jammer

Weekend Recap: Thames tame Debs

Thames Fatales 205 vs. Derby Debutantes 64

GTAR‘s Debutantes hosted cross-province rivals Thames Fatales at Ted Reeve Arena in Toronto on Saturday night. In a scrappy, sometimes contentious bout, Fatales ended up pulling ahead for a 141 point victory over their big city opponents.

There was a tight start to the bout, with both teams jockeying for position and points. Five minutes in and the score was 9-8  for the home team. After the Debutantes pulled ahead a bit more, Thames went on a power jam in what would prove to be a pivotal moment in the first half. Down 17-9, the Thames pack took over the jam, isolating and then trapping a Debutante while Sufferjet flew around the pack, picking up a double grand slam to give the Fatales their first lead of the bout. It was a lead that they would not relinquish.

Killson and Bruise Berry Pie battled all night

Killson proved to be an uncontainable force for the Fatales in the first half, engaging in some great battles with Getcha Kicks and Canadian Psycho (who was solid in the first half for the Debs), and Piepshow stepped up to join the Fatales’ jammer rotation, but the real difference in this bout was in the pack, and the control that Thames was able to wield over it. Mirambo was excellent as pivot all bout, leading the way physically and positionally, getting some big jammer take outs and setting some devastating traps.  Bruise Berry Pie tried to respond for the Debutantes and engaged with Anya Face in some of those great pack battles. By the end of the half it was already clear that Commiekaze is a viable triple threat for the Forest City team and was instrumental in their 105-42 lead at the half.

The Debutantes came out flying to start the second half with Bruise showing a frightening intensity in the pack and going shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip with Mirambo on more than one occasion. Leather Locklear also stepped up with some big hits and capable leadership with the stripe,  Getcha Kicks kept fighting and LeeWay Wreck’em put in her time with the star; Canadian Psycho is emerging as a key player for the Debs. But the storyline played out much the same way in the second half. The Debutantes simply couldn’t contain Killson and her triple grand slam to make it 170-60 sealed the deal for the Thames Fatales.

Mirambo and Anya Face keep a close eye on Getcha Kicks

Bruise exited the defeat in style (with an ejection late in the bout), and while the Debutantes still show signs of great improvement, it was the Thames Fatales who were shining brightest on this night. Only two months on and this team barely resembles the one that went to Montreal for this year’s Beast of the East. The pack control, the strong positional play (and the continued growth of Killson as a top jammer) show that this is a team that can not be taken lightly. Both of these squads are clearly headed in the right direction and their performances speak to the continued development of the sport in Ontario.

The Neon Army: Montreal's New Skids on the Block

And elsewhere in the roller derby community…

It was somewhat of a coming-out party for Montreal‘s New Skids in the Block in Philly this weekend as they and Hammer City‘s Eh! Team headed south for the 2010 East Coast Extravaganza. Despite playing with a roster of only 11 (and missing key players including Georgia W. Tush and Trash N Smash), the Skids tore through the weekend putting up the highest single game score, getting the largest margin of victory(261) and putting in the best defensive performance of the weekend in a thorough dismantling of the Dominion Derby Girls (288-27).  They had a much stiffer test against a much more controlled and experienced Tampa Bay team on Sunday. The bout had all the makings of a low scoring battle in the early going as the Derby Darlins matched Montreal’s pack control and jammer speed. Eventually though the persistence and conditioning of the Skids was the difference and they ended up pulling away for a 197-57 victory. Hammer City didn’t fair quite as well, but undoubtedly gained valuable experience in losses to a very good Dutchland team (132-79) and Suburbia (184-95).

All the action from the ECE was boutcast live and archived here by DNN.

2010 Season Preview: The Chicks Ahoy!

Chicks Ahoy! 2010

RECORD Points For (Per Game) Points Against

(Per Game)

 Plus/Minus Margin of Victory Margin of Loss
2009: 1-2 240 (80) 251 (83.67) -11 2 (1) 6.5 (2)

*Lifetime: 6-3 regular season; 2-1 in playoffs (finalists in ’07, champions in ’08)

*Vs. Dolls (’09): 1-0 / Lifetime: 4-0 (including ’08 semi-finals)

THE CHICKS’ 2009

The Chicks Ahoy! entered 2009 as defending champions, coming off of a dominating season in which they were able to win a thrilling shootout against the Gore-Gore Rollergirls to take The Boot. The Chicks opened 2009 with a loss in the championship bout rematch by only six points. The offensive woes would continue for the Chicks in 2009 (including a 61 point outing against the Smoke City Betties) seeing them finish fourth in total points. They even seemed lucky to escape with a victory over the Dolls to end the season after conditioning and penalty problems saw them almost blow a thirty point half-time lead. For the first time in ToRD’s short history, The Chicks did not compete for The Boot.

Mach Wheels will be relied upon in multiple roles once again.

VETERANS/RETURNING PLAYERS

With only one draft pick and a roster filled in by a few off season acquisitions, the Chicks line-up is a veteran lineup. Captains Humdinger and Fubar Bundy lead these seasoned sailors into 2010, and with the taste of past success still not completely spoiled by last year’s disappointment, this experienced lineup will be out for revenge. Long serving Chicks Candy Crossbones, Cherri Nova, Dolly Destructo, G-Force, Hoff, Mach Wheels, Mega Bouche and Nasher the Smasher will lead a roster full of potentially dangerous skaters, including two of last year’s rookie standouts Kari-Mia Beere and Marvel S. Maven. The most dangerous pick up may be last year’s multiple ToRD Award winner and triple threat extraordinaire Dyna Hurtcha.

ROOKIES

Not much to say here, except that the Chicks’ sole draft pick Marmighty will definitely be given the opportunity to develop in 2010! In a preseason bout in Kitchner in May, Marmighty was thrown into every role (including jamming) and clearly improved as the bout went on. This unique situation could hasten Marmighty’s development into a strong, well-rounded skater.

BY POSITION

Kari-Mia Beere looks to build on a solid rookie season

Pivots: It’s hard to miss ToRD veteran Rebel Rock-It when she’s at the front towering above the pack, a sight fans will undoubtedly get to see a lot of this season. Nasher the Smasher is also a force up front, triple threat Mach Wheels can (and probably will) do it all, and both Hoff and Bouche have the experience and the insight to don the stripe.

Blockers: Traditionally one of the hardest hitting teams in TO, don’t expect that to change much this year with Nasher, Bouche, Dolly D., and Blammo leading the charge through the pack and into other skater’s torsos: add Dyna Hurtcha to this already tough line up and this is a team capable of causing some serious damage. But that isn’t to say this team can’t play positionally. Mach Wheels may be the best skater in the league, while Fireweed, Crimson Shivers and Robber Blind are all capable of playing in strong positional packs. The return of Furious Georgia from injury will certainly give an energetic boost to the pack.

