The month features perpetual activity for the Missouri-based roller derby leagues. One team finished its year by taking home a post-season medal, one looks to continue dominant play this weekend at home, and one prepares for its future playoff run.
ST. CHUX DERBY CHIX
Photo Credit: Kimm Dill Photography
The St. Charles County-based rollers finished its 2014 campaign after finishing third at the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Division 2 playoff round held in Duluth, Minnesota over the past weekend.
Last Friday, SCDC, ranked #43 internationally and the top seed of the 10-team bracketed tourney, notched a 229-149 victory over eighth-seeded Treasure Valley (Boise, ID) in the quarterfinal round. Sporting a 103-74 lead at intermission, St. Chux utilized a 26-0 sprint off the second period’s first two jams to stretch the differential. SCDC, paced by jammer Jedi Knight-N-Gale’s bout high 74 points, outscored Treasure Valley 126-75 in the second half to pick up the duke and advance in the winner’s bracket.
Last Saturday’s semifinal tussle with fourth-seeded Sin City (Las Vegas, NV) was arguably one of the highlights of the weekend. Unfortunately for SCDC, a late bout streak from its opponent resulted in a 174-141 setback. Leading 141-139 with 6:00 left to play, St. Chux failed to score a point in the last six jams. A 35-0 Sin City rally ensued and pushed SCDC into the weekend’s bronze medal game.
Finishing the year on a high note, St. Chux stormed out of the gates in its third place bout last Sunday against Big Easy (New Orleans, LA) and cruised to a 295-84 win. A 58-0 run was the pinnacle of numerous uncontested streaks by the Missourians. The 211-point victory capped St. Chux’s inaugural entry into the WFTDA post-season international tourney. Jammer GI Jamie paced SCDC, who finished 2014 with a record of 11-2, with 95 points in the game.
Up next for St. Chux…are soap suds. The league will be a part of a car/bike wash fundraiser this weekend that benefits the American Legion Riders of Post 312. The event takes place Saturday from 1-5 p.m. at the American Legion parking lot (2500 Raymond Dr., St. Charles, MO.) Barbecue will also be served at the fundraiser.
Away from the black top, and back to the flat track, the league’s b-team, the SCDC Hell’s Bells, host Dupage County (Chicago, IL) on Saturday, September 27 at Matteson Square Garden in St. Peters (3051 Industrial Park Place West.) The event, which also features a co-ed exhibition with members of the St. Chux Pack in Black and the St. Louis GateKeepers, begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission on event night is $10.
For more information on the St. Chux Derby Chix, go to stchuxderbychix.com.
ST. LOUIS GATEKEEPERS
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The local franchise of the Men’s Flat Derby Association (MRDA) returns to sanctioned action this weekend at home. The GateKeepers (8-0 and currently ranked third internationally) hosts unranked Dallas Deception Saturday at Midwest Sport Hockey at Queeny Park (570 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO.)
St. Louis notched a pair of wins at Rollercon 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada in late-July to keep its spotless record intact. Victories over #2 New York Shock Exchange (161-153) and #6 Bridgetown Menace (282-77) will arguably escalate the GateKeepers close to the top of the next set of MRDA rankings, released prior to the governing body’s October post-season tournament.
But back to this Saturday and the GateKeepers’ agenda. The team will bring its high-powered offense to the flat-track, paced by jammers Debaucherous Prime, Shane Bower, Magnum P.I.M.P. and Gnat King Kill. Blocking will be set by Bled Zeppelin, Double Excel, Percy Controll, Kyle Stark, Spin Diesel, Inquadable Hulk, Wrecking Bill, The Saint and others.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Dallas (1-2 in MRDA sanctioned play) is looking to even its record after two straight setbacks. The Deception fell to unranked Denton County, 162-104, on July 12. The team sports derby veterans Ninja Please, Uncle Jessie McNasty, Chuck Riedell, Bulk Bogan, Dr. Feelgood, Dick Diamond and Ramthrax.
The double header, which also features an opening bout with the St. Louis B-Keepers (2-2) vs. Race City (6-3 and ranked #12 in the MRDA), begins at 7 p.m. Admission at the door is $10 while children 10 and under get in for free.
For more information on the St. Louis GateKeepers, go to stlgatekeepers.com.
ARCH RIVAL ROLLER GIRLS
Photo Credit: John “Eggysan” Egbert
The primary travel squad of the St. Louis-based franchise is preparing this month for its respective WFTDA post-season.
Arch Rival (6-6 and ranked #27 internationally by the WFTDA) is set for the Division 1 playoff round held in Salt Lake City, Utah during the final weekend of September.
Seeded seventh in the 10-team bracketed tournament, St. Louis faces tenth-seeded Tri-City Thunder (Kitchener, ON, Canada) in a quarterfinal play-in bout on Friday, September 26.
Arch Rival evened its regular record with a 160-153 rankings upset over #20 Ohio at home two Saturdays ago. The seven-point duke retained the local’s perfect record historically at Queeny Park (16-0).
The league will be raising funds to help offset costs associated with the Western post-season trip. The league will host a 90’s Dance Party at the Livery (3211 Cherokee Street, St. Louis) on Friday, August 29. Admission to the outdoor event, which begins at 9 p.m., is $5.
For more information on the Arch Rival Roller Girls, go to archrivalrollergirls.com.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
