2010-11 SEASON LAUNCHES SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13!
by the Grand Poobah
Welcome back, derby fans!
It seemed that ARRG action locally just concluded yesterday. And in a sense it did – as a successful intraleague season just wrapped up a few months prior.
The league witnessed continuing growth in 2010, due in part to your continued patronage and support. The Arch Rival Roller Girls thank you for your cooperation!
If you witnessed ARRG action earlier this calendar year, you saw firsthand why women’s flat track roller derby continues to be undoubtedly the best value in St. Louis athletics.
But as much as the league likes to reflect on its accomplishments, there is a mantra for ARRG as the season begins on Saturday, November 13.
That was then….but this is now!
A new era of Arch Rival Roller Girls’ high-octane action is on the horizon with four teams hungry to grasp the big brass ring at season’s conclusion.
And for the sixth season in a row, ARRG will deliver to you – a member of the derby lovin’ public – the best action found on quads.
This season – I guarantee – will be unprecedented for the league and for its audience. First off, all ARRG action at the All-American will begin earlier in the evening. Doors for events will open at 6:30 pm and action will begin at 7pm.
Why the early start? It’s because you’re going to get more bang for your buck every month!
More specifically, each night of ARRG action will have doubleheader bouts featuring all four local intraleague teams.
In November 13th’s season opener, last year’s league runner-up, The Smashinistas, face the newly-formed Rebel Skate Alliance, while two-time defending champions The Stunts Devils battle their literal “arch rival,” The M-80s.
Individual tickets for the season opener are available now at Brown Paper Tickets. Fans that purchase their tickets in advance online will save $3 off the cost at the door. Groups of 15 and more can save $5 per ticket by going to THIS LINK RIGHT HERE!
And season passes – which include all six nights of 2010-11 intraleague doubleheader action as well as all ARRG/St. Lunachix home doubleheaders (a total of nine nights of action, potentially more!) can be purchased for the fanatic-friendly cost of only $80 at THIS LINK RIGHT HERE! Think about the math, that’s less than five bucks a bout, with more possibly on the way!
And just like seasons’ past, children 10 and under get in for free!
Now that you’ve got your fix in tickets, here is what to expect as the 2010-11 ARRG season begins.
In short… a lot!
Expansion within the league this past summer has resulted in re-shuffled line-ups for last season’s three intraleague squads and a fresh inaugural roster for the ARRG expansion franchise. The end result provides plenty of anticipation -and intrigue – within and outside the league.
Let’s preview all four teams hitting the All-American surface on Saturday, November 13.
THE STUNT DEVILS (DEFENDING CHAMPIONS) 2010 REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 4-0
Last season proved to be a legacy-launching year for the purple-clad rollers. Complete dominance in 2010 resulted in an undefeated regular season record, and a win in last season’s title tilt extended the winning streak to six bouts. Boosted by veteran leadership in all areas, this pack showed ARRG Nation that it deserved the trophy.
Even with the loss of a top scorer in the latter stretch of the 2010 season, the Stunts still posted high numbers throughout. The squad outscored its opposition 455-323 during the regular season and won its second consecutive title with a point ratio of exactly 2-to-1.
Dominance? You betcha!
But as with any team building a dynasty, this season’s version of the Stunt Devils will have to reload due to loss of personnel. Five skaters from last year’s championship team have migrated due to league expansion. This, along with one retirement, results in six holes to immediately fill into the roster.
However, this confident bunch still possesses the explosive firepower to prove to any skeptics that a “three-peat” is not out of its reach.
Returning to the fold is last season’s scoring phenom Artemischief. The multi-year ARRG All-Star returns after a banner year in scoring (184 intraleague points in five bouts). She is complimented by jammer South City Shiner, who also recorded a breakthrough 2K10 tally (135 points). This provides the Stunts a lethal “one-two punch.”
Perhaps most imperative in the Stunts’ scoring schematic is jammer Morgan Le Faetal, one of ARRG’s breakthrough stars last season. Given the chance to accept newfound responsibility with a star on her helmet, Le Faetal collected 76 intraleague points in 2010, which included a 26-point tally in the league championship.
Piloting the purple pack will once again be perennial All-Star pivot Mayor Francis Slayer. The team’s co-captain begins her fifth term in office.