Jammers: Candy Crossbones is the Chicks’ undisputed leader at the jam line. The model of consistency with the star, Candy is one of only three jammers to register a top ten JQ in each of ToRD’s three seasons. Candy will not have to worry about doing it all though, as the Chicks’ have a full roster of experienced jammers. Kari-Mia Beere was the 2009 Rookie of the Year largely based on her quick development at the position. Marvel S. Maven also had a big year in jamming in ’09, and Mach Wheels has proven to be a dependable and efficient jammer throughout her career. Expect to see Fireweed and Marmighty take some of the jam load this season as well, and Dyna Hurtcha adds a uniquely physical dimension to the position when she dons the star.

The Chicks hope to reclaim The Boot they first won in 2008.

SEASON OUTLOOK

Former star blocker Tara Part brings on-track experience  to bench management this season, and will be in charge of a group that has got to have high expectations. With a veteran lineup that (on paper) lacks weaknesses, this is a team that knows what it needs to do to get it done. Generating offence, staying out of the penalty box (a problem that plagued them last year and in the 2010 preseason), and maintaining unified packs are the keys to the Chicks’ success in 2010. They’ve got a tough opener against the Death Track Dolls in a rematch of last year’s most exciting bout, but should be motivated to reposition themselves as the team-to-beat in ToRD.

See the full roster here.

For a visual preview, watch layer 9’s coverage of last year’s epic bout between the Chicks and Dolls (October 17th, 2009: Chicks 92 vs. Dolls 90).

Weekend Recap: Gores beat Betties in ToRD Season Opener

Brim Stone kicked things off jamming for the Gores

Smoke City Betties (58) vs. The Gore Gore Rollergirls (248)

It was a raucous crowd that greeted the Smoke City Betties and the Gore-Gore Rollergirls as they entered the track at The Hangar on Saturday night in a ToRD house league showdown. The two teams fed off this energy, storming out to high-scoring, wide-open jams (12-8 after 2) with neither team taking a firm lead. Eventually, a polished-looking Gores team settled in and began to chip away until Dust Bunny blew the game open with 9 points in the fifth jam that increased the lead to 21. The Gores never looked back from there on their way to a statement-making 248-58 victory.

Gores’ rookie Hurlin’ Wall holds Bettie’s rookie Titmouse in the pack

As she did at the Beast of the East, Brim Stone (last year’s ToRD Award winner for top pivot) got things started at the jam line for the Gores, but instead of settling back into her role at the front of the pack, she joined (almost equally) a solid four-jammer rotation with Lunchbox, Bambi and Dust Bunny. This allowed each of them to play a more consistent role in the pack as well, and they did so to great effect. Memphis Kitty kicked things off for the Betties, but the veteran jammer, along with Pretty Peeved and Lady Scorcher in particular, ended up supplying a steady, experienced presence to the pack. That left the attack up to the rookies led by Sail Her Poon who, in a  game full of rookie standouts, stood out most of all. She jammed more than any other player in the bout (taking 34% of her team’s jams), and fought with the Gores’ more experienced jammers to the end, improving as the game progressed and managing to put up decent  numbers in the process (including a 2.43 points-per-jam average). Poon was backed up by a handful of other rookie jammers but the majority of the load was shouldered by Platinum Bomb and Tropic Thunder; a threesome that could certainly form the core of the Betties’ attack this season.

Lady Gagya had a big night in the Gores’ pack

This refusal to give up seemed to be inherited by all the Betties, and despite the mounting point differential, never looked out of it on the track, and continued to battle jam after jam: the score didn’t reflect the spirit of the bout (acknowledged by a crowd that stayed until the end). Based on flashes of sound pack control early on, and the confidence of the young jammers, the Smoke City Betties looks like a team that knows what it has to do; now it’s just a matter of doing it. Despite also having a number of rookies in their lineup,  the experience of the Gores was the difference in this one, and they ran a much smoother bout. With Brim taking on more of the jamming for the Gores, Junkie Jenny and Molly Boom stepped up and wore the stripe for the majority of jams. Lady Gagya continued her outstanding 2010 with another solid performance, and she and rookie standout Hurlin’ Wall (who was a literal wall at the back of the back) were a big part of the sometimes stifling Gores’ defense.

The team stats tell the story: the Gores’ jammers recorded a 76% lead percentage and scored 6.5 points a jam, remarkable numbers that speak to a consistent, all-around effort. ** Keep an eye on my ToRD Stats Page for updated stats all season. Visit ToRD.TV for highlights, interviews and layer9’s boutcast.

ANOTHER BUSY ROLLER DERBY WEEKEND!

It was another busy weekend for roller derby in eastern Canada with three other cities playing hosts to big bouts. In London, the Thames Fatales played their first home game of the season, hosting the Nickel City Knockouts (QCRG Buffalo) in what by all accounts was an exciting night. After Nickel City tied the game in the final jam of the bout (137-137), Thames Fatales won it in overtime 148-145 (you can watch highlights and skater interviews here). There was yet another double header in Montreal this weekend. For the third consecutive year the Boston Derby Dames sent the B-Party to take on a MTLRD home team, but for the first time, MTLRD won as La Racaille cruised to a 155-54 victory at Arena St Louis. In the other half of the double header, Les Contrabanditas continued an impressive start to 2010  with a 159-82 win over the Tri-City Thunder. And finally, in Nepean the Rideau Valley Roller Girls’ home teams built on strong performance by the Vixens in Montreal last weekend as both teams managed huge victories at home with the Slaughter Daughters defeating the Derby Debutantes (GTAR) 211-48 and the Riot Squad defeating The Rollergettes 132-31.

2010 Season Preview: Smoke City Betties

Smoke City Betties 2010

RECORD Points For (Per Game) Points Against (Per Game) Plus/Minus Margin of Victory Margin of Loss
2009: 2-1 260 (86.67) 251 (83.67) +9 18.5 (2) 28 (1)

* Lifetime: 5-4 regular season; 0-2 in playoffs (semi-finalists in ’08, finalists in ’09)

* Vs. Gores ’09: 0-2 (including championship) / Lifetime: 0-4 (including ’08 semi-finals, ’09 finals)

THE BETTIES’ 2009

On July 19th of last season, the Smoke City Betties won a gritty, defensive, low scoring battle against the Chicks Ahoy! (68-61) and finally broke the two year stranglehold that the Chicks and the Gore-Gore Rollergirls had held over ToRD. It was a team-defining victory that propelled an experienced Betties team all the way to their first appearance in the championship. Add that result to a third place finish at the Beast of the East and it was the Betties most successful season to date. Statistically, the Betties also had a successful season finishing second in most categories (tying the Chicks in points against and finishing third to them and the Gores in average margin of loss).

