Check out men's roller derby in Albany tonight

Can't make it to the Hellions bout in Rochester this weekend? It's ok - I forgive you, I guess... but you can make it up by checking out the Capital District Men's Roller Derby (aka Capital District Trauma Authority (CDTA)) bout this weekend at the Washington Avenue Armory.  This bout is a double header with the Albany All Stars, who are taking on the women's team from Connecticut.

While the Hellions are taking on Roc City in a WFTDA sanctioned bout, CDTA will take on Connecticut’s Death Quads for some MRDA action!

The last time CDTA went head to head the Death Quads (ranked 13 in MRDA as of Feb 2013), the Death Quads come out victorious over the Trauma Authority (ranked 15 in MRDA as of Feb 2013).  CDTA is looking for a home win this time around.

The bout will take place at Washington Ave Armory in Albany this Saturday March 23rd.  Doors open at 5 p.m., with the first whistle starting the bout at 6 p.m.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and $4 for kids under 12.

Hellions head out to Rochester for a roller derby weekend

This weekend we are headed out to Rochester to take on Roc City Roller Derby.  It's a double header bout, more roller derby than you can shake a stick at!

Roc City B-Sides vs. NHRD Queen City Cherry Bombs @ 6:00 PM 

Roc Stars vs. Hellions of Troy @ 8:00 PM

Gordon Field House @ RIT -- Doors @ 5:00 PM

I totally love their bout art work!

Our last full length bout against Roc City was in 2011 against their B-Team , a close game! Hellions 85 - Roc City 92.  This time we're sending the Hellions for a sanction bout, which will count towards our WFTDA ranking.

I actually missed that game that year (I think I was on vacation?).  The last time I was in Rochester was for roller derby was for a newbie scrimmage with the Utica Roller Girls in 2010!  I think it was one of my first away scrimmages.  I specifically remember being afraid of one of their really tall skaters, GWAR (who still plays, I see).  I described her as "7 feet tall" in my blog post about the scrimmage, hahaha.  We will see if that is actually the case.

That weekend I drove out to Rochester with Kitty P and Reading Rambo and we stayed at Kitty's house.  The next day we went to the Lilac Festival.  It's one of my most fond roller derby field trip memories.

Derby roadtrip to see Mid-Hudson Misfits

Me, Lilly, and Jez

On Friday night I took a little roadtrip to Oneonta with Jezibelle N Hell and her kiddo Lilly (aka my sidekick) to check out the Mid-Hudson Misfits first game ever!  They were hosted by the Oneonta Roller Derby's Derailing Darlings.  I've been out to their venue (Interskate 88) a couple other times for their bouts, including their first one against Central New York (CNY).  I really love all the strings of lights they hang from the ceiling at the venue!

The bout was fun - not a very fast level of play, but I still saw team work and basic strategy.  Oneonta was pretty aggressive with their hits and their jammers liked to go one-on-one with the other jammer.  The Misfits were down by about 70 points at halftime, but they started the second half strong.  Oneonta wasn't ready to give up their big lead, though.  I recall Squirrel Jam having a crazy awesome power jam - it was awesome!!  There were definitely a couple confusing points with too many people in the box.

The Misfits came to our practice a couple weeks ago to scrimmage, so there were lots of faces I recognized on the track.

Squirrel Jam, Ophelia Knockers, Tetta Vendetta, Square Broot

I have known Square Broot (I love her name!!) and Ophelia Knockers since I started playing roller derby!  I was really happy to see them play!  I also saw Miranda Wrights back on skates (yay!) and hung out with Pushup Zebra and Hispanic Attack.

The only bummer was the ride home -- snowstorm!!  Some people say Jezibelle is a crazy driver...but she definitely knows how to drive in the snow.  But then once the snow was clear - I'll admit... she's pretty crazy.  Overall, great roadtrip down I-88!

ahhh -- snow storm! (or are we going warp speed?)

And lastly... enough of my crappy iphone photos... make sure to check out Hispanic Attack's photos on facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.535078453211331.1073741832.176823115703535&type=1

Photo by Hispanic Attack

Roller Derby Living Social Deal!

Did you see this in your inbox this morning?  The Hellions of Troy are offering a LivingSocial deal this week!  Check it out here:

http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/368-albany-capital-region/deals/616524-adult-or-child-roller-derby-tickets

It's a great deal -- basically two for one tickets or you can save by getting a deal with a merchandise voucher (good for any Hellions of Troy gear - like t-shirts (not valid at Rollarama's snack bar - sorry!)

• $15 ($30 value) for two adult roller derby tickets and $10 to spend on merchandise 
• $10 ($20 value) for two adult roller derby tickets 
• $8 ($16 value) for two kids' roller derby tickets and $10 to spend on merchandise 
• $3 ($6 value) for two kids' roller derby tickets

Next Home Bout: Saturday April 13

Mark your calendars! A month from now we'll be back at Rollarama Skating Center for an action packed Saturday night!  Our B Team, the Herculadies, take on our friends from Plattsburgh - the North Country Lumber Jills!

The Herculadies came out on top the last time our teams met in a full length bout, last year on June 16 (Herculadies 157 - Lumber Jills 12).  The teams are well matched and the Jills are a super super fun team to play (and even more fun at the afterparty!!!)  Hope to see you April 13!

Going to our bout?  Say so on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/events/342182402569687/

Photos from March 2 bout

Check out some photos from our March 2 season opener against the Green Mountain Derby Dames (Burlington, VT).  I was actually home sick with the flu for this bout - bummer :(

Hellions and Green Mountain lined up to start a jam.
Photo by Sean Childs

Baby Nuclear lined up as the Hellions jammer, sporting a hockey helmet and bandana - intimidating!
Photo by Sean Childs

Check out more photos by Sean Childs on his facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.612504025431435.1073741826.100000155297353

Another photographer, Bob Donlon also took some shots are our bout.  You can view his photos on his smugmug page: http://galleries.bobdonlon.com/Other/Roller-Derby/2013-0302-HellionsOfTroy/

While we didn't win the bout, it was still a good time and a learning experience for the Hellions.  We had a packed house -- a great start to our season!  Thank you to everyone for coming out. 

Lastly, one special thing about this bout: it was our first WFTDA sanctioned bout! When we play other charter teams from WFTDA leagues we are able to be ranked amongst the other WFTDA leagues in the world.  I think we need to play one more ranked bout before we are eligible for rankings.  Anyway, even though we lost, it was really awesome to see our name on the WFTDA website after the bout.
Final score: Green Mountain 228 - HoTRD 110.

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.

Open recruitment - now through the fall!

Interested in roller derby? We are recruiting now through the Fall, with specific events at Rollarama Skating Center the week of October 14.

Sunday October 14 - 7pm-9pm
Monday October 15 - 7pm-9pm
Thursday October 18 - 9pm-11pm

Now is a great time to join the Hellions.  While we're at the end of the season, as "fresh meat" you'll spend the next three months learning the skills required to play derby in 2013, including how to stop, fall safely, and give/take hits.

Come see what we're all aBOUT - check out our home game at Rollarama this Saturday, October 13: https://www.facebook.com/events/156557224484877/

Next Hellions bout - Saturday October 13

The Hellions' Herculadies (B Team) take on Pair O'Dice City Rollers this coming Saturday at Rollaram! Advance tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/269784

Going to our bout? Say so on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/156557224484877/