Chill playing compact schedule in 2014

Don’t blink fast or the Thunder Bay Chill season will pass you by.

The three-time Premier Development League finalists start their 2014 soccer season on May 31 in Winnipeg. Forty days later they’ll wrap things up at home on July 9 against new division-mates the Chicago Inferno, who will replace the now departed Kansas City Brass in the Heartland Division. The Real Colorado Foxes have shifted divisions, moving to the Mountain Division.

The Chill’s home opener is scheduled for June 6 when the St. Louis Lions invade Chapples Park. It’s first of six straight home games they’ll play in a 15-day stretch.

Other home opponents include Springfield (June 7), Des Moines (June 13 and 14) and Winnipeg (June 20 and 21).

The traditional five-game road trip the Chill embarks on each summer starts June 28 in Des Moines and ends a week later in St. Louis.