Photo by Ariana Golemis
Written By: Ryan Baker, Journalist
For fans of ultimate frisbee, July 11 has been circled on many calendars since the season schedule dropped. This weekend, we finally get to see the championship rematch from last year between the Boston Glory and Minnesota Wind Chill.
This time, the matchup won’t happen at a neutral site, as the reigning champs will be traveling to Minnesota to play in some of the hardest conditions in the league at Sea Foam Stadium. For Boston, that means trying to win in a hostile crowd and protect its title-level status.
“Certainly having the best fans in the UFA is a nice boost of confidence,” Head Coach Ben Feldman said. “There's nothing better than playing in front of them at Sea Foam Stadium. I know their energy is going to help propel us forward on Saturday, and we're looking forward to that.”
Photo by Meghan White
This game was also flexed to Free Friday Night Frisbee, so it will be free for all to watch on YouTube.
Looking back on history, there have only been four championship rematches in the following year. The series is evenly split between the reigning champs and the runner-ups (the 2014, 2017, 2021, and 2023 championship rematches occurred in their subsequent years).
While this is a championship rematch, both teams have very different lineups for this regular-season bout. Boston has 10 different players suiting up Saturday night, compared to the 2025 championship game. Minnesota fields eight different players, compared to last season.
Boston will be without Jeff Babbitt, Tannor Johnson-Go, and Nathaniel Dick. The other seven players are no longer on Glory's roster, and Rowan McDonnell is out as well. Minnesota will be without Bryan Vohnoutka, Thomas Shope, Bret Bergmeier, and Tristan Van de Moortele. The other four are no longer on the roster.
The new players in this matchup are Boston’s Thomas Edmonds and Lander Decraene, plus Minnesota’s Lukas Ambrose, Noah Coolman, Nate De Morgan, Micah Davis, Zach Morton, Ellis Newhouse, and Max Hanscom.
Photo by Ariana Golemis
To measure the impact of those new guys for Minnesota, the first five names for them have combined to play 34 games this season, posting 48 assists, 62 goals, and 19 blocks. Ambrose is a deadly defender; Coolman and De Morgan are heavily involved in the uptick in offensive production; Morton is a monster in the sky; and Davis is an athletic two-way player.
Statistically, the difference between these teams is incredibly small. Both teams rank in the top five in completion percentage, hold rate, O-line conversion rate, and huck percentage. The biggest difference is in defensive production, with Minnesota at 42.51 percent and Boston at 37.29 percent. The D-line conversion rate is also 5.09 percent higher for the Wind Chill.
“I think there are several keys to beating Boston, but one of the bigger ones is going to be coming out hot and getting momentum early,” Paul Krenik said. “That means a high hold rate from the offense, and the defense is going to need to back that up with several breaks.”
Photo by Josiah Phifer
The two teams just produce in different ways. Minnesota does it as a collective through and through. It’s not to say Boston doesn’t work as a team, but Tobe Decraene is a one-man wrecking crew. If you factor in hockey assists, Decraene is responsible for 48.6 percent of Boston’s scores this season.
“There's an incredible amount of talent on that team,” Feldman said. “Tobe is a great player.”
The odds of seeing Justin Burnett on Decraene several times this weekend are incredibly high. That would create one of the best personnel battles in the league.
“My mentality is that he has to face me, not the other way around,” Burnett said. “It’s not our first rodeo with each other, so I have respect for him as a great player and competitor, and I welcome the challenge.”
Photo by Trent Erickson
It will be interesting to see how Boston defends the different looks Will Brandt has been getting all season from a much-improved Gordon Larson.
“I think the offense has definitely been better in practice this year,” Krenik said. “It seems like all the pieces have fallen into place and we have a more complete offensive attack this year. It’s definitely been pretty hard to force turnovers and get breaks on them in practice.”
With the one seed in the Central Division already clinched, this game only has ramifications if either team makes it back to Championship Weekend. It does matter a bit for Boston, though, as they are thick in the race for the one seed at 9-1, while New York trails at 7-2.
Even with the hype around this game and the flexed schedules, this is just another stepping stone as they approach the postseason. Few teams can stay locked in on the end goal through every point and every game, despite the outcome. Minnesota does not seem to be wavering anytime soon.
Photo by Ariana Golemis
“A win would feel great, but it would still be just another step on our road to the ultimate goal,” Justin Burnett said. “Beating Boston in this game won't mean anything unless we finish the job in the postseason.”
To watch the game on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT for free, go here!
To buy tickets to Sea Foam Stadium, go here!
