Colorado Springs Blizzard
Encyclopedia
Colorado Springs Blizzard were an American soccer team, founded in 2004. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues
Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.
The Blizzard played their home games at Sand Creek Stadium in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado
and also in the stadium at Harrison High School
, also in Colorado Springs. The team's colors were red and white.
, 23 July 2006
area to play in the league, following the runs of the Colorado Springs Stampede (1995-2000) and Colorado Springs Ascent
(2001). Under owner/head coach Bill Arbogast Blizzard's first season in competition began strongly with back-to-back wins in their first two games, 4-0 over Kansas City Brass
and 4-3 over state rivals Boulder Rapids Reserve
, with Sean McGinnis and Daniel Wasson
finding the net. This was as good as the season got, as they struggled to find consistency thereafter. They remained potent in front of goal throughout the year - they beat St. Louis Strikers
5-3 (with McGinnis scoring a hat trick), overpowered Sioux Falls Spitfire
4-1 in mid-June, and enjoyed an excellent 5-0 win on the road in St. Louis in July. This was counteracted by several heavy defeats, including a 6-2 hammering by BYU Cougars, a 4-1 defeat to Boulder Rapids Reserve
, a 4-0 thrashing on the road at the El Paso Patriots
, and two 3-0 losses on the end of season run in. Blizzard finished their first campaign 7th in the Heartland Division, 35 points adrift of divisional champions Chicago Fire Premier
.
The 2005 season was a struggle for Blizzard; they dropped their opening three games of the season by significant margins, and left it late to pick up their firs win 3-1 at home to Sioux Falls Spitfire
at the end of May. However, this victory did not signal a turnaround in fortunes: they lost five of their next six games, beating expansion side Springfield Storm
3-1, but suffering heavy defeats to El Paso Patriots
(3-0), Boulder Rapids Reserve
(5-1) and BYU Cougars (6-2). Blizzard's fourth and final win of the season came at home in mid-July with a 3-1 victory over Kansas City Brass
, but slumped to four consecutive losses in their final four games, including a 6-1 demolition by Boulder Rapids Reserve
, and a humiliating 5-0 defeat by Des Moines Menace
on the last day of the season. They finished the year 6th in the Heartland Division, 26 points off the leaders and just three points off the basement. Top scorer Ryan Regrutto did manage to hit 5 goals, while Craig Miller contributed 3 assists.
John Wells was brought in as head coach for the 2006 season. The team won just three games all season - 3-0 over Sioux Falls Spitfire
in mid-June, 4-3 over expansion franchise Ogden Outlaws
in early July, and 2-0 over fellow Utah team BYU Cougars. This was as good as it got for Blizzard: most of the rest of the season was spent enduring a series of heavy defeats, including a 4-1 thrashing at home by Des Moines Menace
, a 6-1 demolition at the hands of Colorado Rapids U23's, a 3-1 loss on the road in Sioux Falls, and a 1-0 loss to Kansas City Brass
on the final day of the season in what turned out to be the franchsie's last ever game. Blizzard finished 2006 6th in the Heartland Division for the second consecutive year, three points ahead of Thunder Bay Chill
, but 30 behind divisional champions Colorado. Joel Trainer was Blizzard's top scorer, with 7 goals, while Ryan Regrutto and Craig Miller both contributed 3 assists. Following the conclusion of the 2006 season the club folded, and left the PDL. The Blizzards season was capped off by a 2 win road trip in Utah which is a tuff Road Trip and getting 2 wins on the Road the same weekend in the PDL is rare. The Road trip was on the heels of a Wednesday night match with the Colorado Rapids at Sand Creek Stadium. Coach Fernando Clavijo and John Murphy arrived with the Rapids to play in front of a crowd of about 2,000 to watch the Blizzard come away with a 3-2 win which would prove to be the highlight of the Blizzards 2006 season.
James Riley Daniel Wasson
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.
The Blizzard played their home games at Sand Creek Stadium in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
and also in the stadium at Harrison High School
Harrison High School (Colorado Springs)
For schools with a similar name, see Harrison High School.Harrison High School is a high school near the junction of Interstate 25 and Circle Drive in south Colorado Springs. It is the older high school in Harrison School District 2.- External links :*...
, also in Colorado Springs. The team's colors were red and white.
Final Squad
vs Kansas City BrassKansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass is an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games on...
, 23 July 2006
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Heartland | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Heartland | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Heartland | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Competition History
Blizzard entered the PDL as an expansion franchise in 2004 as the third team from the Pikes PeakPikes Peak
Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County in the United States of America....
area to play in the league, following the runs of the Colorado Springs Stampede (1995-2000) and Colorado Springs Ascent
Colorado Springs Ascent
Colorado Springs Ascent were an American soccer team who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in 2000 and 2001, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.-Year-by-year:...