Memphis Kitty will play a key leadership role in 2010

VETERANS/RETURNING PLAYERS

No team changed as much as the Betties did this past off season. With retiring skaters and team-to-team player movement, the Betties don’t have nearly as many returning veterans as the other teams in the league. Hot Roller, Memphis Kitty, Pretty Peeved and Lacy Brawler make-up the returning core of the 2009 finalists; Second-year players Lady Scorcher and Rage Virus, former Gores, shifted to the Betties after gaining valuable experience in their championship run and will be expected to take on a leadership role with this young team.

ROOKIES

With so few veterans, the 2010 Smoke City Betties are mostly built up by an exciting group of young skaters (an astounding ten skaters will be making their ToRD debuts in 2010). So much of the Betties’ season hinges on how well (and how quickly) this group can gel. Many of the rookies (including Sail Her Poon, Tropic Thunder, Mouth of the South, Platinum Bomb and titmouse) gained valuable experience at the Beast of the East against strong opponents.

BY POSITION

Rookies like Platinum Bomb will be relied upon to play big roles

Pivots: Look for the veterans to step up at this position, and expect to see Hot Roller, Lady Scorcher, Lacy Brawler and Pretty Peeved take their turns with the stripe. The quickly evolving role of the pivot in flat track derby means that the steadiness of a more experienced player can make all the difference. As the season progresses, some of the rookies will inevitably begin to step up and take on this all important role.

Blockers: Given the lack of returning players, the rookies have no choice but to shoulder a lot of the load in the pack. P Doddy and Grim Avenger also got valuable track time at the Beast, but fans of ToRD will quickly get to know the names of Genuine Risk, Diva Zapata, Sin D Drop-Her as well, as they will have to be relied upon to eat up a lot of track time.

Jammers: Long-time standout Memphis Kitty will lead a rookie group of jammers in the Betties’ offense in 2010. Sail Her Poon took a lot of jams with the star at BOE, while Tropic Thunder also looked good against much more experienced competition. Tropic Thunder also registered a good performance in this preseason’s Rookies (’09) vs. Fresh Meat (’10) scrimmage. Following Kitty’s lead, these two young jammers could become key pieces of the Betties’ offense this season.

SEASON OUTLOOK

A superfan and a former champ will be running the bench for the Betties this season: ToRD track rat Quickdraw joins Mia Culprit (ToRD vet and winner of The Boot in 2009 with Gores) as the new (rookie) bench managers of this young team. The Betties open their season against the Gores and will be in tough against a team that looks poised to defend its championship. And while 2010 could end up as a rebuilding season for the Betties, this promising collection of rookies provides the foundations for a bright future.

See the full roster here.

For a visual preview of the season opener, watch layer 9’s coverage of ToRD’s 2009 championship game (Gores 128 vs. Betties 88).

RECORD

Points For (Per Game)

Points Against

(Per Game)

Plus/Minus

Margin of Victory

Margin of Loss

2009: 2-1

260 (86.67)

251 (83.67)

+9

18.5 (2)

28 (1)

Lifetime: 6-5 (Semi-finalists in ’08; finalists in ’09)

Vs. Gores (’09): 0-2 (including championship) / Lifetime: 0-6 (including ’08 semi-finals, ’09 finals)

THE BETTIES’ 2009

On July 19th of last season, the Smoke City Betties won a gritty, defensive, low scoring battle against the Chicks Ahoy! (68-61) and finally broke the two year stranglehold that the Chicks and Gores had held over ToRD. It was a team-defining victory that propelled an experienced Betties team all the way to their first appearance in the championship. Add that result to a third place finish at the Beast of the East and it was the Betties most successful season to date. Statistically, the Betties finished second in most categories (tying the Chicks in points against and finishing second to them in average margin of loss).

VETERANS/RETURNING PLAYERS

No team changed as much as the Betties did this past off season. With retiring skaters and team-to-team player movement, the Betties don’t have nearly as many returning veterans as the other teams in the league. Hot Roller, Memphis Kitty, Pretty Peeved and Lacy Brawler make-up the returning core of the 2009 finalists; Second-year players Lady Scorcher and Rage Virus, former Gore-Gore Rollergirls, shifted to the Betties after gaining valuable experience in their championship run and will be expected to take on a leadership role with this young team.

ROOKIES

With so few veterans, the 2010 Smoke City Betties are mostly built up by an exciting group of young skaters (an astounding ten skaters will be making their ToRD debuts in 2010). So much of the Betties’ season hinges on how well (and how quickly) this group can gel, but there is no doubt that this will be a rebuilding year. Many of the rookies (including Sail Her Poon, Tropic Thunder, Mouth of the South, Platinum Bomb and titmouse) gained valuable experience at the Beast of the East against strong opponents.

BY POSITION

Pivots: Look for the veterans to step up at this position, and expect to see Hot Roller, Lady Scorcher, Lacy Brawler and Pretty Peeved take their turns with the stripe. The quickly evolving role of the pivot in flat track derby means that the steadiness of a more experienced player can make all the difference. As the season progresses, expect to see some of the rookies begin to step and take on this all important role.

Blockers: The rookies have no choice but to step up and take on a lot of track time. Fans of ToRD will quickly get used to the names of P Doddy and Grim Avenger also got valuable track time at the Beast, but get to know the names of Genuine Risk, Diva Zapata, Sin D Drop-Her as well as they will have be relied upon to eat up a lot of track time.

Jammers: Long-time standout Memphis Kitty will lead a presumably rookie group of jammers in 2010. Sail Her Poon took a lot of jams with the star at BOE, while Tropic Thunder also looked good against much more experienced competition. Tropic Thunder also looked good in this preseason’s Rookies (’09) vs. Fresh Meat (’10) scrimmage. Following Kitty’s lead, these two young jammers could become key pieces of the Betties’ offense this season.

SEASON OUTLOOK

A superfan and a former champ will be running the bench for the Betties this season. Quickdraw takes the helm of his first team in 2010, joining Mia Culprit (ToRD vet and winner of The Boot in 2009 with Gores) as bench managers of this young team. The Betties open their season against the Gores and will be in tough against a team that looks poised to defend their championship. And while 2010 could end up as a rebuilding season for the Betties, with such a promising crop of rookies the foundations for a bright future seem to be in place.

See the full roster here.

For a visual preview of the season opener, watch layer 9’s coverage of ToRD’s 2009 championship game (Gores 128 vs. Betties 88).

2010 Season Preview: The Gore-Gore Rollergirls

Gore-Gore Rollergirls 2010

GORE-GORE ROLLER GIRLS 2009

RECORD Points For (Per Game) Points Against

(Per Game)

 Plus/Minus Margin of Victory Margin of Loss

3-0

347 (115.67)

233 (77.67)

+114

48 (3)

– (0)

* Lifetime: 9-1 regular season; 3-1 playoffs (champions in ’07, ’09; finalists in ’08)

* Vs. Betties (’09): 2-0 (including championship) / Lifetime: 4-0 (including ’08 semi-finals, ’09 finals)

2009 was a banner year for the Gore-Gore Rollergirls, who went undefeated for the season (including pre-season) and capped it off with their second ToRD Championship (in their third consecutive trip to the final). They also dominated in every single statistical category, registering a plus/minus that was an astonishing 105 points higher than the second place score. The team’s average margin of victory was also an amazing 48 (well ahead of the Betties’ 18.5).

