in the semifinals this Friday night.
Minnesota will have to travel into the altitude of Salt Lake City, Utah to match up with one of the most dominant teams this year. D.C. is coming off their division championship win against the Boston Glory, extending their winning streak to seven. Meanwhile, the Wind Chill are coming off, arguably, their best all-around performance of the year against the Madison Radicals.
“The group is fired up. We tasted Championship Weekend last year, and this season has been all about getting back and having another chance to show the rest of the league that we belong. A convincing win in the Division Championship is nice, but means nothing moving forward. We are going to have to earn every inch on Friday against a formidable opponent. When we play our best game, I know we can beat any team in the league,” said head coach Ben Feldman.
Statistically, these two teams look nearly identical, with the exception of the Breeze getting the edge in nearly every category. D.C. is a team that doesn’t turn the disc over, as they have the second-fewest turnovers in the league. They are also a team that doesn’t let up scores all that often, having let up the second-fewest goals in 2024. Additionally, they don’t huck at a high clip, yet they have the second-best hold percentage in the league.
“Our leadership team has spent a ton of time reviewing film and studying their approach over the last week. Against an efficient offense, we are going to have to capitalize and convert on the opportunities we generate. I have a lot of confidence in our defensive unit to generate pressure. Both offensives are going to have to work to adjust in the altitude and heat, and I think that will result in more defensive opportunities in the game in general,” said Feldman.
The high-octane and quick offense is led by likes of Jonny Malks, Tyler Monroe, Cole Jurek (former Wind Chill player), and Elliot Bonnet. Those four have combined for 96 assists and 107 goals on the year. D.C. may have one of the best offenses in the league, but Minnesota has one of the best defenses led by Brandon Matis, Dylan DeClerck, Paul Krenik, and Noah Hanson.
“They have a very talented and mobile offensive group. We have a good idea where we think our guys match up best, but with a new opponent, in-game adjustments are going to be key. That will be a big part of our focus as we work through the first quarter and deeper into the game,” said Feldman.
As for Minnesota, they only stand behind the Breeze in those statistical categories by just a couple places. However, the edge that Minnesota has on D.C. is their ability to produce blocks. They were able to finish the regular season with the third-most blocks in the league, while the Breeze are in the bottom-third of the league in blocks.
“It's going to be a challenge that we haven't faced yet this year - or maybe ever - but I think it will be extremely fun! Simulating it at practice can only get you so far, so we will need to be able to mentally adjust through the game as we figure out what works and doesn't. I trust that if we show up defensively we are going to generate the opportunities we need to win,” said Tristan Van de Moortele.
The Breeze closed their regular season with wins against the Carolina Flyers and the New York Empire, and have been playing good ultimate of late. Minnesota was able to return to the high-level of play after having a rough last month of the 2024 regular season. Losses against the Chicago Union and the Empire with two wins over Detroit spotlighted some of the Wind Chill’s weaknesses. It looked like they cleaned up those spots in the dominating 23-14 win a couple weeks ago against Madison.
“I don't think it's [the preparation] changed much. We wanted to be back, we expected to be back. All the work and preparation that brought us here is what we're going to need to rely on to succeed at Championship Weekend - just like against Madison. In 2 weeks we aren't going to reinvent the wheel, so it's about honing in on what we do best and prepping our minds and bodies to be at 100% come Friday afternoon. We were ready last year and we are going to be ready this weekend,” said Van de Moortele.
It is a repeat endeavor for the Wind Chill as they lost in the semifinals last year at Championship Weekend to the Salt Lake Shred. It was a heartbreaking buzzer beating loss in their own home as Minnesota hosted Championship Weekend in 2023. This time they are looking to get over that hump and get to that championship game on Saturday.
“It feels good to be back at Championship Weekend, it was a goal we set as a team at the start of the season. It took a lot of time and effort to get here but the job is not done. We still have tough games ahead,” said Bryan Vohnoutka. “D.C. does a good job of disrupting underneath cutter flow. They are opportunistic and can make things hard if you’re predictable. If we clear space aggressively and find the open person that should put us in a great spot.”
If Minnesota can get past the Breeze, they will be looking to match up with either the Seattle Cascades or the Carolina Flyers the following day. If all goes well, the Wind Chill will be playing their two biggest games of the year on back-to-back days in hopes of bringing Minnesota their first ever UFA title.
