Thunder Bay Chill open home schedule against Des Moines

The Thunder Bay Chill will open their 2016 home schedule on June 10 against the Des Moines Menace, the team’s long-standing Heartland Division rival.

The Premier Development League team on Tuesday announced its upcoming schedule, which will begin with a pair of pre-season games at home against the Winnipeg Lions at Fort William Stadium. 

The Chill play the Menace for two, then three days later take on the Chicago Fire Premier on Tuesday, June 14.

Other home games include two against WSA Winnipeg on June 17 and 18 and one-game midweek dates with the St. Louis Lions and expansion Kokomo Mantis on July 12 and 13 respectively.

Road dates include visits to Winnipeg to open regular-season play on June 3 and 4, St. Louis, Kokomo, Ind., Chicago and Des Moines.

The team also announced the PDL has made a change to its playoff format. There is to be a conference championship, a national semfinal and a national final to be played on Aug. 6.

Season tickets are now on sale.