Chicago Inferno Soccer

Wheaton Is Home For Inferno

02/17/2012 05:44 PM

February 17, 2012

Chicago Inferno News Release

The soccer stadium at Wheaton College was named in honor of Joe Bean, the longtime head coach of the Wheaton men’s soccer program. Bean retired in December of 2006, after 38 seasons at Wheaton. He guided Wheaton to two NCAA Division III National Championships (1984 & 1997) and two Division National Runner-up efforts (1999 & 2006). He compiled a career record of 606-185-61in 45 seasons as a collegiate head coach, becoming the first collegiate men’s soccer coach to reach 600 career victories and retiring as the winningest collegiate men’s soccer coach in history.

The field, located in the southeastern corner of the campus, near the corner of President St. and College Ave., is of maximum regulation dimensions (120 yards by 75 yards). Lights were installed in 1995 to allow night competition, new bleachers and a retaining wall was installed in 2002, along with a new entrance and awnings. A new state-of-the-art artificial grass surface was installed in 2004 year to allow the soccer programs to play in inclement weather and not damage the playing surface.

Across from the renovated north-side bleachers, which seat 2,000 fans, are the team and press areas on the south side of the field. Both teams sit in covered dugouts. In addition, the retaining fence behind the east goal has been extended upward, and the entire fence is covered with a wind barrier during the season.

The first professional match at Joe Bean Stadium took place in July of 2001, when the Chicago Fire hosted the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a U.S. Open Cup match. More than 2,500 saw the Fire pull out a 3-2 double overtime victory.

On May 25, 2012 Wheaton will host the Chicago Inferno first ever PDL home opener. Kickoff is set for 8:00pm ET/7:00pm CT against River City Rovers. In all, Wheaton College will host six of the eight regular season home matches in 2012.

2012 Chicago Inferno Schedule

2012 PDL Schedule Released

02/16/2012 12:13 PM

Chicago Inferno News Release

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Chicago, IL - The USL Premier Development League released its divisional alignment and schedule for 2012 today, with Chicago Inferno kicking off the regular season on Saturday, May 19. Chicago Inferno is making its PDL debut in 2012, as part of the eight-team Great Lakes Division in the Central Conference.

2012 PDL Great Lakes Divisional Alignment

Chicago Fire

Chicago Inferno

Cincinnati Kings

Forest City London

Hamilton FC Rage

Michigan Bucks

River City Rovers

Toronto Lynx

The Inferno have three exhibition matches slated prior to the regular season opener at the Michigan Bucks on Saturday, May 19. The final match of the regular season is Sunday, July 15 against the Chicago Fire. The PDL playoffs will take place July 16-29 and the PDL final four will be August 3-5.

The top developmental men’s league in North America, the PDL features 73 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.

2012 Chicago Inferno Schedule

Inferno Partner With Kick Energy Drink

02/03/2012 06:29 PM

February 3, 2012

Chicago Inferno Feature

By Dan Shalin

Chicago, IL - When the Chicago Inferno play their first season in the PDL this summer, the club’s home and road jerseys will feature the increasingly-familiar logo of Kick Energy Drink, the growing global brand introduced today as the team’s Presenting Sponsor.

The jersey sponsorship is just one pillar of the cross-promotional partnership between the Inferno, a major player on the U.S. amateur soccer scene since its establishment in 2009, and Kick Energy Drink, a product from Global Brands Ltd in the United Kingdom and distributed in the U.S. by Dolce Beverage Group LLC of Streamwood, IL.

Terms of the sponsorship deal were not announced, but representatives of both brands said they would work together to grow the world’s most popular sport locally, while bringing affordable, family entertainment to Chicagoland’s already passionate soccer community.

Kick Energy Drink is one of the fastest growing products in its sector in Europe and debuted in the United States in 2011. Kick is lightly carbonated, features energizing properties and an excellent taste profile. Kick’s healthier formulation includes vitamin B6, B12 and Pantothenic acid (an essential B vitamin) and Kick’s use of natural sweeteners (instead of corn syrup) separate Kick from the competition.

“Kick’s slogan is ‘Stay in the Game’ and because of what’s in Kick, and what isn’t, the product is the ideal energy drink for soccer players and those living an active lifestyle,” Inferno president Todd Short said. “Our relationship with Kick will be based on cross-promotion and we are confident that we can help each other grow. In addition, with a name like ’Kick’, obviously synonymous with soccer, it makes too much sense not to do this.”

