First home bout of 2013 this weekend -- Saturday March 2!

From our press release...

On Saturday, March 2nd, the Hellions of Troy will start their 2013 season off with a bang against Vermont’s Green Mountain Derby Dames’ Grade A Fancies. The Hellions of Troy became a Full Member League of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) in December of last year and are looking forward to their first season as a ranked league.

 “We have been working towards a WFTDA ranking since I joined the league over two years ago. To finally be skating in our first ranked, sanctioned bout is exciting, to say the least!” said skater Roshi Shivalila, a.k.a. Baby Nuclear. This particular bout holds added significance to the Hellions, as they have skated against the Green Mountain Derby Dames five times over the past five years, their first matchup taking place at the Fun Spot in Lake George, NY in 2008. Skater and league manager Marcie Pry, a.k.a. Short Temper noted “The Dames have supported us since our league was founded, so it feels even more special to face-off against them in our first WFTDA sanctioned bout.” 

The bout will take place at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectedy, NY on Saturday, March 2nd. Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the first whistle starting the bout at 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs as seating is limited. An after party at Clinton’s Ditch, located 112 South College Street in Schenectedy, will immediately follow the bout.

Tickets for the bout are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and $3 for kids under 12. The Hellions also offer reduced rates for groups over 10 and a $35 season pass (a $48 value) for those interested in attending all four home bouts this season.

Tickets:
Season pass: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/334909
Individual events: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/10828

You can also buy tickets direct from any Hellion.

Going to the bout?  Say so on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/347611668685556/

Scrimmage vs Mid-Hudson Misfits

On Sunday night the Hellions hosted the Mid-Hudson Misfits, a team from Ulster County, NY. We had two new skaters playing who had never bouted: Painted Lady and Felony Femme! MHM had several newer skaters as well.

Felony Femme,  black jammer, breaks through the pack.
Photo by Linda Conley

Painted Lady, right, works in a wall with Bloody Knuckles Betty, Wicked Irish,
and Trixie Firecracker to hold back the MHM jammer.
Photo by Linda Conley

The teams and officials started showing up around 6:30 and as always it was a group effort to tape down the track. Anya Tailgate's boyfriend recently made an awesome contraption that easily lays down rope and tape all in one go! We had several visiting officials for the scrimmage as well, including LudaChris Speed and a referee named "Goodeye Might". Please say his name outloud and laugh when it gives you an Australian accent. I love it!

 Some skaters also invited some friends and family, so we had a tiny crowd to catch the action. One of our superfans, Special Ed, even made MHM some welcome signs!

Betty and Wheezy work together to
hold back the MHM jammer.
Photo by Linda Conley

For this scrimmage I jammed (instead of blocking) almsot exclusively. We used about a 3 or 4 person jammer rotation. Honestly, I wish I had warmed up a little better for the scrimmage. I did some easy laps and stetched, but not what I typically do before an actual bout. Reminder newsflash to me: a scrimmage is treated pretty much just like an actual bout! Even though I felt a little lethargic, I think I jammed pretty well - very much in part due to the excellent blockers on my team.

Me, one-on-one against the MHM jammer!  Looks like she has the upper hand,
or should I say leg, in this photo though :)
Photo by Linda Conley

Wicked Irish giving me a little push to help me break past the last two pink blockers.
Photo by Linda Conley

Even though MHM is newer, they still had some good concepts of strategy and a couple good jammers. They were also very, very nice! I love when derby girls are friendly or chatty on the line. I have a lot more fun. I have known Square Brute and Opehlia Knockers of MHM for almost my whole derby career- they are so nice!

Ophelia Knockers and Square Brute (in pink, left) work together to hold me as jammer back.
Photo by Linda Conley

The Hellions won the scrimmage but I think we all had fun and it was a good learning experience.

Excitingly, the Mid-Hudson Misftis just announced their season schedule! Their first bout is Friday March 15 against Oneonta Roller Derby.