THUNDER BAY — A year ago, Chapples Field was enemy territory for Brandon Bermingham.
The Irish striker was a key member of the Des Moines Menace’s attack, scoring four times in the regular season and twice more in the playoffs to lead the Chill’s Deep North Division rivals to yet another division title.
That’s all changed in 2023.
The Menace have moved back to the Heartland Division and won’t be a threat to Thunder Bay’s side until the postseason.
Bermingham, who scored 22 times in 19 appearances last season for William Carey University, has switched allegiances, joining the Chill as their No. 1 scoring threat this summer as the team vies to make it back to the United Soccer League 2 playoffs for the first time since 2017, when they went to the national final in Charlotte, N.C.
He said he liked what he heard when he talked to Chill head coach Tony Colistro, making a return to the sidelines for the first time since 2012, and associate coach Sean Pierce, who coaches with the NCAA’s Longwood Lancers, home of the Chill’s Alex Pike.
“I like the plan that they were saying for the future. For me, and the way I play, it was good how we’re going to progress this season,” Bermingham said. “It’s interesting.”
“It’s how they run stuff. I know Sean and then Tony. There’s pedigree in the background with those two, so playing under two coaches (like that), you as an individual can thrive, and as a team. I think it works well.”
Though the Deep North Division likely won’t be as easy to win for the Chill as some pundits are predicting, that’s the expectation as the team opened camp on Sunday on the turf at St. Ignatius High School.
Nothing short of a second championship in franchise history will do, Bermingham said.
“Obviously winning is No. 1,” he said. “I think if we get a good team bond early on, we can create a good atmosphere in the camp, win the regular season first and then we go from there.”
It’s this kind of attitude — and scoring ability — that encouraged Colistro and Pierce to reach out to Bermingham in the offseason, as they rebuilt the Chill not quite from scratch, but knowing that most of last year’s third-place club would not be returning this season.
“Obviously Brandon is a very dedicated player. He’s the kind of striker that we want up top. He likes to score goals. We’re just looking for that No. 9 who has a sense for the net and I think we’ve built the team around him to get him a lot of service,” Colistro said.
“We’ve got high expectations and we just like that quality and the characteristics that he brings to the team.”
With or without Bermingham, Colistro said the team’s goal this offseason was building a roster that was good enough to get the team back to the playoffs.
It’s not going to be easy, despite the transfer of Des Moines to the Heartland Division.
The Chill will be up against an always improving Manitoba FC squad, expansion Bavarian United SC and RKC Third Coast, and returning foes like the St. Croix Legends, Rochester FC and Minneapolis City SC.
“The division is obviously going to be interesting, but I’m sure all the teams are going to be strong. They’re getting stronger every year. I think we’re a lot stronger as well. We’ve got a lot of new players coming in,” Colistro said.
“Today was good. It was our first day. Spirits are up with all the players, so we’re looking forward to getting going.”
The Chill open play on May 20 and May 21 at Chapples Field with friendlies against the Winnipeg Lions and begin their championship quest on the road the following Friday against Manitoba FC. Their home opener is June 2, when Rochester FC comes to town.