John Bush, CEO of Dolce Beverage Group, said he was instantly impressed with the Inferno’s vision for success and said there is plenty of synergy between the Kick and Inferno brands.

“We see Todd (Short) and his staff as people who are very energetic and forward-thinking, and that’s right in line with our team at Dolce,” Bush said. “Kick is a premium product without a premium price point. Todd is looking to bring quality soccer to the Chicagoland area at a price point that is achievable by everyone. Attending many sporting events today and bringing the family has become cost prohibitive. What the Inferno are doing is fantastic. Our partnership is a great fit.”

In addition to the jersey sponsorship, other cross-promotional activities planned between the Inferno and Kick Energy Drink are:

Kick Energy Drink humvees will be present at Inferno home games
The Kick Girls will make appearances and conduct giveaways at home games
Inferno players will attend Kick in-store promotional events
Inferno tickets will be given away at Kick events

The Inferno’s inaugural PDL season will go from May to August and include 16 league games. The team’s schedule and home venue for 2012 are soon to be publicly announced. The roster, which currently is taking shape, will feature current college soccer stars and former professionals.

Every summer, the amateur PDL puts the next generation of professional soccer stars on display. In the last three years, 111 former PDL players have been selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, including 26 of the 38 picks in the 2012 Draft this past January.

About the Chicago Inferno Soccer Club: Founded in 2009, the Inferno will make its debut in the PDL this season. The club is committed to: building a winning team; fielding players from the talent-rich Chicagoland area; helping its players further their professional soccer ambitions and serving the community by providing a family-friendly entertainment at an affordable price.

More details at www.infernosc.com. Get the latest news, video and game highlights by following the Inferno on Facebook at www.facebook.com/infernosoccer and Twitter at www.twitter.com/infernosoccer

About Kick Energy Drink: A lightly carbonated energy drink with essential vitamins and no corn syrup, Kick entered the U.S. market in 2011. The product, which works as a stand-alone drink and also enhances spirits, remains the fastest growing energy drink in the United Kingdom. Kick is produced by Global Brands Ltd (U.K.) and distributed in the U.S. by Dolce Beverage Group LLC www.dolcesales.com, which also distributes products like Kick Ultra, VodkaKick and Amigos Beer. Follow kick Energy Drink on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KickEnergyNorthAmerica

Inferno Introduces First Player Signing

01/29/2012 09:00 PM

CHICAGO INFERNO FEATURE

January 27, 2012

By Dan Shalin

CHICAGO, IL - Gordy Gurson is a 19-year-old college student with an apartment in downtown Chicago. But the Buffalo Grove, IL-native admits he does not have much of a social life these days.

Instead, the sophomore at Chicago’s Robert Morris University (RMU) spends much of his free time preparing to chase a dream – to become a professional soccer player.

“To be honest, once I realized I wanted to play pro, I’ve had no time for anything else but soccer,” said Gurson, a 2010 graduate of Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, where he was an All-State player for the Patriots. “Right now, I’m playing six days a week. I usually have three games on Saturday and on Sunday I have two. When I’m not actually playing or practicing soccer, I run or
go to the gym. Whatever it takes. With school and soccer, I don’t have much time to hang out with friends. It’s soccer, get my sleep, and I also have to eat healthy meals.”

Several events over the past year have given Gurson reason to believe he could one day get paid to play the game he loves.

The forward/midfielder had a fine sophomore season at NAIA-school Robert Morris, scoring 18 goals and being named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, he was invited for a tryout at English third-tier club Notts County, but declined, and has spent the winter holding his own during informal training sessions with players from the Chicago Fire, including his cousin, Fire second-year defender Pari Pantazopoulos, and other MLSers with local roots.

Then, earlier this month, Gurson was unveiled as the first player to sign with the Chicago Inferno, which is preparing to play its inaugural season in the amateur Premier Development League (PDL) this summer. Playing with the Inferno will not affect Gurson’s college eligibility.

On January 20, Gurson and his college coach Jake Truty made their way to the Inferno’s Chicago office. There, Inferno President Todd Short and manager Branko Savic presented Gurson with the team’s Cardinal red jersey that, come Opening Day in May will have the player’s familiar No. 3 on the back.

