Thunder Name to Live on with Rochester PDL Team
Last fall, when the Minnesota Thunder’s financial issues became more apparent, it looked to Minnesotans as if they may not only lose pro soccer in the Twin Cities, but that the Thunder PDL team in Rochester, Minnesota would also be gone. Dean Johnson, owner of the Thunder and 60% majority owner in the Rochester PDL team, owed money to both the Rochester minority owner Dan Penz and also to the United Soccer Leagues (USL). USL president Tim Holt told IMS on November 27, 2009, that the league had officially terminated all three Minnesota USL franchises: the Thunder in USL-1, the Thunder PDL team in Rochester, Minnesota and the W-League Lightning.
Todd Penz, son of Dan Penz and Director of Operations for the team, eventually worked out a deal with USL and the league allowed the Rochester PDL team to start a new franchise.
Neil Cassidy, head coach for the Rochester team, told IMS this week that things are moving forward with the team and the league. While the team website is still not accessible, Cassidy said that will change soon. He also stated that the team has been allowed to keep the Thunder name and will do so. Penz had previously stated that the team runs on a limited budget as most PDL teams do and still had merchandise left over from last year’s season with the Thunder name. Penz was actually fond of keeping the name if possible.
IMS attempted to contact Todd Penz to see if the league had OK’d the name or the former Thunder PDL majority owner, Dean Johnson. But IMS was unable to talk to Penz before publishing this article.
A quick search of USL soccer.com shows the team listed back in the Heartland Conference of the PDL. After the official announcement by the USL concerning the termination of the Thunder from the league, the team’s name had been removed from the website. USL has now given the team their own informational page and is listed as a “2010 expansion team,” meaning USL sees it officially as a new team and not affiliated in any way to the old Thunder PDL team. The site also states, “Official expansion announcement coming soon.”
IMS will continue to bring you news of the Rochester Thunder PDL team as it becomes available.
Comments are closed.
Glad to see the MN Thunder name live on…
I’m really happy that the Penz family didn’t give up so easily. It’d be silly of Dean Johnson to hinder the Rochester Thunder in any way.
I second what Jeff Wolter said, really glad the Thunder name will continue to exist. To just end it after 20 years would be heartbreaking to all the guys who built the team in the early years with their sweat equity.
Agreed guys. I was very pleased when I heard the news myself.
I really wish the Minnesota Thunder name would carry on with our pro team. Gonna miss it.
Just what is “a team” ?