Foxy Sinatra returns in 2010

VETERANS/RETURNING PLAYERS

Fortunately for fans of the Gore-Gore Rollergirls, the core of last year’s championship team has returned to defend The Boot, and they will once again be led by bench manager His Unholiness, The Reverend Ramirez. Along with the veteran leadership provided by the likes of Brim Stone, Junkie Jenny and Dust Bunny, two legends of the past, Kandy Barr and the big-hitting Foxy Sinatra (check out her monster blocker stats from 2008), return in 2009 after taking hiatuses. Molly Bloom, Lady Gagya, Bambi and Lunchbox all put in strong performances at this year’s Beast of the East and look like they haven’t lost a step heading into the regular season.

Santa Muerte made the Nerd's shortlist for breakout player at BOE '10

ROOKIES

Despite the number of returning players, the Gores will be incorporating a number of rookies into the lineup this season as well. Santa Muerte, Aston Martini, Gamma Rei, Miss Kitty La Peur, and Hurlin Wall all gained valuable experience at this years’ BOE. In particular, Hurlin Wall and Santa Muerte stood out with their composure and comfort in the pack and could receive a lot of track time during this title defense.

BY POSITION

Pivots: Brim Stone and Junkie Jenny are going to be relied upon heavily this season to carry the load at the front of the pack, but their experience and knowledge of the game will help a young pack develop quickly. Lady Gagya has looked strong since opening the 2010 preseason with CN Power against The Rideau Valley Vixens, and her stabilizing presence and ability to clear big holes could see her sharing the pivot responsibility this season.

Blockers: Kandy Barr and Foxy Sinatra will undoubtedly need some time to return to their form of two season ago,

Lunchbox had a breakout season in 2009

but could become key players in the pack as the season progresses. Lady Gagya and Molly Boom both made huge leaps in development during the preseason, and along with returning skaters Monie Darko, Motley Cru-ela, and Bella Clava, will be expected to lead the way for the Gores. Santa Muerte looked absolutely fearless at the BOE, and as her timing on the track improves, could be a true menace in the pack.

Jammers: No fan of Toronto Roller Derby will be surprised by the Gores’ jammer lineup for 2010. And really, if it isn’t broken…The 1-2-3 combination of Dust Bunny (2009 ToRD Award winner for best jammer), Bambi (2008 and 2009 JQ leader), and Lunchbox (who had a breakthrough season) dominated in 2009 and will once again be relied upon to lead the offensive charge. While it’s true that no other team can boast a jammer lineup as intimidating as this one, this strength is also its weakness. The Gores don’t have any jammers beyond their big three. Brim Stone has proven more than capable, but her ability as pivot cannot be replaced, and of the rookies, only Santa Muerte took a turn with the star at BOE. So an injury to one of these three could be potentially devastating for the Gores.

Gores receive The Boot at the end of the 2009 championship

LOOKING AHEAD AT 2010

The Gores open the season with a rematch of the 2009 championship, but it is a far different Smoke City Betties lineup than the one that played for The Boot last November, and considering the history between these two teams (the Betties have never beaten the Gores), they shouldn’t pose too much of a threat to the Gores’ early season aspirations. Things might get interesting with a vastly more experienced Chicks Ahoy! (the Gores’ foes in the ’07 and ’08 finals), and a quickly improving Death Track Dolls later in the season. The key to a successful title defense will rely on the jammers staying healthy, and the young pack coming together as a unified front. Despite the challenges and difficulties of defending a league championship, the Gore-Gore Rollergirls look like they have the tools and the determination to do so.

See the full roster here.

For a visual preview, watch layer 9’s coverage of ToRD’s 2009 championship game.

Weekend Preview: Huge Eastern Showdown in Montreal

Skids line up against the CN Power at the Hangar in Toronto.

New Skids on the Block vs. Boston Massacre

It used to be that The Boston Derby Dames would send The Boston B Party (the league’s second travel team) north to beat up on a Montreal home team every once in a while. Then, last season, Les Contrabanditas pushed back, and lost by only one point on a controversial final jam (the jammers, coincidentally, were Killary Clinton and Georgia W. Tush). Nonetheless, it was clear that things were changing.

Fast forward a year and Montreal‘s New Skids on the Block are the fastest rising team in WFTDA and it’s the 3rd ranked Boston Massacre heading north for the third annual match-up between these two roller derby powerhouses.

Having combined pack isolation and trap strategies with an attention to fitness that is unparalleled, the Skids have put together a seven bout winning streak against WFTDA opponents (nine overall) in 2010 including two impressive, one-sided victories over teams ranked well above them in WFTDA’s Eastern Region. These two victories over Dutchland All Stars (186-65) and the 6th ranked Carolina Rollergirls (135-29) have positioned the Skids as a team to be taken seriously in the east. A victory Saturday night, and they would have to be considered a contender.

FIVE KEYS TO A SKIDS’ VICTORY

Lady J pivots as the Skids' pack forms a box around Terminal City jammer Luludemon.

1) Pivots need to control the pack. Montreal’s strength lies in its ability to dominate with pack advantages and especially while on power jams. They have a lot of skaters who can wear the stripe, but watch especially for FDR‘s 1-2 punch of Jess Bandit and Lady J to lead the packs. They have jammers who can skate two full minutes at top speed; if you can keep the pack moving at a leisurely pace, that’s a lot of points. 2) Triple Threats have to be threatening. Geargia W. Tush and Cheese Grater can and will do it all, and they are now complemented  by Smack Daddy who has been a force all over the track in 2010. 3) Ewan Wotarmy has to play like an army. And is more than capable of doing so.  Big jammer take outs defensively and long, fast jams offensively will be key on Saturday. 4) Iron Wench needs to play like the Iron Wench. She is able to single handedly take over a game with a single, explosive jam. Deadly on power jams, almost impossible to take down, and unfailingly disciplined, the Wench could be the difference. 5) Stay out of the box. The New Skids on the Block have an incredibly deep line up (Lyn-dah Kicks, Romeo, Wrath Poutine, Nameless Whorror, Trash N Smash, Bone Machine… well, here’s the lineup), and if they can keep putting out full, consistent lines, they can very easily wear an opposing team down.

A year ago I wouldn’t have thought I’d say this, but I think it’s too close to call. One thing for certain, it will be one of the best roller derby bouts yet played north of the border.