For Gurson, the attraction to the PDL was obvious. The league, which is mainly for college players in their offseason, is an incubator for pro talent and was the summer home to 26 of the 38 picks in the 2012 MLS Draft.

Though the Inferno are an expansion team, Gurson was sold on the organization’s vision: to build a winning team that specializes in developing players for professional careers.

“(Coach Savic) told me he wants to build a team with college-age players and a couple older former professionals, and the (former professionals) will set the intensity level,” said Gurson, who is in the process of recruiting a few of his RMU teammates and other college-soccer playing acquaintances for the squad. “He doesn’t want college players who just want to stay in shape over the summer. He wants guys who want to play at the next level. (Savic) is a former pro and he has connections. I liked the way he was talking.”

Savic, who played professionally with FK Cukaricki and FK Zeleznik in his native Serbia and for the indoor Chicago Storm, first saw the 5-foot-8 Gurson playing for RMU this past fall. He invited the youngster to the Inferno’s January tryout camp at an indoor facility in McCook. Shortly thereafter, the manager asked Gurson, who will turn 20 in May, if he would join the club.

“I watched Gordy three or four games and he really stood out,” Savic said about Gurson, who played his freshman season at Division I University of Memphis before returning home to be close to an ill family member. “He has a lot of pace, is gifted on the ball and has great movement off the ball. I’m big on that with young players. It’s not just what you can do when you have the ball, but
being able to move into open space when it’s not in your possession.”

Savic continued: “He’s an intelligent soccer player. It’s not enough just to have talent in your feet, but you have to follow that up with the brain.

“His personality also fits perfectly into our picture. He’s the kind of (strong) role model-type player we’re looking for. That’s one of the reasons we wanted him to be our first signing. We wanted to announce to the community that this is who we want to bring in – quality youngsters who eventually will push up to the pro level.”

The coach stated that Gurson showed versatility. The right-footed Gurson said he’s comfortable playing as a wide forward in a 3-4-3, a wing in a 4-4-2 or up top alongside a target forward.

Until preseason training kicks off in April, Gurson said he will continue to participate in future Inferno tryouts in order to give Savic an idea of how he blends with other possible signees.

Those sessions will just add to an already-full schedule. But Gurson said its all part of the process.

“Everybody wants to play at the college level. But the guys who make it (to the next level) are the one’s who put it out there, show the commitment,” he said. “My cousin (Pantazopoulos) keeps telling me to keep working hard, and things will eventually connect.”

Chicago Inferno Joins PDL

01/30/2012 04:47 PM

USL NEWS RELEASE, Thursday, January 19, 2012

Chicago Inferno Joins PDL

Team looking to build with local talent

TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues is pleased to announce that the Chicago Inferno will join the PDL for the 2012 season. The Inferno, an established men’s amateur team that has captured three major regional trophies since 2009, will be led by President Todd Short and is committed to fielding players from the talent-rich Chicagoland area and providing an inexpensive entertainment option for the local soccer community.

“Our vision is to identify the elite college-age players in our backyard and give them an opportunity to play for a winning club and further their ambitions for a professional soccer career,” Short said. “In the process, local soccer fans will get to see some of the nation’s top youngsters competing in a setting that is both affordable and family-friendly.”

To help carry out this vision, Short has appointed Branko Savic as the team’s manager. The Serbian is a former All-American at Lindenwood University and professional at clubs FK Cukaricki and FK Zeleznik in his native country. In 2010, he was player/coach of the indoor Chicago Storm, which captured the Ultimate Soccer League title.

“I’m so excited to be involved in this Inferno project and to be part of the top amateur league in the nation,” Savic said. “Chicago Inferno is a forward-thinking club committed to winning, player development and community involvement. With a wealth of area talent and the local passion for the game, I felt this was the ideal scenario for me to return to coaching.”

“The Chicago Inferno will be a great addition to what is already a highly-competitive region for the PDL, and we expect the team to become an immediate contender,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said. “With the PDL experience Todd Short brings to the club, as well as the fantastic fan support for soccer in the Chicagoland area, we expect the Inferno to be an immediate success both on and off the field. "

The Inferno has yet to announce its home venue for 2012, but already has started recruiting players for its inaugural PDL campaign. The club held its first open tryout on January 9, and another is scheduled for February 26 at the McCook Athletic and Exposition Center in McCook, Illinois. More information is available at www.infernosc.com

The Inferno will play a 16-game schedule between the months of May-August. The PDL is the top supplier of talent for professional soccer in North America, and an impressive 26 of the 38 players selected in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft - including six of the top 10 - had PDL experience. That included No. 1 overall selection Andrew Wenger, who previously played for Reading United AC and the Carolina Dynamo.

