The chase for the June trophy games at Chaifetz Arena continues as the Arch Rival Roller Girls (ARRG) and GateKeepers Roller Derby (GKRD) presents its co-hosted monthly twin bill this Saturday at Midwest Sport Hockey in Queeny Park (570 Weidman Rd., Ballwin, MO.)
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
For the fifth event of each league’s six-game regular season, the Stunt Devils (1-1) clash with the M-80s (1-2) in the women’s opener while two-time defending GKRD Turf Wars champs South Grand Slammers (3-0) face the Riverfront Crimes (0-2) in the men’s nightcap.
The Stunt Devils last competed two months ago, picking up an impressive win against two-time defending ARRG champs, the Smashinistas (2-1). Although they were idle in February, the Stunts have made it a point to perform weekly practices leading up to match-up at high levels.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Jammer Bricktator has scored 239 points in two games this season while teammate Mighty Mighty Boston recorded 34 in January’s victory. The duo will look Saturday to bolt through the walls constructed by Stunt blockers Grave Danger, Morgan LeFaetal, Ninja Sass ‘Em, Mayor Francis Slayer, Orange Ya’ Sry, Danisaurus Rex, Soundproof and Smack A’NOVA.
At the league’s most recent supplemental draft, the Stunts selected a pair of skaters and both make their respective ARRG debuts: transfer Aceta Menacin, a three-season standout from Bloomington, Indiana-based Bleeding Heartland, and newcomer Aggie Wartooth.
A Stunts’ victory clinches a championship game berth and puts them into a two-way tie with the Smashies for first place in ARRG standings, which would certainly bring plenty of intrigue for next month’s re-match between the two at the regular season finale.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
But whoa, wait a minute! A set of flat-track firecrackers looks to quash that narrative within the span of sixty minutes. Despite a February setback that dropped them to third place in the ARRG standings, the M-80s are a very dangerous team heading in Saturday’s tussle. Case in point, the red rollers posted a 250-192 win over the Stunts last December and desire an encore.
Jammers IDA the Living Dead and Tupac Shank-Her had huge outputs last month (78 and 62 points, respectively) while veteran Science Friction strongly supplemented with a double-digit performance. The M-80s’ blocking battalion, paced by co-captains Party Foul and Jamheiser Bush, Rhino-Might, the Ginger Assassin, Warpath O’ Jen, Arcane Sugar, Sp!ce Rack, eZe, Betty Blaster and Double J, are ready to overtake the opposition.
The stakes are high for the M-80s. A win puts them right back into the championship hunt while a loss eliminates them from the ARRG trophy bout at Chaifetz altogether.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Meanwhile in the men’s finale, the South Grand Slammers, who automatically punched their ticket to Chaifetz last month with victory, look to finish the regular season undefeated. By no means was February’s 152-129 triumph over the Dogtown Rockets (1-2) easy. In fact, they trailed at halftime and only sported a 13-point lead with less than three minutes left.
In the win, jammers Handrail and D Mouthful scored 68 and 51 points, respectively, while Gnat King Kill notched 33. Blockers SpinDiesel, Double Excel, Neil Death Experience, Inquadable Hulk, Fruit Wallup, Dago Whomp, Red Rider and Sweet Tooth are ready to use their powerful play up front to punish their adversary.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Saturday’s opponent, the Riverfront Crimes, suffered a setback back in January that dropped them to 0-2 in the Turf Wars’ standings, but displayed the signs of a team trending upward.
Jammers Debaucherous Prime, The Saint and Indecent Exposure can certainly go toe-stop to toe-stop with the aforementioned Slammers’ trio, while blockers Percy Controll, Bled Zepplin’, Skulls McCrackin, mrPINK, BA Blockenstein, Awfulsauce and Walker Hamilton bring solid size and physical play to counter the defending champs’ beef.
Doors open at 6 pm and the first game launches at 6:30 pm. General admission tickets for the double-header are $15 at the door while children 10 and under are free. For advance discounted tickets online, GO TO THIS LINK.
For more information on both leagues, go to archrivalrollergirls.com and stlgatekeepers.com.
Here is a recap of February’s action from both leagues, courtesy of the “STL Derby Rewind.”
