Rank	Team	2017	First Game	Summary
1	Thunder Bay Chill	Record: 9-3-2 1st in Heartland	at WSA Winnipeg June 2 8 p.m. ET	The defending Central Conference champions and PDL Runner-Up in 2017 Chill start at the top this season. The Canadian winter will keep them off the field until June, when they open away at Winnipeg..
2	Michigan Bucks	Record: 10-1-3 1st in Great Lakes	at Lansing United May 12 7 p.m. ET	Winner of four-straight Great Lakes division titles and two of the last four PDL Championships, the Bucks expect to shine again in 2018. They'll open up the year with a highly-anticipated derby away at Lansing United, definitely one to watch.
3	Des Moines Menace	Record: 7-5-2 2nd in Heartland	vs. WSA Winnipeg May 24 8:30 p.m. ET	The Menace, narrowly edged by the Chill in 2017, have won three of the past four Heartland Division titles. Though they won't open until late May against Winnipeg, they'll be dangerous again in 2018.
4	West Virginia Chaos	Record: 7-6-1 3rd in Great Lakes	at Dayton Dutch Lions May 18 7 p.m. ET	The Chaos were a dangerous team in 2017, finishing third in their first Great Lakes season since 2008. They'll try to close the gap with the Bucks in 2018, but will have to wait until week three to get started.
5	St. Louis Lions	Record: 6-7-1 4th in Heartland	vs. Kaw Valley FC May 19 6 p.m. ET	The Lions narrowly missed out on a playoff spot in 2017, finishing just behind the Menace in the Heartland Division. They'll try and make the cut in 2018 when they open in week three against newcomer Kaw Valley FC.