The PDL has now had 111 alumni selected in the past three years of the MLS SuperDraft, an average of more than 70 percent of the selections made.

PDL

The top developmental men’s league in North American, the PDL featured 64 teams in 2011 within four conferences across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping=stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.

PDL Alumni Highlight MLS SuperDraft

01/13/2012 06:24 PM

USL News Release

Thursday, January 12, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – Led by former Reading United and Carolina Dynamo standout Andrew Wenger, selected with the No.1 overall pick, the USL PDL had another outstanding number of players selected at the Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. Overall, USL PDL alumni made up 26 of the 38 players selected, more than two-thirds, with six players taken in the Top 10.

Wenger, who helped Reading reach the USL PDL Championship Weekend and the U.S. Open Cup in 2010, and the Dynamo reach the U.S. Open Cup and win the South Atlantic Division in 2011, was taken by the Montreal Impact. Also a standout for Duke University, he won the 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy, the top honor in NCAA Soccer.

Wenger was joined in the Top 5 selections by former Washington Crossfire standout Kelyn Rowe, who played for his hometown team last summer, and Luis Silva, who had five goals and two assists for the Orange County Blue Star in 2011. Rowe was selected No. 3 overall by the New England Revolution, while Silva was taken by Toronto FC with the No. 4 pick.

Silva’s UC Santa Barbara teammate Sam Garza, an alum of the Ventura County Fusion, went with the No. 6 selection to the San Jose Earthquakes, with a pair of Chicago Fire Premier alumni rounding out the Top 10, Austin Berry joining the Fire’s MLS roster and Ethan Finlay being selected by the Columbus Crew.

Chicago Fire Premier was the major story among USL PDL teams as the club broke its own record for a SuperDraft by having a remarkable 11 of its alumni selected. In addition to Berry and Finlay, Aaron Maund (Toronto), Andrew Duran (Seattle), Tommy Meyer (L.A. Galaxy), Calum Mallace (Montreal), Chris Estridge (Vancouver), Tyler Polak (New England), Brendan King (Portland), Greg Jordan (Philadelphia) and Kenney Walker (L.A. Galaxy) were all taken in the first two rounds.

Other PDL clubs also saw multiple players selected, with Reading United’s Wenger being joined by 2010 All-League selection Matt Hedges, taken by FC Dallas with the No. 11 pick, and Raymon Gaddis going to Reading’s MLS parent club the Philadelphia Union with the 35th selection. In addition to Silva, Orange County Blue Star’s 2011 All-League selection Chandler Hoffman was taken 13th overall by Philadelphia, while Jacob Hustedt of the Ventura County Fusion joined Garza in being taken by San Jose.

The Michigan Bucks duo of Luck Mkosana and Babayele Sodade were also both taken in the second round, going to the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders respectively, while Wenger’s former Carolina Dynamo teammate Warren Creavalle was selected by the Houston Dynamo. Finally, former Washington Crossfire goalkeeper Chris Blais joined Rowe in being picked, going to San Jose with the 34th pick.

The USL PDL has now had 111 alumni selected in the past three years of the MLS SuperDraft, an average of more than 70 percent of the selections made. The leading amateur soccer league in North American, the USL PDL continues to offer the opportunity for growth and development during the summer as players work toward their goals of turning professional.

Second PDL Open Tryout Announced

01/11/2012 10:19 AM

January 9, 2012

Chicago Inferno will be holding its second USL Premier Development League (PDL) open tryout on February 26, 2012.

When asked about the club’s first tryout, Team Manager Branko Savic commented "I am pleasantly surprised by the player turnout tonight, and also at the raw talent level. I remain confident in our ability to find local players that can compete at the PDL level."

Club president Todd Short stated, "We will have several open tryouts in the upcoming months. In addition to uncovering local talent, each tryout helps to introduce Chicago Inferno to the soccer community. Organizationally speaking, we are doing everything possible to position our club to be the conduit for a player with the proper attributes to advance to the professional ranks."