(2001). Under owner/head coach Bill Arbogast Blizzard's first season in competition began strongly with back-to-back wins in their first two games, 4-0 over Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass is an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games on...
and 4-3 over state rivals Boulder Rapids Reserve
Boulder Rapids Reserve
Colorado Rapids U23's was an American soccer team based in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
, with Sean McGinnis and Daniel Wasson
Daniel Wasson
Daniel Wasson is an American soccer player currently playing for NSC Minnesota Stars in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:...
finding the net. This was as good as the season got, as they struggled to find consistency thereafter. They remained potent in front of goal throughout the year - they beat St. Louis Strikers
St. Louis Strikers
St. Louis Strikers were an American soccer team, founded in 2003, and was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2004, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Strikers played their home...
5-3 (with McGinnis scoring a hat trick), overpowered Sioux Falls Spitfire
Sioux Falls Spitfire
Sioux Falls Spitfire was an American soccer team, founded in 2001. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home...
4-1 in mid-June, and enjoyed an excellent 5-0 win on the road in St. Louis in July. This was counteracted by several heavy defeats, including a 6-2 hammering by BYU Cougars, a 4-1 defeat to Boulder Rapids Reserve
Boulder Rapids Reserve
Colorado Rapids U23's was an American soccer team based in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
, a 4-0 thrashing on the road at the El Paso Patriots
El Paso Patriots
Chivas El Paso Patriots is an American soccer team based in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...
, and two 3-0 losses on the end of season run in. Blizzard finished their first campaign 7th in the Heartland Division, 35 points adrift of divisional champions Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at...
.
The 2005 season was a struggle for Blizzard; they dropped their opening three games of the season by significant margins, and left it late to pick up their firs win 3-1 at home to Sioux Falls Spitfire
Sioux Falls Spitfire
Sioux Falls Spitfire was an American soccer team, founded in 2001. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home...
at the end of May. However, this victory did not signal a turnaround in fortunes: they lost five of their next six games, beating expansion side Springfield Storm
Springfield Storm
Springfield Storm were an American soccer team, who played in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid for one season, in 2005, after which the franchise was relocated to Glendora, California to become the Los Angeles Storm.They played...
3-1, but suffering heavy defeats to El Paso Patriots
El Paso Patriots
Chivas El Paso Patriots is an American soccer team based in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...
(3-0), Boulder Rapids Reserve
Boulder Rapids Reserve
Colorado Rapids U23's was an American soccer team based in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
(5-1) and BYU Cougars (6-2). Blizzard's fourth and final win of the season came at home in mid-July with a 3-1 victory over Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass is an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games on...
, but slumped to four consecutive losses in their final four games, including a 6-1 demolition by Boulder Rapids Reserve
Boulder Rapids Reserve
Colorado Rapids U23's was an American soccer team based in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
, and a humiliating 5-0 defeat by Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley...
on the last day of the season. They finished the year 6th in the Heartland Division, 26 points off the leaders and just three points off the basement. Top scorer Ryan Regrutto did manage to hit 5 goals, while Craig Miller contributed 3 assists.
John Wells was brought in as head coach for the 2006 season. The team won just three games all season - 3-0 over Sioux Falls Spitfire
Sioux Falls Spitfire
Sioux Falls Spitfire was an American soccer team, founded in 2001. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home...
in mid-June, 4-3 over expansion franchise Ogden Outlaws
Ogden Outlaws
Ogden Outlaws is an American soccer team based in Ogden, Utah, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference....
in early July, and 2-0 over fellow Utah team BYU Cougars. This was as good as it got for Blizzard: most of the rest of the season was spent enduring a series of heavy defeats, including a 4-1 thrashing at home by Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley...
, a 6-1 demolition at the hands of Colorado Rapids U23's, a 3-1 loss on the road in Sioux Falls, and a 1-0 loss to Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass is an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games on...
on the final day of the season in what turned out to be the franchsie's last ever game. Blizzard finished 2006 6th in the Heartland Division for the second consecutive year, three points ahead of Thunder Bay Chill
Thunder Bay Chill
Thunder Bay Chill is a Canadian soccer team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2000, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games...
, but 30 behind divisional champions Colorado. Joel Trainer was Blizzard's top scorer, with 7 goals, while Ryan Regrutto and Craig Miller both contributed 3 assists. Following the conclusion of the 2006 season the club folded, and left the PDL. The Blizzards season was capped off by a 2 win road trip in Utah which is a tuff Road Trip and getting 2 wins on the Road the same weekend in the PDL is rare. The Road trip was on the heels of a Wednesday night match with the Colorado Rapids at Sand Creek Stadium. Coach Fernando Clavijo and John Murphy arrived with the Rapids to play in front of a crowd of about 2,000 to watch the Blizzard come away with a 3-2 win which would prove to be the highlight of the Blizzards 2006 season.
Notable former players
Bobby BurlingBobby Burling
Robert Charles "Bobby" Burling is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-College:...
James Riley Daniel Wasson
Daniel Wasson
Daniel Wasson is an American soccer player currently playing for NSC Minnesota Stars in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:...
Stadia
- Washburn Stadium, Colorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
2004-05 - Sand Creek Stadium, Colorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
2005-06 - Stadium at Harrison High SchoolHarrison High School (Colorado Springs)For schools with a similar name, see Harrison High School.Harrison High School is a high school near the junction of Interstate 25 and Circle Drive in south Colorado Springs. It is the older high school in Harrison School District 2.- External links :*...
, Colorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
2006 (2 games)