Les Sexpos vs. The Rideau Valley Vixens

Many roller derby fans concluded that MTLRD’s recent dominance at the Beast of the East had a lot to do with the rise of the Skids, but I would argue that the development of the Sexpos is what is actually bolstering up the rosters of the Montreal home teams.The emergence of players like Ninja Simone, Beats Per Minute, K-Dawg and  Striking Viking (to name just a few!) has come as a direct result of the increased play and experience gained from playing with the Sexpos, and gives the depth to the home team rosters that really sets them apart.

The Sexpos, in only their second year of existence, have quietly developed into a solid team in their own right, and are  coming off of a 213-59 dismantling of the Dutchland Blitz. The Vixens are a new travel team formed as part of the Rideau Valley’s expansion this season (following the development of a second home team, The Riot Squad), and are off to an 0-2 start in their inaugural season. They suffered a one sided loss in their first bout (199-149 against ToRD’s CN Power), but had a much closer battle with Steel City’s B-Unit in their last outing. The Vixens will need to keep up with well-controlled packs and contain well-practiced jammers to keep this one from getting out of hand.

You can catch both bouts of this Saturday’s double header on MTLRD’s ustream channel.

The Jammer Quotient: A Look Back at 2009

Championship Poster 2009

The 2009 season was one of change and growth in ToRD: a new home at the fan-friendly Hangar in Downsview Park; a new generation of skaters; a realigned, four-team league; a renewed focus on CN Power; and finally, a team ready to challenge the two-year dominance of The Gore-Gore Rollergirls and the 2008 champion Chicks Ahoy!. The Smoke City Betties rode the confidence of a 3rd place finish at the Beast of the East ’09 to a 2-1 regular season. Most importantly, the Betties’ second victory (a chippy, defensive 68-61 victory over the Chicks) qualified them for a shot at the boot against the 3-0 Gore-Gore Rollergirls. The Death Track Dolls’ rebuilding process began to show some progress at the end of the 2009 when they lost the most hotly contested bout of the season 92-90 to the Chick’s Ahoy!, whose 1-2 record wouldn’t allow them to defend their championship. The Gore-Gore Rollergirls would complete an unbeaten 2009 with a definitive 129-88 victory over the Betties in the final. (*The rating in parentheses is adjusted to reflect the score out of 50)

ToRD’s 2009 JAMMER QUOTIENT

Jammer Total Points Points Per Jam Plus/ Minus Jam % Lead % JQ
Bambi (GGR) 10 6 N/A 8 8 32 (40)
Lunchbox (GGR) 9 9 N/A 6 6 30 (38)
Dust Bunny (GGR) 8 3 N/A 9 7 27 (34)
Land Shark (DTD) 7 2 N/A 10 3 22 (28)
Mach Wheels (CA!) 3 5 N/A 2 10 20 (25)
Memphis Kitty (SCB) 6 7 N/A 5 2 20 (25)
G-Force! (CA!) 4 10 N/A 0 5 19
Candy Crossbones (CA!) 1 8 N/A 0 9 18
Sista Fista (DTD) 5 0 N/A 7 1 13
Jewel Kicker (SCB) 3 0 N/A 3 4 10

 

One of the keys to the Gore’s dominance in 2009 was their advantage at jammer. With only three jammers playing almost 100% of their jams, the three pronged attack of Bambi, Dust Bunny and Lunchbox gained a lot of experience and became more comfortable than any with the star on their helmets. Bambi built on her record setting 2008 season with another impressive JQ of 32. Dust Bunny (who’d finished first in 2007 and second in 2008) slipped to third in 2009, nudged down a spot by her Gore teammate, Lunchbox, who broke out in a big way in this, her second season. Another second-season jammer, the Death Track Dolls’ Land Shark, also turned a lot of heads, leading the way for the quickly improving Dolls. The rest of the top ten was rounded out by seasoned veterans like Mach Wheels, Memphis Kitty and G-Force. Dust Bunny, Jewel Kicker and Candy Crossbones remain the only jammers to be ranked in the top 10 in each of ToRD’s first three seasons.

Below is the category by category breakdown of each of the four stats used to determine the 2009 JQ.

TOTAL POINTS

Bambi put up 11 more points than the 2nd place jammer.

 

Jammer Total Points
Bambi (GGR) 123 (10)
Lunchbox (GGR) 112 (9)
Dust Bunny (GGR) 110 (8)
Land Shark (DTD) 97 (7)
Memphis Kitty (SCB) 91 (6)
Sista Fista (DTD) 77 (5)
G-Force! (CA!) 58 (4)
Jewel Kicker (SCB) 56 (3)
Mach Wheels (CA!) 56 (3)
Candy Crossbones (CA!) 53 (1)

The top four here mirrors the top four overall JQs. Bambi leads in this category for the second year in a row, and the high scoring Gore-Gore Rollergirls’ jamming trio takes the top three spots; they were the only jammers to record over 100 points. Veteran skater Memphis Kitty had an impressive season in 2009 and was a key part of her team’s run to the final.

POINTS PER JAM

G-Force! is the only player in 2009 to average more than 3 points per jam.

 

Jammer Points Per Jam
G-Force (CA!) 3.05 (10)
Lunchbox (GGR) 2.67 (9)
Candy Crossbones (CA!) 2.65 (8)
Memphis Kitty (SCB) 2.53 (7)
Bambi (GGR) 2.51 (6)
Mach Wheels (CA!) 2.43 (5)
Marvel S. Maven (SCB) 2.4 (4)
Dust Bunny (GGR) 2.2 (3)
Land Shark (DTD) 1.98 (2)
Slaughter Lauder (SCB) 1.9 (1)

G-Force had a rebound year jamming with the Chicks!, and was a dependable jammer throughout the season, as was evident in her leading the league in points per jam. Overall, the numbers in this category took quite a drop when compared with 2008. In the ’08 season, two jammers averaged over 2 points per jam, while 7 averaged at least 3. In 2009 two of the top ten didn’t even averaged over 2, showing a trend in lower scoring bouts.

JAM %

Land Shark jammed more than any other jammer in '09.

 

Jammer Jam %
Land Shark (DTD) 36 (10)
Dust Bunny (GGR) 34.4 (9)
Bambi (GGR) 33.78 (8)
Sista Fista (DTD) 30 (7)
Lunchbox (GGR) 29 (6)
Memphis Kitty (SCB) 26 (5)
Dolly Destructo (DTD) 25 (4)
Jewel Kicker (SCB) 22 (3)
Mach Wheels (CA!) 17 (2)
Kari Mia Beere (CA!) 15.44 (1)

Land Shark took over from another former Doll in this category (Sista Fista, who finished fourth this year) to combat what would have been even more Gore dominance. Land Shark came over from DVAS in the off season, and built on an impressive Beast of the East to complete what may have been the breakout season of the ToRD in 2009.

LEAD %

Nasher the Smasher helps Mach Wheels gain a step on Bambi and take the lead.

