(BALLWIN, MO) St. Louis-based GateKeepers Roller Derby is currently the most-decorated men’s team within the flat-track sport and a successful feast this past weekend at home re-affirmed their dominance while putting a smile on their quad-wheeled plates.
The GateKeepers stacked a four-game sweep en route to winning their hosted “International House of Derby” tournament held Saturday and Sunday at Midwest Sport Hockey at Queeny Park.
Photo Credit: Art Chastain
With the quartet of victories, the five-champions of the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) finished the calendar year 8-0 and pushed their current undefeated streak to ten games.
The GateKeepers claimed the IHOD crown with a 171-90 triumph over Orlando, Florida-based Magic City Misfits in Sunday’s flapjack finale.
Consider the collective effort by the locals “Thick N’ Fluffy” as the GateKeepers outscored their four opponents 1076-269. In the six-team tourney that featured three countries, St. Louis flipped Toronto Men’s Roller Derby Outrage (413-42), Mexico Roller Derby’s Disorder (201-59) and Oregon’s Lane County Concussion (291-78) in the qualification rounds.
This was the direct result of the stellar blocking efforts of Hulk, Monster Jam, Spin Diesel, Sir Nixalot, Yoshi, Olson, Evee, Jar Jar Bwinks, Adam Midwest, Badger and Arty Panimal while jammers Magnum, Sole, Shred Astaire, Loki, Cat Daddy, Blindt, Static and Jammy posted the points that widened each margin of victory.
In Sunday’s Gold Spatula game, the GateKeepers griddled a 39-4 lead seven minutes deep and possessed an 81-42 lead at intermission.  Defensive dominance continued in the second half and St. Louis poured the maple on top with a 90-48 drizzle that resulted in the syrupy 81-point success.
Full of both victories and pride from the IHOD weekend, GKRD looks to maintain their winning ways as their play resumes in 2023.
Magic City finished the event 3-1 and the 2019 MRDA Championships runner-up concluded their 2022 return to play with a 5-2 overall record.
Ciudad Mexico’s Disorder claimed victory in the IHOD’s third-place game with a 143-74 victory over Lane County, finishing the weekend 2-2 and the season 4-2.
Pittsburgh Roller Derby’s Undead topped Toronto 212-167 to snare fifth place during the IHOD weekend and finish 2-2.
For the event, Lane County’s Tommy Gun was awarded Most Valuable Blocker while Disorder’s Kevinator was awarded Most Valuable Jammer.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF DERBY RESULTS
SATURDAY
Mexico 253 Â Â Toronto 80
Lane County 260Â Â Pittsburgh 85
STL GATEKEEPERS 413Â Toronto 42
Magic City 349Â Pittsburgh 32
STL GATEKEEPERS 201 Mexico 59
Magic City 209Â Lane County 57
SUNDAY
Pittsburgh 216 Toronto 117
STL GATEKEEPERS 291Â Lane County 78
Magic City 189Â Mexico 108
FIFTH PLACE GAME: Pittsburgh 211Â Toronto 167
THIRD PLACE GAME: Mexico 143Â Lane County 72
FIRST PLACE GAME: STL GATEKEEPERS 171Â Magic City 90
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.
