[PDL] The Thunder Bay Chill completed one of the greatest turnarounds in the history of the Premier Development League when it won the 2008 title with a shootout victory Saturday over the defending champion Laredo Heat in the final before 3,451 fans at Texas A&M International University.

In the process, the Chill became the first Canadian team to win a PDL title.

Two years ago, Thunder Bay had a 2-11-3 record, its worst record in nine years of play. In 2008, it went 13-2-1 in the regular season and won four straight games to advance to the final.

Led by U.S. U-20 star and PDL U-19 Player of the Year Felix Garcia, Laredo dominated play in the first half and took the lead when Isaac Morales scored 23 seconds into the second half on a rebound after Garcia's shot a volley of the crossbar, but the Chill equalized on Gustavo Oliveira's chip in the 63rd minute.

The Chill prevailed, 4-1, in the shootout, where Stephen Paterson made two saves.

AWARDS
Most Valuable Player - Junior Garcia (Yakima)
Coach of the Year - Wolfgang Suhnholz (Austin)
Defender of the Year - Norberto Papandrea (Austin)
Goalkeeper of the Year - Miguel Gallardo (Austin)
U19 Player of the Year - Felix Garcia (Laredo)

ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
Goalkeeper
Miguel Gallardo, Austin
Defenders
Darius Barnes, Cary
Mike Holody, Michigan
Norberto Papandrea, Austin
Midfielders
Will Beague, Ottawa
Fabricio Codeceira, Fresno
Adam Gazda, Reading
Nate Jafta, Michigan
Forwards
Carlos Araujo, Central Florida
Felix Garcia, Laredo
Junior Garcia, Yakima