 

Jammer Lead %
Mach Wheels (CA!) 78 (10)
Candy Crossbones (CA!) 70 (9)
Bambi (GGR) 63 (8)
Dust Bunny (GGR) 60 (7)
Lunchbox (GGR) 59.52 (6)
G-Force! (CA!) 58 (5)
Jewel Kicker (SCB) 47 (4)
Land Shark (DTD) 45 (3)
Memphis Kitty (SCB) 44 (2)
Sista Fista (DTD) 41 (1)

Mach Wheels set what appears to be an unbeatable standard in this category. Anything over 60 is something to strive for (Mach lead this stat in 2008 with a 61%), but a 78% is a truly remarkable accomplishment, and a percentage that I don’t think will challenged for a ling time to come. Mach Wheels’ control and patience on the track is second to none, and her ability to lead the way 78% will probably not be topped in 2010.

* All stats are official ToRD stats and were confirmed and completed (where necessary) by video analysis from the footage taken by the always dependable layer 9.

* Complete blocker stats are unavailable for 2009.

* Next Week, in anticipation of the 2010 season opener, keep an eye out for preseason previews of the Gore-Gore Rollergirls and the Smoke City Betties.

ToRD Takes on Tri-City

Motorhead Molly takes the outside; Dyna Hurtcha looks for the jammer take out.

PSYCHEDELIC MELTDOWN (@ Kitchner, Ontario)

Game One: Chicks Ahoy! (ToRD) 63 vs. Vicious Dishes (TCRG) 121

With injured players Mach Wheels and Marvel S. Maven looking on from the bench, the Chicks got off to a quick start against a nervous looking Dishes team that was playing in front of a sell-out crowd in its new home (the Arena St. Louis-like Activia Sportsplex). 2009 Rookie of the Year Kari-Mia Beere and veteran jammer Candy Crossbones (who scored an early grand slam) led the attack with much strong support from Fireweed, while Nasher the Smasher (whose absence was felt at the BOE) returned to add more power to an already deep pack.

Once settled, The Vicious Dishes soon began to display the improved patience and pack control that had led them to such success in the early part of the season, and a  double grand slam by Lippy Wrongstockings paced the Dishes as they took the lead and pulled ahead.  As has been the story in recent bouts, the Chicks Ahoy! once again found themselves in penalty trouble. In what may have been the turning point of the first half, following a well executed panty pass between the pivot Mega Bouche and an exhausted Fireweed, Bouche got called on an inadvertent cutting major and was sent off, giving the home team a power jam. Motorhead Molly also had some big jams for the Dishes who took nearly a 50 point into half time (77-28). Dyna Hurtcha was a physical, and effective  jammer in the second half for the Chicks, but the continued penalty problems never allowed them to stage any sort of comeback. The Chicks were obviously frustrated over some of the calls being made and let their displeasure be known; it was the penalty problems that kept them from gaining any sort of pack consistency or advantage.

Skate Pastor looks to avoid Mega Bouche.

In a year when derby is seeing the emergence of a more clearly defined management role on the track for the pivot, Jill Standing looks as comfortable as any at the position and she and the other Dishes pivots (including Meg N Plead) led the pack offensively through key power jams as well as they did defensively during pack  disadvantages. Greta Garbage looked good in the pack too and had a key jammer take out early in the first half. Barleigh Legal gave the Chicks’ jammers (particularly Candy Crossbones and G Force) a hard time all night, and whether it was blocking positionally or delivering big hits, she was often a dominant presence on jams.

Speedin Hawking holds the Tramps' jammer as the Dolls clear the inside line for Demolition Dawn.

Game Two: Death Track Dolls (ToRD) 101 vs. Venus Fly Tramps (TCRG) 89

The second bout of the night was a much closer and more exciting match up featuring two teams with nothing to lose, and both came out swinging. The Dolls entered the track with a swagger that was missing at this year’s BOE, and led by the return of Demoliton Dawn as a key jammer got out to an early led. She was also key defensively too, capable of reeling in the opposing jammer and forcing a call on those occasions when she didn’t take the lead. With an injury to star jammer Land Shark, rookies Slam Wow and Nut Meg took a lot of jams with the star on and looked comfortable  even against the more experienced Tramps’ jammers (including Kitty Krasher, Konky and Cell Block Bettie). Betty Bomber continued her rise as a triple-threat contender and  had some key jams to help the Dolls pull out to a 55-35 point lead at the half.

One of Audrey Hellborn's many big hits on the night.

The Tramps came out determined in the second half and slowly chipped away at the lead. Leigh-zzie Borden did double duty in the pack and jamming, and as a whole, the Tramps came together to take advantage of a penalty troubles by the Dolls, even pulling ahead by as much as ten points at one point. The Dolls managed to stay within reach and took a key timeout after a long string of penalties threatened to frustrate the team. Second year stand out Panty Hoser continued her strong play at pivot in the second half, while Monichrome also looked comfortable on the track considering she was playing in her first regulation bout in almost a year. Betty Bomber put in some determined jams including a key power jam with the Tramps clinging to a slim lead and only eight minutes remaining.  But it was the physical play–led by Audrey Hellborn, Seka Destroy and Jubilee–that would be the difference in the end. A string of huge jammer takeouts by a determined Audrey Hellborn late in the bout was key in fending off a final charge by the home team. The Dolls were able to pull away in the final few jams to claim their first victory since the 2009 BOE. (Keep an eye out for the video footage from layer9)

A BUSY DERBY NIGHT IN CANADA

It was a busy night for Eastern Canadian roller derby as five leagues had teams involved in bouts, none more important than the second half of the double header in the Montreal. The 9th ranked New Skids on the Block continued their seemingly inevitable march up the standings in WFTDA‘s Eastern Region, posting their second consecutive lopsided victory (186-65) over a team ranked ahead of them in the standings. The 8th ranked Dutchland All Stars provided a scrappy challenge for the Skids and their physical play and fast packs managed to frustrate Montreal’s potentially stifling pack management, and kept them to within 30 at the half. The win was the Skid’s ninth in a row. The evening in Montreal began with a frighteningly efficient 213-59 victory by the Sexpos over the Dutchland Blitz. Just when you thought there was only one dominant travel team in Montreal to worry about… (Watch the archived boutcasts on Montreal’s ustream channel.)

Forest City’s Thames Fatales also scored a lop-sided victory over an American opponent with an impressive 169-35 road win over Toledo’s Glass City Roller Girls. Hammer City kicked off its 2010 season with the Hamilton Harlots redeeming a first round elimination at a this year’s BOE with a  158-106 victory over BOE quarter finalists the Death Row Dames.

In an attempt to keep track of all the Canadian roller derby results this year, I’ve created a results page. It isn’t fully complete and I would appreciate any additions, corrections, etc.

