Where are they Now? - NoCo Hailstorm 2024 Jagermeister Cup Side

Editors Note: I initially wrote this as a more light hearted piece strictly about the XI but I fell into the rabbit hole of research for the entire situation. Future “Where are they Now?” articles will not be this comprehensive but I figured the best way to really give this article and the subject topic it’s due is to briefly touch on the situations that led to the Hailstorm’s demise. News broke on Monday, April 28th that changed the tone of this article and thus explains the vibe shift towards the end.

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Campeones

If there’s one thing the Northern Colorado Hailstorm can always hold on to, it’s their place in the history books. The inaugural USL Jagermeister Cup champions had a post-cup hangover that spilled itself outside of the white lines. After a first round exit in the USL League One playoffs, the surging Hailstorm went into a bit of a chaotic free fall. The side were upset at home1losing to eventual finalists Spokane Velocity by a score of 3-0. Despite having a championship caliber team the early exit was drastically anticlimactic. The team falling on their face here was just the calm before an inevitable storm that would further rock the foundations of the club.

How did we get here?

Some quick catching up in regards to the off-field issues2. If you were at all Hailstorm-conscious and kept tabs on them you’d know they had plenty of chaos outside of the team itself.

What started off as an ambitious plan in May of 2017 has led to a near decade long perpetual state of stops and starts. The initial plan proposed a 413-acre complex valued at $225 million dollars further north of Windsor, closer to Fort Collins, to open in 2019: that did not pan out. In comes Casey Katofsky, owner of Future Legends and the Hailstorm in 2019 to lead a smaller version of the project and the location pivoted 10 minutes south of Ft. Collins and in to Windsor proper over at the Diamond Valley Sports Park. Construction started, but the project never caught momentum. Since then, it’s been years of chronic delays, lawsuits, and unpaid bills that have ultimately dragged the project down. The one crown jewel that came of the development has been the recreational sports dome that is widely used and adored by the community at large.

By 2024, the complex was still only half-finished and drowning in debt, weighed down by over $13 million in liens and $11.3 million in legal claims​ with the developers ultimately filing for bankruptcy protection​. Amidst all this, the Hailstorm were in top form and en route to the League One playoffs.

Now, the site sits eerily still. No workers, various scattered building supplies, sports equipment left unused. Just west of 4Rivers Equipment Stadium, the club’s home ground, sits a concrete shell of a dream.

Fast forward to the end of the USL League One season and the Hailstorm are bounced out of the playoffs. After some legal back-and-forth between Katofsky and USL in regards to their financial circumstances and lack of payment for winning the Jagermeister Cup. The Hailstorm were officially without a league to call home once USL terminated The Hailstorm’s franchise agreement just weeks after their home playoff loss. Just like that, a team with real promise was left with no league, no path forward, and no safety net.

For as rough as the fallout has been, the squad played some great ball and proved their championship credentials in an epic penalty shootout win against Forward Madison in the 2024 Jagermeister Cup Final. As is the case with financial turmoil and uncertainty, players moved on. Some players we’ve managed to get a hold of like Joel Chavez of Harpos FC who we featured in our Open Cup series. Others have slowly been finding new homes across various levels.

Starting XI

Goalkeeper: Lalo Delgado

Edward “Lalo” Delgado now finds himself playing for USL League One expansion side FC Naples. Naples are currently in first place in League One and a quick check of Delgado’s Goalkeeper Goals Added stats tells us he’s playing well with his shotstopping ability still among the best in the league. The 27-year-old keeper leads the league with four clean sheets, has conceded just three goals across seven games, and remains a pillar in net for a strong contender in League One.

Left Back: Lucky Opara

If you can’t beat ‘em; join ‘em. A cliche that lives on thank to Lucky Opara’s move to Spokane Velocity. Since joining Spokane, the Nigerian full back is playing some great footy. He ranks as the highest rated full back in Goals Added with his 0.65 Passing G+ being the main driving factor. Aside from his dribbling and shooting, the rest of Lucky Opara’s G+ profile is exceptional. 0.22 Fouling G+, 0.12 Interrupting G+, and 0.08 Receiving G+ paint him as a hard working defensive back with apt playmaking ability. His attacking quality has taken a bit of a hit compared to last season with his dribbling G+ dropping from a season total of 0.11 dribbling down to -0.56. The change over to the right side of the field may have something to do with that as Opara now operates and plays as a right back. It’s still worth noting Opara’s impact on Spokane this season as they’re unbeaten when Opara starts.