The other co-captain for the Stunts will be All-Star blocker Danikka Doom, who alongside blocking veterans Grave Danger and Deathica Steele, provide a solid line in front.
Although there’s plenty of experience to be found in the prior seven players listed, what will be most crucial to the success of the Stunts this season will be the fresh faces hitting the track. Due to the depth at all positions in seasons’ past, playing time was held to a minimum for some.
But there’s plenty to anticipate as many actively participated in the St. Lunachix developmental franchise in 2010. Jammers Mighty Mighty Boston and Whipped Scream provided plenty of scoring punch for the Chix in 2010, which makes them more acclimated to bout situations. Second year blockers Cookies N. Crème and Baretta Michaels will find more guaranteed track time this season.
Rookies Slamniqua, Hydrogen Bombshell and Trippity Hooha, selected in recent expansion drafts, complete the Stunts’ line-up.
Last season, the Stunts proved that 2009′s title win was no fluke with a repeat.
This season, they don’t plan on giving up the trophy quietly….if at all.
THE SMASHINISTAS (LEAGUE RUNNER-UP) 2010 REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 1-3
One of the pleasant surprises of last season was the fast development of 2010′s second place team. The Smashies began the 2010 season with numerous question marks and gradually built itself internally into a solid squad. In short, the camo-clad troops bonded. Their loyal legion of fans bonded. There were plenty of fake moustaches to be passed around at last year’s title bout in solidarity.
And with much of the personnel intact this season, it’s a team that is ready to run the gauntlet with newfound confidence.
In other words, it’s a squad that’s well-prepared for battle.
Returning to the forefront is blocker Eli Wallop, ARRG’s MVP of 2010. She begins her fourth season as one of the team’s co-captains.
Alongside Wallop in the blocking battalion is Davey Blockit, an ARRG All-Star since 2007, and Jezebelle, a second-year transplant from Colorado who logged plenty of minutes with her own intraleague squad as well as the St. Lunachix.
But if anything, the Smashinistas could arguably have the most-balanced jammer line-up in the league this season, with three skaters that will see plenty of track time whether “donning the star” or not.
First on the list is Smashie scoring leader The Educator, a four-year ARRG All-Star. Her 146 points scored in the 2010 regular season was a result of a dedicated training regimen. Expect this season’s accumulation to possibly surpass last year’s mark.
The firepower continues with jammers Punches Pileup, who notched a personal best in regular season points (111), as well as Smashies co-captain Downtown Dallis (69), who begins her second season with the league.
All three jammers are just as effective in the blocking schematic and will provide plenty of assistance in the pivot position.
Returning to the squad this season are PolkaDot Yr Eyeout, Peek-A-Bruiser, BeatnChix Kiddo, The Forecloser, Megalodominator, and Boom Boom Pow, who all logged valuable track time in 2010.
A solid rookie acquisition in the off-season for the Smashies is Shimmy Hoffa, a high-octane blocker who will surprise ARRG Nation very shortly.
Don’t be surprised if this talented group charges early, and its fans are rewarded with a “moustache ride” into the playoffs this spring.
THE M-80s (THIRD PLACE) 2010 REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 1-3.
The legacy team of ARRG began the 2010 season extremely surly.
A long streak was broken in 2009, which negated a trophy raise after consecutive championships. The pieces were in place just fine last season, yet various situations throughout the year resulted in a squad that was never at full capacity during its four-bout stretch.
As an unfortunate result, the firecrackers on quads finished the season equally surly. It was the first time in a long time the M-80s had not been in the championship bout.
They didn’t like that at all…and they don’t plan on letting history repeat itself.
But even with four members from last year’s squad retired, this should be a rebounding season for the M-80s, with faces – new and familiar – in the mix.
ARRG 2010 Rookie of the Year Black Market Baby became the go-to jammer for the skaters in red last season. Her 111 points in 2010 placed her fourth in league scoring. More importantly, a skater who was put into position out of necessity early last season became a skater who matured in short time into a prolific scorer and inevitably blossomed into an All-Star powerhouse. The newly-pegged co-captain has the ability to lead ARRG scoring this season.
Returning alongside BMB is jammer EnYa Nightmare, who returned to fine form in 2010 after an injury-plagued season the year prior. In only three bouts in 2010, this six-season derby vet posted 79 points. That number should rise will a full season within her claws.
