By: Jeph Novak
The Minnesota Wind Chill are looking at a blank slate as the 2023 season approaches, and anything is possible for the team this year.
After an eventful offseason that saw the departures of handlers Andrew Roy and Tony Poletto, along with cutters Cole Jurek, Rocco Linehan, and Sam Ward, the team looks a bit different. They have been busy fortifying a new roster that can lift the team to a strong season, past their Division rivals and into a seat at the Championship Table in August. The Chill are more motivated than ever this year, as Minnesota prepares to host its first Championship Weekend, taking place at TCO Stadium in Eagan.
But before they can get there, they need to take this season game by game, starting this Saturday in Indianapolis against Central Division contenders, the AlleyCats. Minnesota is ready to take on any challenge in 2023 if it means taking the Division crown and competing in front of their home crowd for the Championship. One week at a time, they are ready to cement their name in AUDL history.
Players to Watch
Jason Tschida
Returning to the Wind Chill this year is handler Jason Tschida. Having played with the team from 2016 - 2019, Tschida already has a bundle of assists on his stat sheet. Wind Chill assistant coach Max Longchamp is excited to fit Tschida into a role that will complement the team’s existing handler set.
“Tschida is a tremendous player,” Longchamp said. “He’s as quick as they come, he’s crafty, and he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes in the backfield.”
The return of Tschida will aid in filling in productivity and working the disc strategically across the entirety of the field. His small-ball preference combined with his punishing huck capabilities make him a threat to opposing offenses, and the team is set up well to fill in Tschida as soon as opening pull goes up.
Sam Berglund
Sam Berglund may be a rookie in the AUDL, but he is no stranger to the game or to many of his teammates. As a handler, Berglund is bringing years of experience playing with the club team, Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust, to the Wind Chill’s defensive line. He’ll quickly become a staple in the team’s defensive backfield.
Berglund is eager to step onto the professional field and tackle a wide-open Central Division.
Will Casperson
Coming over from the Madison Radicals, Will Casperson is looking to play a big part with Minnesota’s defense. He will especially be helpful filling it some gaps for Minnesota on defensive turns, as they look to continue their break point conversion success that they saw in 2022. Casperson can disrupt opposing offenses and provide some stability to a D-line that may be seeing some turnover this season.
Marty Adams
Marty Adams is coming off a huge 2022. We can only hope that the 9-month break since August has not slowed his momentum down at all. With springs in his feet, Adams flies toward the disc, making huge plays every chance he gets and forcing everyone around him to be on high alert.
Entering his second year with the Wind Chill, Adams is looking to build on his 2022 success and put up similar — if not better — numbers than he did last year. It’s certainly hard to ask any more of the speedy cutter; in 11 games last year, he had 10 assists, 12 goals and 6 blocks. Whether he is playing offense or defense, he is a human highlight reel and one opponents — and fans — should be looking out for this season.
Adams is currently facing an upper body injury, but he is working on recovery to join the team for the home opener on May 20th. Whenever he is in the lineup, he is making a difference, and the team is looking forward to his full recovery.
Colin Berry and Jimmy Kittlesen
Colin Berry and Jimmy Kittlesen are both making a long-expected and much-welcomed return from injuries. Each had short stints with the team last year before having to bow out of the season, but they are back and as ready as ever to rejoin the Wind Chill and be leaders on and off the field.
Both are traditionally defensive-aligned players, though Berry may see some play time on the other side of the disc this season. Their speed and height lend themselves to receiving discs downfield exceptionally well, and the team can’t wait to have them back in 2023.
Will Brandt
The Wind Chill have some big opportunities for players to step up and take charge. Will Brandt is up to the challenge.
Brandt sees the 2023 season as his chance to take a different role on the team, likely as a primary handler. His experience in big games certainly helps his case, and his drive will push him forward to take the lead with a disc in his hands. Though with a solid set of handlers in Abe Coffin, Josh Klane and Jason Tschida, Brandt may find success in maintaining his second or third handler approach. No matter what his role is in 2023, Brandt will not do it quietly.