Left Center Back: Brecc Evans

Brecc Evans joins Lalo Delgado over at FC Naples. I’ve waxed poetic about the keeper in between the sticks for Naples but Evans also brings a lot of gravitas and weight to this defensively stout inaugural season team. Evans ranks as the best defender in League One with 0.69 Goals Added. His composure on the ball and ability to play against it are the true hallmarks to Naples’ backline sturdiness. Evans leads the league in clearances, has an Open Cup goals to his name, and is shoring up the third best defense in the league. Evans was second all time in appearances for the Hailstorm. (shoutout Hail Yeah Outlet for keeping up the stats)

Right Center Back: David Garcia

If you can’t beat ‘em; join ‘em. Wait, again? Yup, that’s right. The Spanish center back joined Spokane Velocity and has shored up their defense alongside Lucky Opara. David Garcia is not too far behind his former center back partner Evans in terms of Goals Added. He ranks as the third best center back in the league with a Goals Added rating of 0.49. Garcia has been quite good aerially for Spokane. When it comes to clearances per 90, Garcia has a lot more shine here than Evans as he leads the league in this category. Like Opara, Spokane have not won when they’ve bench the 24-year-old defender proving his worth every time he gets the start. Garcia’s last loss as a starter came against Spokane Velocity in that playoff loss for the Hailstorm.

Right Back: Bruno Rendon

Minutes after giving up the first conceded goal in the Jagermeister Cup Final, Cuban right back Bruno Rendon scored to level the match 1-1 as the only goalscorer for the Hailstorm that evening. Those who have followed and watched Rendon always noted his talent being a level beyond League One. His stellar play and accolade of USL League One Defender of the Year was rewarded with a move to the next level in the pyramid when he moved to Indy Eleven of the USL Championship. Life in the Championship has not gone as swimmingly as it did in League One. Rendon has been played as more of a winger in Indy Eleven’s 4-2-4 and despite playing out of a back three last season, they have not fully utilized Rendon as a right wing back. Rendon scored his first Championship goal against Lexington and despite the feat he was rewarded with a benching the next game. In his return to the Indy XI, the side shipped three goals before he was promptly subbed out. I’m going to blame his slow start on Indy Eleven’s poor execution this year and ever changing styles that have made it hard for a player like Rendon to command a starting. I'm sure that as the season shakes out, Rendon’s talent will find time to flourish.

Left Holding Midfielder: Jackson Dietrich

When you beat them you join them. Okay now I’m getting confused here on the cliches. Dietrich now finds himself in the Jagermeister Cup Finalist losing locker room playing now for Forward Madison in USL League One. Dietrich has seen less of the field with a total of 162 minutes mostly playing as a depth option. If there’s one thing to note here about Dietrich is his value as he’s another player who has yet to see a loss in a game they’ve started. His sub appearances occur late in matches and when the game is pretty much decided. Ultimately, he’s a player that needs to see more of the field. Forward Madison find themselves 11th in USL League and still the inaugural Jagermeister Cup Losers.

Right Holding Midfielder: Patrick Langlois

Heading over to the new cool side on the block Portland Hearts of Pine, Langlois has cemented himself as one of the better players of the new project. His 0.34 Interrupting G+ leads his team in that category and his 0.20 Goals Added is second best on the team. He scored Portland’s first ever League One goal and they had a mighty big upset win in the US Open Cup against Hartford Athletic in which he played all 120 minutes. That’s where the highlights end as Portland Hearts of Pine are the second to worst team in League One. They can at the very least revel in the fact they have quite a solid option in midfield with Langlois.

Left Winger: Billy King

Billy King returned to his homeland in Scotland and plays for Arbroath in the Scottish League One; the third division of Scottish football. King has not had as much of a direct impact on the side with just two starts in eight appearances. King joins a side in Arbroath who claimed the title with three games to spare. He scored his first goal for his new side following their title claim but the side promptly lost that game to a desperate relegation battling Annan side. They conceded all their goals after King’s initial first for a 5-1 loss on the road. With the league wrapping up and with minimal contribution from Billy King, it’s unclear if he’ll follow Arbroath to promotion next season but either way we’re hoping the soon to be 31-year-old striker a great rest of his career back in his native Scotland.

Attacking Midfielder: Isidro Martinez

You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. There’s a new cliche for ya and it applies here to Isidro Martinez who joined the 2024 League One Champions: Union Omaha. Martinez has just one assist for Omaha this season which came in a massive 1-0 upset over Championship side San Antonio in the US Open Cup. Besides that, he’s largely been quiet for Omaha who haven’t really played him too much in his usual attacking midfield position. Every game he’s started in the league has resulted in a Union Omaha loss and with just 136 minutes across two positions he has a modest 0.06 total Goals Added. Martinez’ dime in USOC play should be something to build on for the foreseeable future. Union Omaha are in 12th place after three games in League One play; plenty of season left.

Right Winger: Real Gill

The first player here to take a bit of a different route is Trinidad and Tobagan winger Real Gill who joined Huntsville City FC in MLS Next Pro. Despite his low amount of minutes, 117 out of a possible 540, his Goals Added is at 0.64 making him the second best player in that category with strong attacking output. The highlight of his time since playing on the Hailstorm hasn’t been through league play. He played the entire second half of Trinidad and Tobago’s 4-0 Gold Cup qualifying victory over Cuba. The 22-year-old winger has a lot of season left in MLS Next Pro and should have his talent and potential explored for much of the season to come.

