Colorado Springs Blizzard were an American
soccer team, founded in 2004. The team was a member of the
United Soccer Leagues
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...
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
Switchbacks Training Stadium is a 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium built in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At an altitude of roughly 6,600 feet above sea-level, the stadium was at the highest elevation of any primary home stadium used by a profes ...
in the city of
Colorado Springs, Colorado and also in the stadium at
Harrison High School Harrison High School may refer to:
in the United States ''(by state)''
*Harrison High School (Harrison, Arkansas), listed on the National Register of Historic Places
* Harrison High School (Colorado Springs) — Colorado Springs, Colorado
* Har ...
, also in
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...
. The team's colors were red and white.
Final Squad
''vs
Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass was an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division ...
, 23 July 2006''
Year-by-year
Competition History
Blizzard entered the PDL as an expansion franchise in 2004 as the third team from the
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America. The ultra-prominent fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. The town of Manitou S ...
area to play in the league, following the runs of the Colorado Springs Stampede (1995–2000) and
Colorado Springs Ascent
USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional developmental soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United States soccer league syste ...
(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 was an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division ...
and 4–3 over state rivals
Boulder Rapids Reserve
Colorado Rapids U–23 were an American soccer team based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado, United States. Originally founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids, the team played in the Premier Develo ...
, with
Sean McGinnis
Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as '' Shaun/Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; anglic ...
and
Daniel Wasson
Daniel Wasson (born June 15, 1984) is an American soccer player who last played for Tulsa Athletic in the National Premier Soccer League.
Career
College and Amateur
Wasson was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado ...
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 were an American soccer team, founded in 2003, and was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2004, when the team left the league and the f ...
5–3 (with McGinnis scoring a hat trick), overpowered
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 (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league a ...
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
Colorado Rapids U–23 were an American soccer team based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado, United States. Originally founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids, the team played in the Premier Develo ...
, 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
Chicago Fire U-23 was an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team last played in the PDL, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. They last played in 2016, choosing to leave the PDL.
The ...
.
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 first win 3–1 at home to
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 (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league a ...
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
Colorado Rapids U–23 were an American soccer team based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado, United States. Originally founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids, the team played in the Premier Develo ...
(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 was an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division ...
, but slumped to four consecutive losses in their final four games, including a 6–1 demolition by
Boulder Rapids Reserve
Colorado Rapids U–23 were an American soccer team based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado, United States. Originally founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids, the team played in the Premier Develo ...
, and a humiliating 5–0 defeat by
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 USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The Menace have had sustained success in USL League Two dur ...
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
Ryan may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Ryan (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
*Ryan (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
Places Australia
* Division of Ryan, an elector ...
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 was an American soccer team, founded in 2001. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league a ...
in mid-June, 4–3 over expansion franchise
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 (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western ...
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 is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The Menace have had sustained success in USL League Two dur ...
, a 6–1 demolition at the hands of
Colorado Rapids U23's
Colorado Rapids U–23 were an American soccer team based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado, United States. Originally founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids, the team played in the Premier Developm ...
, a 3–1 loss on the road in Sioux Falls, and a 1–0 loss to
Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass was an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division ...
on the final day of the season in what turned out to be the franchise'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 Soccer Club is a Canadian soccer team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2000, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The team plays its home games at Chapples Park S ...
, but 30 behind divisional champions Colorado.
Joel Trainer was Blizzard's top scorer, with 7 goals, while
Ryan Regrutto
Ryan may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Ryan (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
*Ryan (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
Places Australia
* Division of Ryan, an elector ...
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.
Coaches
*
Bill Arbogast 2004–05
*
John Wells 2006
Stadia
*
Washburn Field Washburn Field is a 1,500-seat stadium located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is home of the field sports teams from Colorado College and is the oldest college football facility west of the Mississippi River, having hosted its first game in 1898 ...
,
Colorado Springs, Colorado 2004–05
*
Sand Creek Stadium
Switchbacks Training Stadium is a 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium built in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At an altitude of roughly 6,600 feet above sea-level, the stadium was at the highest elevation of any primary home stadium used by a profes ...
,
Colorado Springs, Colorado 2005–06
* Stadium at
Harrison High School Harrison High School may refer to:
in the United States ''(by state)''
*Harrison High School (Harrison, Arkansas), listed on the National Register of Historic Places
* Harrison High School (Colorado Springs) — Colorado Springs, Colorado
* Har ...
,
Colorado Springs, Colorado 2006 (2 games)
Average Attendance
* 2006: 219
* 2005: 752
{{Colorado Springs
Sports in Colorado Springs, Colorado
B
Defunct Premier Development League teams
2004 establishments in Colorado
2006 disestablishments in Colorado
Association football clubs established in 2004
Association football clubs disestablished in 2006