THUNDER BAY – The Winnipeg Lions are usually a pretty good litmus test for the Thunder Bay Chill.
Play well in their annual pair of exhibition games and odds are the season will bring some measure of success.
Play lousy and the team knows it might be in for a long season ahead.
Rest easy, Chill fans, it looks like the team’s going to be a contender in 2017 – if Saturday’s 4-0 triumph at Fort William Stadium is any indication.
“These are actually the games we use to see how strong we are,” said third-year coach Giovanni Petraglia.
“I’m happy with the first game. I’m not really happy with the start, the first 15 minutes. But I guess it’s the first game and it’s understandable. I think we’re in a good way. We need to improve lots of little things. But that’s why we have these games.”
Veteran forward Brandon Swartzendruber, who opened the scoring in the 15th minute, blasting a shot home from a dozen yards out, said it was a good gauge – not perfect, but a good start with another friendly scheduled for Sunday and a week to prepare for their home opener next Saturday on the road against 0-4-0 WSA Winnipeg.
“I think we did well tonight, but there are definitely some things we could do better though. I feel as though we – and not to be disrespectful to them – but we played down to their level for a lot of the match,” the Colorado native said.
“We played slow because they gave us the time and we needed to move the ball quicker … But it’s good that we found the back of the net and gelled together a little more.”
Newcomer Adam Abdellaui doubled the Thunder Bay lead in the 26th minute and the Chill took a 3-0 lead into the second half thanks to German Alfaro’s first goal with the team, as he burst past sprawling Winnipeg keeper Sean Golden and tapped the ball home in the 42nd.
Captain Mitchell Osmond rounded out the scoring late in the second, heading home a free kick for the Chill’s fourth of the night.
The Australian said it felt good to get the first one out of the way in the team’s first game.
“It’s an exhibition game, but it’s nice to get the monkey off my back. I’m happy with our performance, to be honest. We were a little bit tired toward the end, but the boys stuck together and put the work in. It’s a good first showing for us.”
Pitch marks: Petraglia said forward Sullivan Silva, who sat out Saturday’s contest, will see the pitch in Sunday afternoon’s rematch. Game time is 1 p.m.