Word on the Track

ToRD's Chicks Ahoy! take on The Vicious Dishes

ToRD’S PRE-SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE IN  TRI-CITY

ToRD‘s 2010 preseason will end on Saturday May 8th in Kitchener, as The Tri-City Roller Girls host two ToRD teams in the “Psychedelic Melt Down” double header. The Chicks Ahoy! will get a quick chance at redemption after falling in the opening round of the Beast of the East for the second straight season, but they’ll be in tough against the Vicious Dishes who went 2-2 at the BOE and bowed out in a scrappy performance against La Racaille in the quarterfinals. The Dishes also looked good in their 157-53 season opening victory against The Venus Fly Tramps. The Tramps had a relatively successful BOE, which included a big victory of Rideau Valley’s Riot Squad and a tough loss to the Thames Fatales, but their one-sided season opening loss exposed some weaknesses.  The Death Track Dolls are also looking to bounce back after a surprising 0 and 2 exit in Montreal.

The Chicks have a talented and deep lineup and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of the this team yet. Missing key players, the Chicks looked as if they were just getting to know each other at the BOE, and I expect them to get better with each jam as the season goes on. A key for the Chicks will be to keep out of the penalty box to allow their pack to develop some chemistry and get comfortable on the track. There are some big hitters on this team, and they’ll need to be composed to keep physical threats like Bareleigh Legal, and po-

ToRD's Death Track Dolls face The Venus Fly Tramps

sitional threats like Anita Martini under control. The Chicks also have deep and varied choices at jammer with veteran skater Mach Wheels leading 2009 rookie of the year winner Kari Mia Beere and nominee Marvel S. Maven. Dependable veteran jammer Candy Crossbones can be counted on for consistency and triple threat Dyna Hurtcha will offer an intimidating physical presence at the jammer line.

After a shaky start, the Dolls started to come together in their second bout at this year’s BOE. This is another young team in the second year of a rebuilding process, and they’ll be relying on rookies to play big roles. Unfortunately for the Dolls, star jammer Land Shark will be out of the lineup with a knee injury. Look for Demolition Dawn to continue her return to jamming, and don’t be surprised to see Betty Bomber and maybe Audrey Hellborn wearing the star. Two rookies who who could get turns with the stars are the quick SlamWow and potential triple threat NutMeg.

Look for the recap next week.

The Oly Rollers continue to lead in the tough Western Region

WFTDA RELEASES FIRST-QUARTER RANKINGS

WFTDA released its first quarter rankings for 2010, and DNN followed suit with its quarterly power rankings. Of course, the power rankings weren’t without controversy. While WFTDA stuck with regions, DNN ranked 2008 champions Gotham over current holders, The Oly Rollers in its top 25. This seemed to be based on a comparative margin of victory over a shared opponent (in this case being Charm City). Nonetheless, Oly still looks virtually unbeatable and will continue their unrelenting pursuit of the record for consecutive WFTDA sanctioned victories (the current record is Gotham’s 18, Oly is at 15). Next up on the march is the Boston Massacre, and then, on June 5th, Oly will face the Texas Rollergirls in a rematch of last year’s WFTDA nationals in what will undoubtedly be the most talked about bout of 2010 so far. More controversy arose in Montreal’s 25th place ranking, as many people seem to think that their recent dominant string of victories should have placed them in a better spot.

The Regions: West

The only change in the top 5 on the Pacific, is Rose City’s retaking 4th spot from it’s Washington state counterpart, Rat City. Oly, Denver, and Rocky Mountain held on to the top three spots. These three teams all finished in the top four of the 2009 WFTDA Nationals, concluding a dominating performance by the Western Region teams that seems to continue today. Rose City, Rat City and Oly all beat Charm City on its recent west coast road trip to show that the west isn’t relenting any time soon.

The Regions: North Central

There wasn’t much change at all in WFTDAs most overlooked division (top team Windy City ranked only 9th in DNN’s power ranking). The only change in the top five is Brew City’s taking of 5th place over North Star Roller Girls. Hammer City was unable to improve on its 17th spot after tough losses to Fort Wayne and Montreal.

The Regions: South Central

The Texas Rollergirls continue their dominance of the South Central. The girls from Austin just keep putting together solid teams, and are currently ranked 3rd in DNN’s Power Rankings. Kansas City remains 2nd in the south, while the only change is Nashville’s entry into the top 5 at the expense of Houston.

The Regions: East

New Skids on the Block

The biggest change in the East comes not in the top 5 (although Steel City did leap two spaces to sneak into 5th), but in Montreal’s tremendous progress. Currently ranked 9th (up from 13th at the beginning of the year), only two weeks ago, Montreal’s New Skids on the Block scored a smothering 135-29 victory over 6th ranked Carolina. If Montreal manages another big victory this weekend over 8th ranked Dutchland, they would have to be considered, at the very least, a dark horse contender in the East. But if they continue to adapt and develop at the same pace that they did in the first quarter of 2010, the just may be an unstoppable force by September.

For purely Canadian rankings check out The Nerd’s (mostly objective!) Rankings Page.

BOUT REVIEW: GTA DERBY DEBUTANTES VS. E-VILLE DEAD

This past weekend GTA’s Derby Debutantes hosted Edmonton’s E-Ville Dead for another east-west roller  derby showdown. The bout started very close with GTA jammers Cleave Holt!, Getcha Kicks, and LeeWay Wreck’em going skate to skate with their E-Ville counterparts. But as the first half progressed, E-Ville’s Mary F’n Sunshine, Cheeky and Jenuine Draft started winning more and more of the jams, allowing Edmonton to open up a   66-48 halftime lead. In the second half, Edmonton started to dominate physically with Peaches throwing some big hits and BGF Hoochie controlling things up front. Despite a huge second-half effort by GTA’s Bruise Berry Pie and an almost desperate  determination by Daisy Dukes-it-out, Edmonton skated away with a 116-79 victory. You can watch highlights and skater interviews here.

Trash N' Smash

UPDATE: TRASH N’ SMASH LEGALIZED!

And finally, word on the track is that MTLRD’s battle to legalize Trash N Smash has reached a successful conclusion. This means that Trash will now be able to head south to help the New Skids On The Block continue their quick ascent through the WFTDA rankings. We  had the pleasure of seeing Trash play for the Skids in Toronto at last month’s Quad City Chaos and are all well aware of what she brings to that team on and off the track.

Congratulations Trash! US Border Services has no idea the punishment they’ve just unleashed on their unsuspecting American rollergirls…



Beast of the East 2010: Recap

Beast of the East 2010 Trophy

The pack-control evolution that entered the derby mainstream at last year’s WFTDA Nationals has made its way into Canadian roller derby. Starting at the Quad City Chaos in Toronto, it is becoming apparent that the team that controls the pack, controls the bout. It was obvious early on that this adage would hold true at BOE 2010 as well.