Striker: Ethan Hoard

A player who undoubtedly had the highest ceiling on the team was the towering Ethan Hoard who was always a pleasure to watch. He went over to the Serbian First Division playing for FK Jedinstvo Ub who upon research have had an interesting few years in Serbian football. Hoard joined Jedinstvo in the middle of their season making the jump from League One to a top-flight European league. Through twelve games, Hoard has racked up a total of seven goal contributions including most recently a hat trick scored in midst of Jedinstvo’s relegation group battle. The side finished their season at the bottom of the Super Liga standings and have five matches left in their relegation group. An in-from Ethan Hoard should be able to keep their Super Liga hopes alive but if not I imagine he could start for a myriad of teams at this level. Maybe we could see Hoard make a fringe Europa Conference League team. Either way, he continuously rewards those who are closely following his career as the young target striker continues to excel at 23 years old.

Bench: Noah Powder, Jake Keegan, Enock Kwakwa, Marky Hernandez

Despite not starting, the bench still had to see out the final moments of the Cup Final and the two subs here in Noah Powder and Marky Hernandez would go on to score their penalties in the shootout. Jake Keegan is now with Portland Hearts of Pine with Patrick Langlois but has not seen as much playing time with only one start for a grand total of 77 minutes this season. Enock Kwakwa joined Swedish second division side at the time Skovde AIK founded in 1919. They were recently relegated from the “Superettan” and are currently five matches into their season in the “Ettan” league, the third division of Swedish soccer. Kwakwa got off to a rough start getting double yellows in the first match of their newly relegated season. He has since been an every week starter. As for the PK takers, they remain in USL League One. Powder is operating more as a playmaker for a struggling Westchester SC with three assists this season. His Goals Added of -0.34 is due to his main detracting G+ in his Receiving (-0.25) and his Shooting (-0.11). His Passing (-0.05) doesn’t help but at the very least he progresses the ball well with 0.14 dribbling. Hernandez on the other end has rode Spokane Velocity’s bench this season with just one minute of play in the season and a singular start in the US Open Cup.

Unused Subs: Johnny Fenwick, Danny Robles, Russell Shealy.

As for the players who didn’t see the field they have each found new clubs as well. English center back Johnny Fenwick is now with Asheville City SC in USL League 2 going a step below to bring quality and experience to a smaller side. Though, he’s going to want his missed USOC penalty kick against Greenville Triumph back. Russell Shealy shipped three goals in Union Omaha’s season opener and has not seen the field since. And Danny Robles went the MLS Next Pro route as he joined Tacoma Defiance. He has mostly been rotational but in one of his starts he did bag an assist.

Head Coach: Eamon Zayed*

Technically, 2013 USL Pro Defender of the Year Colin Falvey was in charge of this one due to Zayed’s suspension for the final. Falvey’s pro soccer whereabouts are currently unknown. The same could be said for Eamon Zayed who was nominated for the 2024 USL League One Coach of the Year. He is currently without a club though he recently did feature on the USL Show to preview the League One season.

What’s Next

And now comes the hard part. Because as fond as it has been these past few days to look back at these highlights and relive the good ol’ days; reality hits hard. It’s looking less and less likely that we’ll see the Hailstorm anytime soon. What started as a simple “Where are they Now?” article quickly soured into a much sadder revelation.

On April 28th, the City of Windsor revoked Future Legends’ temporary certificate of occupancy for the sports dome, pickelball court, and collegiate stadium. Their crown jewel was now closed due to safety and code violations. For Windsor town manager Shane Hale, there was not enough progress made for them to extend their permits. Future Legends claims the opposite in a statement that pushed back at the city with one their closing claims reading:

“Politics and greed have no place in our childrens’ playgrounds.”

There’s a lot ahead for Future Legends as they continue to fight this legal battle and get back on track. With a lot having transpired over the course of these last few months, it’s clear that any iteration of the Hailstorm will likely not play in the year 2025. Even though the club announced they’d be joining The League For Clubs and have tryout dates announced on their social media, I would imagine there are more pressing issues than getting the club back on it’s feet. First thing would probably be ensuring a home ground to play on.

And so with that the current situation remains murky as it is trying to decipher and make sense of it all. What’s worse than losing a franchise with real momentum, quality players and staff, and a budding community is that a lot of families just lost access to a highlight of their week in recreational sports. When legal battles ensue, whether it be between a sports developer and a city or a billionaire sports mogul and a pay-TV company; the ones always left for worse are the fans, families, and communities of these entities. Whether you went to a Hailstorm game or not it’s hard not to deny that there was something manifesting itself out there. There may have not been structural progress but there was definitely cultural progress as seen firsthand. Wherever we are a year, five, ten, or twenty from now, they’ll never be able to take away the title of inaugural Jagermeister Cup winners from the mighty Northern Colorado Hailstorm.

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