A new addition in the jammer rotation is rookie May Require Stitches, who impressed many last season in developmental play. Even without an ARRG intraleague bout under her belt, she is an early candidate for Rookie of the Year honors this season.
But this trio of firecrackers is going to be augmented by a quartet of skaters who personify the heart and soul of ARRG.
Co-captain Joanie Rollmoan returns for her sixth season of play, which will see her pulling double duty at both jammer and blocker. Jammer Keligula returns for her fourth year of action after spending much of 2010 with injury. The Siege plans on mounting the opposition in her fifth season at all three positions. Add to that the re-appearance of veteran multi-position specialist Eva Lasting Jawbreaker - now skating as Science Friction – the M-80s bring invaluable experience to the flat track.
Supplementing the blocking for the M-80s is Bare Knuckle Smack, who logged additional track time with the St. Lunachix in 2010, as well as second-year skaters D’Wicked Pirate, Munchausen By Foxy, Pelvis Costello and Madam Moonstruck.
Veterans Suri O’ Killer and Chokehold Channel No. 5, both medically out during 2010, will potentially return to the roster as the season progresses.
Newcomers The Punctuator and Rookie Jenny, both off-season acquisitions, round out the line-up for the M-80s.
This team will provide plenty of fireworks in the upcoming season – and the missive to include red in the title bout is well within sight.
REBEL SKATE ALLIANCE (INAUGURAL SEASON)
A counter-clockwise coalition of skaters was formed due to ARRG’s expansion this summer. But even with the minimal time spent together as a team on the track, they plan on immediately silencing naysayers who are suspect of expansion teams.
And there’s good reason to believe them. Scanning the names in the line-up, one will find that Rebel Skate Alliance contains ten derby veterans, half of which were members of ARRG’s 2010 All-Star travel team roster.
In short, it’s a squad not to be taken lightly.
An immediate scoring punch comes in the form of All-Star jammer Starry Starry Fight, last year’s scoring champion who notched 151 points in only three intraleague bouts last season. She is more than capable to pick up where she left off with her first bout back.
She’ll have plenty of help. Co-captains Chewblocka, an All-Star blocker, and Smarty McFly, an All-Star multi-specialist, lead the charge on and off the track. You couldn’t ask for two better minds to guide the newly-formed squad.
RSA’s Party Foul, a jammer/blocker transfer from Bleeding Heartland, saw track time with the ARRG All-Stars in post-season. She’ll impress many in her first full season with ARRG.
Domme E. Nation, a member of last year’s ARRG league champion, transfers to become a solid addition to the blocking corps.
The Bevo Kill will look awfully familiar to long-time derby fans, but this talented jammer/blocker (formally with the M-80s as Nikki Vixxen) will bring a newfound tenacity to RSA.
Blockers Sue She, Ginny Beastley, Bertha Venus and Rock Steady round out the blocking battalion for RSA. Rookies Badonka Bam, Kalestorm and Stabby McCutcha add newbie enthusiasm to the line-up.
It’s a very impressive line-up altogether. ARRG Nation will be immediately impressed by their efforts in the upcoming season.
With the slates wiped completely cleaned, any one of these four talented squads is more than eager to win it all….and the quest begins in less than two weeks.
In conclusion, all four teams bring plenty to the table as the new season launches Saturday, November 13. Old rivalries will be renewed while new rivalries will be formulated. Veterans skaters will undoubtedly return back to form while new faces will begin their promising careers.
But remember this…expect the unexpected. Such is the competitive nature of flat-track roller derby.
The only thing we can guarantee you is this…if you’re a fan of ARRG, you won’t be disappointed!
And if you’re not one yet, in less than two weeks, you’ll become one!
We look forward to seeing you Saturday, November 13 at the All-American and throughout the season for Arch Rival Roller Girls’ roller derby action!
NEXT WEEK IN THE ARRG NEWSCENTER: A preview of the bout match-ups for the opening night of the ARRG 2010-11 season. What to expect and who could potentially shine. Hells LaBelle gives you his take on an epic dual-bout night of women’s flat track roller derby action!
The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the Arch rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news and information!
GO ARRG!!!!!!