DOUBLE ELIMINATION

In terms of results, the opening bouts went as planned. One-sided victories by the three MTLRD teams and impressive performances by Thames Fatales and the Green Mountain Derby Dames were expected.  But the playing field was blown wide open with some unexpected performances. A new-look Death Row Dames, who were barely a presence in 2009, roared out of the gates in 2010 putting up 63 points against the Venus Fly Tramps, while GTA’s Derby Debutantes shocked cross-city rivals and defending ToRD champions Gore-Gore Rollergirls with a back-and-forth bout that the Gores eventually were able to rein in (43-22). And 2008 BOE champs, The Hamilton Harlots, could only put up 6 points against Les Filles du Roi in a surprisingly one-sided loss.

Eventually the Green Mountain Derby Dames and the three Montreal teams won their second bouts and advanced straight through to the quarters. The first major upset in 2010 came in an exciting (and controversial) bout between the Derby Debutantes and 2009 quarter finalists Death Track Dolls that saw the derby girls from GTA gain their first ever BOE victory 38-29.

In the third and final round of the Double Elimination bouts, Thames Fatales eliminated The Venys Fly Tramps, the Death Row Dames continued their impressive run with a 42-34 upset over the Chicks Ahoy which left the Gore-Gore Rollergirls (who eliminated the Harlots) as the sole remaining ToRD team. Tri-City’s Vicious Dishes ended the impressive run by the Derby Debutantes with a 52-14 victory.

QUARTER FINALS

La Racaille and Les Contrabanditas opened the quarter finals with victories to set up one all-Montreal semifinal, while Les Filles du Roi had their hands full against against a scrappy Thames Fatales team, who were the first team to put up a double-digit score against the defending Montreal champions. But the most thrilling bout of the quarter finals saw the Gore-Gore Rollergirls end Green Mountain’s BOE run with a 45-22 victory that seemed even closer than the final score indicated.

SEMIFINALS

La Racaille and Les Contrabanditas kicked off the semifinals with an absolutely amazing bout that featured some of the biggest hits and most controlled packs of the tournament. The traps that both these teams employed with ease early in the tournament were defended beautifully in this bout, with neither pack able to take any clear advantage.  In the end it was a late power jam taken advantage of by the Iron Wench that was the difference as La Racaille pulled away with a 69-46 victory.

The second semi-final pitted the defending champs from Montreal and Toronto (Les Filles du Roi and Gore-Gore Rollergirls respectively) against one another. The Gores’ jammers (Lunchbox, Bambi, and Dust Bunny) were the difference early on as they matched up well against FDR’s jammers, keeping things tight for the first five minutes. But it was the pack control of the Montreal team, led by pivots Jess Bandit and Lady J, that eventually was the difference, frustrating the Gores and leading to pack advantages and power jams for FDR. Les Filles made sure it would be an all Montreal final with a 65-1 victory.

Les Contrabanditas would defeat the Gore-Gore Rollergirls for the second time on the weekend to take third place (91-21).

MTLRD finishes 1,2,3

FINAL

16 teams, 2 days, 27 bouts and it came down to La Racaille and Les Filles du Roi. FDR essentially marched to the final never giving up more than 12 points or winning by less than 64, while La Racaille managed an astonishing shut out in the double elimination round, but did face a considerable challenge against the Ditas in the semifinals.

The final lived up to all expectations. These two extraordinary teams provided a highly fast-paced and hard hitting final. The Iron Wench was key again for La Racaille, even skating back-to-back jams at one point (and pulling off at least one bafflingly amazing strategic move that has to be seen to be believed), though she was admirably aided by Wrath Poutine and Lyn-dah Kicks. Smack Daddy was often used as a physical counter to the Iron Wench and Lil Mama provided some key strategic jams for FDR.

While neither pack could control the bout quite as it had throughout the weekend, pack control was once again the key. For FDR, Jess Bandit and Lady J continued to wear the stripe almost exclusively, and controlled their packs exceptionally well. K-Dawg, Striking Viking and Bone Machine countered for La Racaille, and the battles led by the pivots was extraordinary. In what could have been the turning point in the bout, Lady J led a brilliant pack defense on a power jam being skated by Lyn-dah Kicks, holding off the La Racaille jammer until Smack Daddy could reenter and force the call. After that Smack picked up 4 on a jam in which Wrath Poutine took a penalty. Jess Bandit slow-skated 4 points on the following power jam to strategically take a ton of time off the clock. La Racaille could only  chip away from that point on, with FDR holding on for a 36-20 victory and their first ever Beast of the East championship.

THE NERD’S PICKS

Jess Bandit: BOE 2010 MVP

MVP: Jess Bandit (FDR)

This was a tough call, with the Iron Wench continuing to be one of the best jammers in the game, and Ewan Wotarmy emerging as one of the best two-way players in Canada (though she got a lot of help on the Ditas from her triple-threat teammates Georgia W. Tush and Cheese Grater). But in a tournament all about pack control, FDR’s master pivot Jess Bandit led the way. She ran her pack with precision and ease throughout the weekend, all the while remaining calm and level headed. In the final, it was her ability to contain the Iron Wench that was a key component in holding La Racaille to only twenty points, while her ability to evade or break-up La Racaille’s formidable pack traps allowed her team to stay ahead of things after they established the lead.

Breakout Player: That’s What She Said (FDR)

Again, this one was tough to call. There were so many amazing performances this weekend by players who may not have yet drawn the attention of the derby masses. Killson proved to be an explosive jammer and was a key in Thames Fatales’ run to the quarterfinals, while Gore-Gore Rollergirls’ rookie Santa Muerte was a huge physical presence, and did her best to stymie Les Contrabanditas’ pack traps in their two bouts. K-Dawg was a standout wearing the stripe for La Racaille as well, and Ninja Simone looked comfortable up front for the Ditas. But it all came down to looking at the role  That’s What She Said played on the champion FDR. This rookie was one of the key jammers all weekend and didn’t flinch at being played in key moments against much more experienced jammers in the final against La Racaille. Look out for this jammer in 2010.

Death Row Dames: Breakout team at BOE 2010

Breakout Team: Hammer City’s Death Row Dames

GTA’s Derby Debutantes were the front runners for this early on; Thames Fatales and Green Mountain Derby Dames had amazing performances too, but in the end I thought Hammer City’s Dames were clearly deserving of this designation. After forming in the shadows of the great Hamilton Harlots (and in the wake of the Steel City Tank Girls), the Death Row Dames were completely overwhelmed in their debut at the 2009 Beast of the East. But after an off season shake-up (and picking up former ToRD standout Lock N Roll) the Dames entered this year’s tournament revitalized and refocused, and with a strong core of veteran players (including Bitchslap Barbie, Eduskating Rita, Mean Little Mama, Hozone Slayer, and Ivy Rupted just to name a few) this is a team that looks poised to continue their breakout throughout 2010.

A special thanks once again to MTLRD for putting on another extraordinary tournament (and one that ran completely on time!). All the footage was live boutcasted and has been archived here. For a high-def track-side seat, check out layer 9’s footage.

For a different perspective on the tournament, read Derby Luv’s excellent recap.