Get the Scoop on the Spring Bouts - Season Preview

2009 is a big year for Maine Roller Derby. The Port Authorities and the Calamity Janes are ready to kick it up a notch and take on more challenging teams than ever before. We really mean that - we're still relative newcomers to the roller derby community, and the only way our teams will grow and develop is by challenging ourselves and learning from our games no matter what the scoreboard reads at the final buzzer. Keep reading for the scoop on the top-notch and highly-ranked teams meeting us in the Expo this spring.

The Port Authorities kick off their home season on Sunday, March 22nd with an East Coast matchup against Baltimore's Charm City All-Stars. Charm City's all-star team is ranked 4th in the WFTDA Eastern Region, right ahead of the Port Authorities at 5th in the East. Though the rankings reflect Maine's undefeated record in sanctioned play as of the end of 2008 (the Boston Massacre recently took a bite out of that record), Charm City has been skating for a year longer than Maine and has nineteen ranked games under their helmets, as opposed to the Authorities' four. The all-stars from Baltimore are making a big run at the rankings this year and are bouting heavily with multiple double-headers, and will be playing the Boston Massacre on March 21st before they head up the coast to play your hometown all-stars the next day. Will the Port Authorities, a team with big aspirations and the desire to grow at any cost, be able to prove their muster against an experienced team that's clearly aiming for the stars? No matter what happens, this will be a game not to miss.

The next two home games belong to the inimitable Calamity Janes, who are taking on competitors from near and far. After an away bout in New Jersey on March 28th against the Morristown Madams, the Janes will be ready to show some derby-style New England hospitality to the Northeast Ohio Rock'n'Roller Girls on Saturday, April 11th. They're coming a long way to test their chops against the feisty and focused Janes in a Midwest/East Coast showdown, so don't forget to grab a seat and support the Janes in their plan to send them back to Ohio with a mark in the "loss" column. Then on Saturday, May 2nd the Janes will once again grace the Expo floor with some heavy derby action against the Jersey Shore All Stars. Which shore will reign supreme? If you want anything to say about it, you better be in the seats!

The Port Authorities will be taking a quick trip south to Providence to meet up with the Rhode Island Riveters on May 9th. You may recall April 2008's nail-biter at the Expo when the then un-ranked Authorities delivered a narrow upset to the then 14th-ranked Riveters. This will be the re-match on the Riveter's home turf, and it's a game both teams are anxiously awaiting.

Saturday, May 23rd brings the Authorities back to the Expo when they take on WFTDA newcomers the Dutchland Derby Rollers. This team has yet to be tested in WFTDA-sanctioned play, but we do know they recently defeated two B-teams from highly-ranked leagues (Charm City and Carolina). The Port Authorities are never ones to underestimate anyone they meet, so you better believe they will be bringing their A+ game to this bout.

The Spring home series will be righteously capped off on Saturday, June 13th with the Port Authorities facing their biggest challenge yet, the Philly Liberty Belles, ranked #2 in the East. The Belles took 3rd place at the national championship tournament in November over the Texas Rollergirls and have more than 20 sanctioned bouts under their belts. With a string of games against highly-competitive and impressively-ranked teams behind them, the Authorities hope to be ready for the Philly challenge.

Clear your schedules for MRD's toughest season yet, and find out if the Port Authorities can defeat their experienced opponents and if the Calamity Janes will deliver more nail-biting bouts with over-time intensity.