The try out will be on Feburary 26, 2012 at Max Mcook Athletic & Exposition at 4750 South Vernon Avenue, McCook, IL, 60525. Player check-in will start at 9.00pm. Play will commence at 9:30pm and continue to 11:30pm.

If you believe you have the ability to play soccer at a higher level and desire to become a dedicated member of the Chicago Inferno as the club strives to bring a National Championship to Chicago, please click on the link below to learn more about the tryout and online registration.

REGISTRATION CENTER

Inferno Management On A Mission

01/03/2012 02:34 AM

December 26, 2011

By Dan Shalin

Branko Savic

Branko Savic does not refer to his involvement with the Chicago Inferno as his new job. Rather, the Serbian said he is part of project.

This past fall, the 37-year-old was named the Team Manager and Head Coach of the club, which will make it’s debut in the amateur Premier Development League (PDL) in 2012.

Come the season, Savic will handle the first team on game-day and in training. In the meantime, he’s working closely with Team President Todd Short to fill the roster, and to build a winning club that embraces the best methods for player development.

Savic, a former college All-American at Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO), a professional player in Serbia for FK Cukaricki and FK Zeleznik and the former player/coach of the indoor Chicago Storm, actually has a history with the Inferno club. He coached the team to an improbable 2009 title in the Major Division of the National Soccer League of Chicago.

Short, who played for Savic with the Storm and with previous incarnations of the Inferno, said the Belgrade-native was his first choice to lead the PDL side.

"As a professional in Serbia as well as here in the US, Branko has seen his fair share on and off the field,” said Short about Savic, who was a player/coach for the 2010 USL-champion Storm. “He gets up in the morning and thinks about soccer. It’s in his blood. He is a no-nonsense character, and he commands the respect of players. He is a proven entity.”

All Short insisted of Savic was that the still able-bodied former star put his playing career on hold in order to concentrate on his duties in management.

The Inferno certainly will offer a challenge to both men. As a first-year franchise in the PDL’s Great Lakes Division, the Chicago club is being built from scratch to take on the established clubs in the division like the Michigan Bucks, Chicago Fire Premier, Cincinnati Kings and Toronto Lynx.

While some teams in the league are comprised almost exclusively of college players on summer break, Savic and Short are keen to take advantage of the league’s rule that allows teams to roster up to eight players over the age of 23, and are looking to add a handful of ex-professionals to the roster.

This philosophy isn’t designed to build a competitive advantage as much as it will give the club’s many college-age players a learning opportunity that rarely exists in the United States.

“We offer players an environment to come and play alongside ex-pros. That is key for young players trying to learn the game,” said Savic, who plans to use his many contacts within the game to identify available former professionals for the team. “If you build your team with 19 to 23-year-olds, how different is that than college?”

Savic continued: “In Europe, kids who are 18, 19, 20 are already pros and playing against established pros. That’s where we (at the Inferno) fit into the picture. Our players will be attending school, but in the summer we’ll be surrounding them with those ex-professionals to help them improve themselves. When they finish school, they can go into an MLS camp or to a professional club in another country and they already will have played alongside those older guys. It won’t be new to them.”

Savic spent the fall attending college soccer games looking to identify and recruit players for the Inferno’s first roster. The club is hoping to sign several players with ties to the Chicagoland area. Savic said he is looking for athletes who want to be part of a winning team, are willing to work hard to improve and who will project a positive image of the club within the community. The coach also is looking for players who are ambitious about their own careers.

“Some youth and amateur clubs are so focused on protecting their turf and holding onto their players as long as they can. We are different. We want to push our talent to the next level,” Savic said. “We don’t want a player who doesn’t think about playing professionally. If you want to play for the Inferno for the next five years, I don’t want you. I want a player hungry to get to the next level.”

Despite all the talk of individual achievement, Savic knows the best way for a soccer player to get noticed by scouts is by being part of a good team. In order to build a cohesive unit, the coach said he stresses team spirit and discipline, or the ability to play one’s role within the team structure.

“When I first meet with players, I make sure they understand we must have team spirit and discipline,” he said. “I wish there was a player who could singlehandedly take on 11 players, but there is no such person. You have to work yourself within the team. Everything else comes out of team spirit and discipline. If we have that, an individual’s talent, skills and ability is going to shine.”