Bout Recap: Hellions vs. Green Mountain

Howdy, derby fans! It's been a loooooong off-season, and we're excited to get back in the swing of things. A little warning before we get to the good stuff: this year promises to be full of non-derby activity and changes, so we may not be able to get to as many bouts as we have in the past, but we are still in love with the game (especially the new WFTDA ruleset), and we'll keep the recaps coming for as many bouts as we're able to attend. If you'd like to contribute a recap, email Flocci (link in sidebar) and she'll hook you up!

Yesterday was Flocci's birthday, and what could be more fitting than going to see two of her favorite leagues duke it out on the track? Our beloved Green Mountain Derby Dames made the trek to Schenectady to play the Hellions of Troy, and it was the best bout a birthday girl could ask for.

From a points perspective, the bout looks pretty straightforward: the Dames took a commanding lead right off the bat and never let the Hellions get close enough to even consider a lead change. Sitting trackside, though, watching the skaters employ their skills and feeling the energy in the room, that was a different story. This bout was exciting, packed with talented skaters, and incredibly fun to watch.

Just a few minutes into the game, we saw Scarlet Menace (GMDD) and Baby Nuclear (HoT) step up to the jammer line. As they made their initial pass through the pack, both picked up penalties, and there was some confusion at the penalty box, but once that was sorted out and they both got back out on the track, they both picked up penalties again! The second penalty box transition was much smoother, but the jam was still one of the oddest we've seen in a while.

With less than five minutes on the clock in the first half, ref Headless Horsman gingerly skated over to the EMT to have her knee iced and taped, and there was an extended official time out while John Shankem Jingleheimer Strict donned his stripes to take her place. Once the action picked up again, it was just a few jams before halftime was called, with the Dames leading 107-54.

The second half saw one jam without a lead jammer, and only seven (of 22) jams with a Hellions lead jammer. The Dames owned the track, outscoring the Hellions roughly 2 to 1. This isn't to say the Hellions didn't put up a fight -- they more than doubled their points in the second half -- it just wasn't enough to catch the Dames. The gals from Vermont wrapped up the night with an impressive 223-110 win over the Hellions, which will serve as motivation for the Hellions to train even harder for the next time these two teams hit the track together.