After finishing the previous post-season with upward trajectory, the St. Chux Derby Chix launch their 2016 campaign this weekend with a competitive tangle against a squad that took home a bronze medal in last year’s international playoffs.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
The St. Charles County-based Pack In Black, currently ranked #57 internationally by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), hosts #30 Demolition City this Saturday at Matteson Square Garden (3051 Industrial Park Place, St. Peters, MO). First whistle blows at 6 p.m.
SCDC concluded 2015 by finishing 3-1 in the governing body’s Division 2 playoff round held in Cleveland, Ohio last August. A fifth-place finish by the rollers was a two position jump from its tourney seed and helped solidify its positioning within the current Division 2 playoff hierarchy, earmarked for the teams ranked 41-60 globally by the WFTDA.
It’s been a long, five-month wait for St. Chux to get back into interleague play and set the foundation for a potential third straight WFTDA post-season appearance. Recent scrimmages within league members have been held in preparation but it doesn’t compare to the intensity projected Saturday night against a formidable foe.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
“I think we’re all excited to finally play a team other than each other,” said SCDC captain Jedi Knight-N-Gale. “We’ve been working on new techniques and strategies, but it’s hard to tell how well they work until you try them on someone outside your own league. It’ll be a learning experience for sure. “
Alongside jammer Knight-N-Gale, who notched numerous triple-digit outputs last year, St. Chux possesses a multitude of veterans that have prior post-season appearances in the portfolio. Blockers Whip L’Ash, Pixie Dust-Ruction, Tara Eyes, Slaughter Haus, Sha’Killa, Zombie Firebomb, Zo D. Ax, 50 Shades of Pink, Big Red and Blue Collar Brawler are primed to build the foundation.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
GI Jamie and Darth Maully will get pivotal minutes at jammer this season while blockers Calamity Cat, Judy Boom and Brokedown Malice are newcomers to the A-squad.
“SCDC is just always looking to improve, grow as a league, and we want to remain the same classy team that we’re always striving to be,” said Knight-N-Gale of the team’s 2016 complexion.
Saturday’s opponent also made huge strides in the WFTDA Division 2 tournament last season and looks to use that momentum for a road victory.
Evansville, Indiana-based Demolition City notched second place at the aforementioned playoff round held in Cleveland and inevitably placed third overall at the finale held in St. Paul, Minnesota last November. The bronze-medal result helped the team jettison its international rank to #30.
Jamming is propelled by veterans Bambi ThumpHer, Hurtz Donut and Bangs McCoy while blocking is laid down primarily by Shelby N. Pain, Stepheree, Flex A. Belle and Steel Stitches.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
Due to their proximity, and long-tenured rivalry against each other, the two leagues are joined at the hip. The Hoosiers currently hold a 3-2 historical edge in games played.
“I’ve always love playing Demo as they are always great match-ups,” said Knight-N-Gale of the Dynamite Dolls. “They really took off in the 2015 season, which was frustrating for us, but in the end, it was great to see a league that we’ve known so long to have success in the post season.”
Although Saturday’s match-up is classified as “WFTDA non-sanctioned,” meaning that the ensuing result will not apply to each squad’s calculated rank, Knight-N-Gale feels that the battle is important as both leagues plan on honing edges heading into the competitive season that lies ahead.
“We’re playing unsanctioned in this first game, like a warm up to the actual season,” she said. “Then we plan on playing Demo again (in May) for a sanctioned game. I think both teams have gone through a lot of changes this off season, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.”
Knight-N-Gale hopes a huge, vocal crowd will be on hand in St. Peters Saturday night to help charge the flat-trackers to a high-voltage victory.
“I know I’ve been telling every single person that I know, and even people that I’ve just met, that they need to come watch us play this weekend,” the captain said. “A big, excited crowd would be an amazing way to help us kick off the season. We love our fans and all the support they give us all year long.”
Tickets for the event, which includes a men’s exhibition match-up featuring skaters from St. Louis-based GateKeepers Roller Derby in a Star Wars-themed “Force vs. Darkside” set-up, are $12 at the door while children 12 and under get in free. Save $2 per ticket online by going to THIS LINK or if one dresses up in Star Wars garb Saturday at Matteson Square Garden, entry is only $5.
The derby duel marks the first of six home events for St. Chux in 2016. For more information, go to stchuxderbychix.com.
Arch City Sports will have a full recap of the game posted on Sunday.
