THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Chill will be a team without a league in the upcoming season.
The soccer club announced Monday that it and league officials have agreed the Chill will "defer" playing in the USL2 this year but "could possibly" return to the league in 2026.
It was first publicly disclosed last July that the team's future in the league was in jeopardy.
In Monday's statement, the team said it had been in discussions with the league since the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the structure of divisional alignments.
The Chill was the only remaining Canadian club in USL2.
"Costs continue to rise regarding transportation, hotels and meals, so all USL2 franchises are taking precautions when it comes to budgets. The Thunder Bay Chill are no different...The decision to opt out was made with thoughtful evaluation and meticulous review," the club stated.
The weakness of the Canadian dollar was also a factor.
"This decision was not made overnight and we put much thought and planning to ensure that we can continue to operate at a high level and ensure sustainability for another 25 years," said executive director Tony Colistro.
"Next season (2025) will allow us to re-group and focus on" moving to ensure there is a possibility to bring the franchise back into USL2, he added.
According to the Chill, the league is committed to restoring a strong Deep North Division, the division the club won the past two seasons, by adding new franchises in 2026 "that make geographical sense."
Newswatch was told by one source familiar with the situation there may be interest in adding clubs in Minnesota, Wisconsin or the Dakotas.
In the meantime, Chill officials are reviewing options for operating this year with a competitive schedule of exhibition matches and certain Cup competitions.
"This summer might give us an opportunity to participate in Cup competitions that we have not been able to pursue because of the conflicting league schedule in the past, giving our players meaningful games to play for," Colistro said.
The Chill are currently accepting expressions of interest from players for the coming season, which is expected to run from May to August.
More information is available online.
