Chicago Fire spreads to North Lake County

MERRILLVILLE | Brad Hoge has never challenged a head of state to "Tear down this wall!"

Nor has he asked the folks at Hallmark Sports Club II in Merrillville to tear down the walls that surround their indoor soccer fields.

But just because the walls remain doesn't mean you should always play them like cushions on a billiards table.

"That's just the nature of indoor soccer," Hoge said. "The walls are there, so players have a habit of using them instead of proper fundamentals.

"But with days like today (a blustery 15 degrees outside), where else are you going to play?"

Hoge is the coach of the Chicago Fire Juniors Northwest Indiana Lake County North club, which started practice for its first season on Dec. 1. The club is one of two expansions from the original Chicago Fire Juniors NWI program based in Crown Point. There is also a Porter County satellite.

Hoge's club has two boys teams -- 15U and 17U. During the first full practice after the holiday break, the two squads scrimmaged on one of Hallmark's smaller fields.

"The tight space challenges their skills a little more," Hoge said. "It takes a lot of work to turn your feet into hands."

Hoge was hand-picked -- or foot-picked -- by Chicago Fire Juniors NWI president and director of coaching Novi Marojevic, who played professionally in his native land of Yugoslavia before coming to the United States where he went on to become a star scorer in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Munster resident Hoge played in the United Soccer League and the MISL. After his performance at the 2006 Pro Soccer Combine, Hoge garnered interest from several professional clubs home and abroad.

A hip injury eventually ended Hoge's pro-level career, but the soccer "fire" still burns within him.

"I just love game and working with kids," said Hoge, who also coaches soccer for Munster's youth program and regularly gives lessons at the Jean Shepherd Center in Hammond. "It's a great way to make a positive impact."

Hoge's teams are preparing for an indoor tournament on Feb. 10 in Fort Wayne. They will participate in a few other indoor tourneys before going outdoors this spring to compete within the Northern Illinois Soccer League.

All three Chicago Fire Juniors NWI clubs look to add more boys and girls age-group teams.

"We won't turn kids aways," Hoge said. "The Chicago Fire Juniors do have elite teams ..."

The program has a level for players targeted for possible promotion to the Chicago Fire Major League Soccer team.

"But we can find a spot for players of all levels," Hoge said.