Stay the course

Defence wins championships.

It’s something Thunder Bay Chill head coach Tony Colistro has told his players since the beginning of the season. And with the squad now heading to Pontiac, Mich., or the Premier Development League central conference championships this weekend, he’s going to keep saying it.

The team is tied in the PDL for fewest goals against with nine this season, thanks to keeper Stephen Paterson. That, coupled with a strong counter-attack led by Brandon Swartzendruber, who’s a top-three goal scorer in the league, will be the keys to getting past the Chicago Fire.

Chicago is a team that handed the Chill its first playoff loss in franchise history in the first round of playoffs in 2007.

"It’s about finding the mix," Colistro said during a chilly Thursday morning practice at Chapples Soccer Park. "Having the strong defence and the potent attack."

While the team doesn’t know much about their opponent, which could be a disadvantage, Chicago doesn’t know the Thunder Bay game either.

That could play well for the Chill.

"It’s also a disadvantage to them that they don’t know us," Colistro said.

Regardless of how much they know about Chicago, Swartzendruber said the Chill have to play their game.

Chicago is known for being a young team that runs the ball and likes to keep it. But with the Chill’s strong defense and counters, Chicago will have to be forced to play the Thunder Bay way.

"I think in the playoffs the key is to play your game and make them change to you," Swartzendruber said.

Keeping in mind that it’s win or go home without letting the pressure get on top of you also helps he added.

"You’ve got to be that team that bounces go your way and you make sure the bounces go your way."

Paterson said he’s looking forward to the challenge of facing a new opponent.

While a different mentality is needed in the playoffs, the strategy of playing strong in the back end and getting the ball up to the strikers won’t change.

"It’s somebody new and different to do that to so it’s an exciting thing for us," he said.
With the Chill playing so strong as of late, he’s confident the team has what it takes to win it all from the depth on the bench to how well all of the players get along.

"We definitely can take the PDL championship. We have all the capabilities," Paterson said.

The Chill play Chicago Friday at 5:30 p.m. The game can be watched online here.