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Thunder adds reserve team in 2006

May 19, 2006 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


ST. PAUL, Minn. (Friday, May 19, 2006)- The Minnesota Thunder announced today that it has added an amateur reserve team that will play six exhibition games this summer against PDL teams throughout the region. The Minnesota Thunder Reserves will be made up of primarily college age players looking to get to the next level of soccer in the near future and that want an opportunity to better their game.

"In conjunction with the Thunder Juniors program we started this fall, we finally have a system that will develop the top young soccer players in Minnesota and prepare the best to eventually play for the Thunder," General Manager Djorn Buchholz said. "We feel that our programs, in conjunction with MYSA club teams and ODP programs, will allow a growing Thunder coaching staff to work with and develop the top players in the state."

Tryouts for the Minnesota Thunder Reserves will be held on Saturday, June 3 from 2-4 p.m. at James Griffin Stadium, just prior to the Thunder game that evening against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Tryouts will cost $25 per player and will include a ticket to the Thunder game that evening. Interested participants should email Trina Kramer at trina@mnthunder.com for more information and to register.

The 2006 Minnesota Thunder Reserves schedule is as follows:

  • June 14, Minnesota Thunder Reserves @ Thunder Bay Chill
  • June 24, Minnesota Thunder Reserves @ Chicago Fire Premier
  • July 2, Minnesota Thunder Reserves @ Des Moines Menace
  • July 14, Des Moines Menace @ Minnesota Thunder Reserves
  • July 16, Thunder Bay Chill @ Minnesota Thunder Reserves
  • July 23 Chicago Fire Premier @ Minnesota Thunder Reserves

Two of the Thunder Reserves games will be coupled as double headers with either the Thunder (July 14) or the Minnesota Lightning (July 16). The remaining game on July 23 will be played in collaboration with the Blaine Soccer Club. Details of all three games will be released in the near future.

Thunder Name Peter Baah Assistant Coach

The Thunder has announced that Peter Baah has been named the team's assistant coach. Baah will start coaching duties immediately with the Thunder. He was also named head coach of the Minnesota Thunder Reserves team.

Baah, a native of Blackburn, England, arrives in Minnesota after playing for the Indiana Blast of the USL First Division from 1998 - 2004. In 2003, he was named head coach of the Blast. Baah also played for the Blackburn Rovers from 1989-1992 and Fulham FC from 1992-1994. He made over 50 appearances in the English First Division league.

"Peter was an outstanding player that caused us all sorts of problems whenever we played Indiana," Thunder head coach Amos Magee said. "Being able to add someone who has experience as a player and head coach in our league was too good to pass up. He will contribute a great deal to our organization both on and off the field."

Baah has spent the last five years coaching youth soccer with Carmel United Soccer Club in Indiana, one of the top youth clubs in the Midwest. He has also been the coach of the Hamilton Southeastern High School soccer team in Indiana for five years.

Next up for the Thunder is a road game in Montreal on Sunday, May 21. The next home game is a double header with the Lightning on Saturday, May 27 at the National Sports Center in Blaine. For tickets call 651.917.TEAM or visit www.mnthunder.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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