His ability to manipulate the disc downfield in a variety of ways makes him dangerous, and he has built some great chemistry in the lineup. As the season goes along, be sure to keep your eye on Brandt and his numbers.
A Fortified Offense
It is no secret that Minnesota excelled on defense in 2022. In fact, the team was one of the best in the league at securing break point opportunities. While their defense is still an area of focus for the team, it is the offense that needed some bolstering if they want to make it onto the Championship Field.
“Our offense feels really good this year,” said Longchamp. “We’ve set a really good tone, and I owe that to the leaders on the team.”
Key leaders, such as Josh Klane, Colin Berry and Bryan Vohnoutka have taken on a stronger leadership role on offense, according to the team’s assistant coach. This has already proven to be extremely helpful in drawing clear lines, making strategic plays and, as Longchamp put it, playing “unselfish ultimate.”
“The offense has good chemistry this year,” he continued.
The Wind Chill lost one of their primary handlers, Andrew Roy, along with his cutting partner Cole Jurek in the offseason. To fill in those gaps, the team made some moves, bringing Abe Coffin’s handler talent to the O-line, along with Tschida’s return.
With these few key additions the team is hoping to be a bit more vertical on offense, looking deep while still being strategic in their swing passes and field awareness. The handler set got a refresh, but the receivers in the end zone are familiar faces, and ones the team will continue to look to during the season for big plays and consistent runs.
Plays like B-Von, Quinn Snider and Paul Krenik are just a few of the team’s cutters who have become reliable receivers that often lead the scoring. They are going to be essential in the team’s offensive success this season, and Longchamp and the rest of the coaching staff are confident that they can anchor the team and help power the offense to Championship Weekend.
Notable Season Matchups
The Central Division is looking to be one of the most uncertain in terms of final standings and eventual playoff seeding. Competition is high in the Midwest this season, with three or four teams fighting for the top.
The Chicago Union, Indianapolis AlleyCats, and Madison Radicals are Minnesota’s biggest opponents this year, making each game against them all the more important.
With two home games against Chicago this year, Minnesota may be the favorite in those matchups. The Union saw a few significant losses in talent of their own in the offseason, most notably Pawel Janas, but their roster is still very strong and talented. Sam Kaminsky, Nate Goff, and Ross Barker are still dominant forces anchoring the Union’s lineup, and Minnesota needs to be nearly perfect against the reigning Central Division Champions if they want to topple the throne.
They won’t have it any easier against the Indianapolis AlleyCats this season, either. While the Cats didn’t lose or gain significant pieces in the offseason, they are suddenly Dark Horse contenders to win the Division. Cam Brock, the all-time goal leader in the AUDL, is leading the charge alongside teammates Xavier Payne, Levi Jacobs, and Travis Carpenter. The consistency in their lineup may prove to be all the edge they need to take down Minnesota and Chicago, meaning the Wind Chill have no rest as they face the AlleyCats throughout the season.
Finally, the Wind Chill are taking a trip out West in 2023, traveling to Colorado to play against the Summit in June.
Head coach Ben Feldman is looking forward to this mid-season matchup, giving his team a new challenge through an opponent they’ve never seen before.
“We took that on as a team,” said Feldman. “If we want to be the best form of ourselves, the more challenging of a schedule we have, the better. Winning that game will certainly be a bonus, but if we take care of business in the Division, we’ll be set for playoffs.”
The Colorado Summit was the West Division’s representative at Championship Weekend last year, and they don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Interdivisional games are especially important, as it can give the team an edge at the end of the season or even in a playoff push.
The Wind Chill’s Season Starts Saturday
Feldman and the rest of the team are aware that the season likely won’t hinge on any single game, but each game will carry immense importance in the long run. Not only will the outcome matter, but the way the team works together, the style of play they execute, and the challenges they are able to overcome will spell out their success this season.
With an exciting offseason behind them, the Chill are looking forward to traveling to Indianapolis this weekend to take on the AlleyCats and get the 2023 season underway. Anything can happen this year with a wide-open Division and new players to help the team achieve their goals of claiming that elusive Division and League Championship title.
