Minnesota Thunder Weekly Update

Published on March 10, 2003 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (Monday, March 10, 2003) – The Minnesota Thunder announced its 2003 preseason schedule which includes a six-day training camp at Minnesota State University - Mankato April 14-19. The week culminates with two exhibition matches on April 19 against Creighton University (3 p.m.) and the Des Moines Menace (5 p.m.) at MSU's The Pitch.

It marks the second consecutive year that the Thunder will hold its preseason training in Mankato, the same location used by the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

The camp opens in Mankato on April 14 at 11 a.m. at the Pitch. The team will likely bring 24-26 players into camp with the intention to trim the roster to 21 by April 21, according to Thunder general manager Jim Froslid. The team is scheduled to train twice daily, and all sessions are open to the public.

The April 19 exhibition games will be the final opportunity for players to impress the Thunder coaching staff. The Des Moines Menace is a Premier Developmental League team, and Creighton advanced to the final four of the NCAA division I finals last season. Tickets for both games can be purchased in advance for $3 by calling the Thunder office at 763-785-3668. Tickets on the day of the game will be $5.

The Thunder open its regular season with two road games against the El Paso Patriots -- April 25 and April 27. The Thunder's home opener at the Metrodome is Sunday, May 4 at 5 p.m. against the Cincinnati Riverhawks. For ticket information call the Thunder ticket office at 763-785-3668, or through the Thunder website at www.mnthunder.com.

THUNDER ADDS THREE YOUNG LOCAL STARS

The Thunder signed three players last week including its 2003 A-League draft pick Dustin Branan of Lakeville, along with Evan Richardson of St. Paul and Melvin Tarley of Brooklyn Park.

Branan, 22, who grew up playing with the St. Paul Blackhawks youth club, has experience playing with the US U-18 National Team. He recently closed out a stellar four-year career at Brown University having started 58 of 62 games. The 6-3, 195 pound Branan was the Thunder's 14th selection in the second round of the 2003 A-League draft.

Richardson, 23, attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he posted four goals and four assists in 72 games as a defender with the team.

Tarley, 19, a native of Monrovia, Liberia, most recently played with Alliance, FC, a semi-professional club in Minnesota. In 2002, he scored 22 goals and 27 assists in 14 games. Read the release at http://www.mnthunder.com/news

THREE PLAYERS FROM COMBINE INVITED TO THUNDER SPRING TRAINING CAMP

The Minnesota Thunder has invited three players from its free agent combine to spring training camp April 13-19.

The players receiving invitations include defender Alvin Hudson, 26 (Ontario, Canada), forward Wayne Cort, 26 (London, England) and midfielder Brendon Madrid, 25 (Colorado Springs, Colo.).

Hudson previously was a member of the Chicago Fire reserve team. Cort is a 6-4 defender that has experience as a post-up forward, and has the ability to score. Madrid first appeared at the Thunder's combine in 2001, and has sense gained experience as a member of the Greenville Lions, a D3 team from South Carolina. Read the release at http://www.mnthunder.com/news

THUNDER TRIVIA

Think you know the Thunder? Test your knowledge. Find all the Thunder information you need at the teams website http://www.mnthunder.com. Be one of the first 10 people to respond with the correct trivia answers and receive a Thunder T-shirt, complements of Target and the Minnesota Thunder.

*Melvin Tarley, the Thunder's most recent signing, joins which Thunder player as the team's Liberian representatives?

*Thunder defenders Evan Richardson and Dustin Branan were teammates on which Minnesota youth club?

TICKETS SELLING AT RECORD PACE FOR HOME OPENER IN METRODOME

More than 1,000 tickets have been sold for the Thunder's home opener on Sunday, May 4th at the Metrodome. The organization is trying to surpass its A-League regular season attendance record of 9,987 set in October 1999.

Tickets are priced at $15 for VIP reserved, $12 for adult general admission and $8 for youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Thunder ticket office at 763-785-3668, or through the Thunder website at www.mnthunder.com.

The game represents the first professional soccer match held inside the Metrodome, since the Minnesota Strikers lost their North American Soccer League (NASL) season finale September 4, 1984.

7. SEASON TICKET PACKAGES STARTING AT JUST $48

Thunder season tickets are on sale with packages ranging from $48 for Youth Mini packs to $248 for Platinum Reserved packs. Don't miss your chance to see the hottest sports team in town, playing their home games outside at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

For the complete 2003 schedule, visit http://www.mnthunder.com/schedule_2003.asp

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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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