As I’m in the middle of writing the preview for the playoff bout between the Death Track Dolls and Chicks Ahoy! (they face off in the 2011 ToRD playoff semifinals on June 11), I thought in lieu of a traditional preview for this final regular season bout of 2011, it would be interesting to take a look at the head-to-head history between these two teams. And of course, because of the fantastic work of layer9, so much of it has been caught on video for your viewing pleasure.
2007
August 1: Death Track Dolls 126 s. Chicks Ahoy! 138
The first ever meeting between these two teams was, not surprisingly, another classic, but this time a shoot out that unfortunately was a closed bout and therefore played to only a small audience. Also not surprisingly, given the high score, two jammers picked up MVP. The Dolls’ Mistress Nightmare (since retired) and her Chicks’ counterpart Candy Crossbones—who may be playing her best derby in 2011—were named top players. It was the Chicks second of three straight wins to kick off ToRD’s debut season. They would go on to lose the first ever Battle for the Boot to the Gore-Gore Rollergirls. The Dolls would finish fifth in the six-team league.
2008
Regular Season
Death Track Dolls 15 vs. Chicks Ahoy! 43
This sole meeting between these two squads had to be called after only one period due to injuries (ToRD bouts were still three periods at this point);consequently, the Chicks were awarded the victory by forfeit. It would be the Dolls’ only regular season loss in 2008 (a run that included the only regular season loss ever sustained by the Gore-Gore Rollergirls, albeit in a closed bout under controversial circumstances).
Semi-finals
September 6: Death Track Dolls 26 vs. Chicks Ahoy! 144
The Chicks Ahoy! Juggernaut could not be stopped in 2008 and they rolled over a short-benched Death Track Dolls in this post-season blowout. It was a bout full of controversy and one that would lead to the explosion of the Dolls’ roster and the beginning of the first rebuild in the team’s history. For the Chicks, this would represent a high point for the team, and they’d ride the victory all the way to the Battle for the Boot and their first (and thus far) only ToRD championship.
Watch: First Half, Second Half
2009
October 17: Death Track Dolls 90 vs. Chicks Ahoy! 92
Immediately considered a ToRD classic, the Death Track Dolls gave the defending champs a far greater challenge in this late-season bout. Despite trailing for most of the bout (the Chicks led 54-33 at the half), the Dolls simply would not go away. Led by some amazing jamming from traditional blockers Betty Bomber and Aurdrey Hellborn (who both emerged as dangerous triple threats in 2009) the Dolls stayed with the Chicks until the end despite an injury to star jammer Land Shark early in the second half. In the most exciting finish in ToRD history, it was an extraordinary last jam effort by Audrey Hellborn that almost pulled the Dolls past the Chicks, but time ran out on what would have been an amazing comeback and the exhausted Chicks were just able to hold on for the victory. Do yourself a favour and watch this one.
Watch: First Half, Second Half
2010
Regular Season
June 12: Death Track Dolls 109 vs. Chicks Ahoy! 121
Based on how the previous season ended, there was a lot of hype for this bout and it not only lived up to but surpassed expectations and was actually a much more entertaining bout (as a whole) than the previous season’s nail biter had been. Both teams traded leads for the first half before a perfectly executed 24 point power jam by Audrey Hellborn blew things open and gave the Dolls a 76-58 halftime lead. This hard-hitting bout looked like it would go down the wire, but a final-jam power jam allowed the Chicks to seal the win.
Read the Nerd’s complete recap.
Watch an amazing video recap by Tiffany Beaudin.
Watch: First Half, Second Half
Playoffs
October 23: Death Track Dolls 83 vs. Chicks Ahoy! 119
As expected it was a tight first half with leads traded back and forth early on, but some ill advised penalties that resulted in timely and well executed power jams had the Chicks staying one step ahead of the Dolls, and they cruised to their easiest victory in two years over their rivals.
Read the Nerd’s complete recap.
Watch: First Half, Second Half
2011
Exhibition (Montreal’s Beast of the East 2011)
Death Track Dolls 21 vs. Chicks Ahoy! 40
Both teams began the tournament with victories, which meant that the winner of this bout would advance directly to the quarterfinals while the loser would need to be play one single elimination bout for a chance to advance. Things started off tight with leads traded before a big 10 point pick up by Candy Crossbones midway through the 20 minute mini bout to take a 16 point lead that they wouldn’t give up.
Read the Nerd’s Beast of the East Recap.
Chicks Ahoy! 31 vs. Death Track Dolls 42
After both teams lost tough seminfinal bouts, they met in the third place matchup. The Chicks jumped out to a 12-4 lead 8 minutes in, but the Dolls just seemed to have more left in the tank after two days of ferocious action. The Dolls wrestled the lead away on a power jam and never looked back for a historic first-ever victory over their rivals. Regardless of the outcome, both teams had secured their best ever results in the tournament. In the end the Dolls took third place with this victory, while the Chicks happily settled for fourth.
Read the Nerd’s Beast of the East Recap
At one and one this year, consider this upcoming bout regular season tiebreaker. It will also be a warm up and preview for the upcoming must-win semi-final when a loss means the season is over.
This weekend’s bout will be boutcast live on Canuck Derby TV by the ToRD TV team.
The Derby Nerd 
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