The GateKeepers go 3-0 at Spring Roll
and in doing so end the Shock Exchange’s four year unbeaten streak!

Going into Spring Roll the GateKeepers knew they were facing their toughest challenge yet and they rose to the challenge playing some of the cleanest and most disciplined derby anyone has ever witnessed. It was a marathon of three bouts over two days and the GateKeepers showed off their depth and conditioning as they looked just as fresh when the last whistle sounded at the end of their third game as they did at the start of their first.

Bout 1 - St. Louis GateKeepers vs Puget Sound Outcast (10:45am EST on Saturday, May 14th)
Watch the video of the bout here!

On Saturday the GateKeepers squared off against the team that they fell to last year in the Spring Roll Championship game by 1 point: The Puget Sound Outcast. The Outcast brought a full squad to Spring Roll this year (they only had 8 players at the 2010 Spring Roll) and were looking to send a message that that one point win should not have been that close. The GateKeepers were ready to show the Outcast that they were a much better team than they were at last years’ Spring Roll and that they were no flash in pan.

The bout started with Puget grabbing lead jammer status on the first two jams but were only able to put four points on the board to the GateKeeper’s one. After that, the GateKeepers opened up as Gnat King Kill tallied 10 points in jam three to put the GateKeepers up 11-4. Short Knocks then took full advantage of an early jammer penalty against Grim Streeper to put up eighteen points extending the GateKeeper lead to 29-4. Grim Streeper then committed back to back majors to spend the majority of the next two jams in the box and the GateKeepers took full advantage as Batwing racked up a fifteen point jam and then Debaucherous Prime followed it up with a blistering 24 point jam. These two jams put the GateKeepers up 58-4 and they never looked back. Puget Sound would manage to get lead jammer a few times in the remainder of the first half, but a strong defensive showing by the GateKeepers kept Puget from scoring many points, by the end of the half the score was soundly in the GateKeepers’ favor at 123-36.

The second half started off with Quadzilla trying to swing momentum in favor of the Outcast by grabbing lead jammer, but was only able to manage five points against Batwing before he had to call it off. Jammer penalties would be the Outcast’s undoing as on the next jam Hollywood Chuck Bury would be sent to the box and Gnat King Kill took full advantage by putting a quick sixteen on the board extending the GateKeepers’ lead to 139-41. On the very next jam Puget jammer Scott Slamilton ended up in the penalty box and Short Knocks would put up a quick thirteen to push the lead to 152-41. In the remainder of the second half, the GateKeepers would continue to build on a massive lead and they never let the Outcast get back into the game.

Final Score: GateKeepers 201 Puget Sound Outcast 78
Leading Scorers:
GateKeepers: Debaucherous Prime (65); Short Knocks (64)
Puget Sound: Scott Slamilton (24); Quadzilla (23)

Final Thoughts: The GateKeepers clearly proved they belonged in last year’s Championship bout. This bout set the tone for the weekend and really got the attention of the other teams in attendance. On Saturday night Puget almost beat the Shock Exchange coming up just short in a 118-125 loss. Many people began to think that New York’s undefeated string of 24 games dating back to 2007 was in jeopardy.

Bout 2 - St. Louis GateKeepers vs Harm City Homicide (10:45am EST on Sunday, May 15th)
Watch the video of the bout here!

In their first bout on day two of Spring Roll, the GateKeepers would face the Harm City Homicide from Baltimore. Harm City was coming off of 188-133 loss to the Dallas Deception in their opening bout of Spring Roll and were looking to rebound and build some momentum for their 3rd bout later in the day against the TC Terrors. Unfortunately they would build no momentum against the GateKeepers who were becoming the juggernaut of Spring Roll. This was the first time these two teams had met.

The first couple of jams started off small as the Batwing and Debaucherous Prime scored 3 and 8 points respectively as lead jammer. After that the GateKeepers would kick it into high gear and never look back. The GateKeepers would end up controlling 15 of the 18 jams in the first half and go into half time with a lead of 130-31.

Harm City fared no better in the second half as the GateKeepers continued to pour it on. In one of the funniest moments of the weekend, Carnage Asada for Harm City came out of the penalty box and began skating as if he were the jammer. After completing three “scoring passes” he finally realized he was not wearing a jammer penny after trying to call off the jam and receiving an illegal procedure minor. The GateKeepers continued to roll and when the final whistle sounded, the GateKeepers had a 205 point lead.

Final Score: GateKeepers 261 Harm City Homicide 56
Leading Scorers:
GateKeepers: Debaucherous Prime (70); Magnum P.I.M.P. (57)
Harm City: Virginia Slim (26); Truth Hurts (23)

Final Thoughts: The GateKeepers played nearly flawless derby in this bout and Harm City just had no answer for it. The GateKeepers rested Short Knocks, Wrecking Bill, Double Excel and Sweet Tooth for this bout so they would be fresh for the Shock Exchange bout. Turned out to be a very good move as they didn’t need them against Harm City. Magnum stepped into the jammer position in Knocks’ stead and racked up 57 points on 6 jams.

Bout 3 - St. Louis GateKeepers vs New York Shock Exchange (4:00pm EST on Sunday, May 15th)
Watch the video of the bout here!

This was the bout everyone at Spring Roll was waiting for. After the way the GateKeepers handled Puget Sound and Harm City, the crowd was abuzz at the possibility that they may witness history. The New York Shock Exchange had a 24-0 record over their 4 year existence. They would be putting it all on the line against a hungry and determined GateKeepers squad that had dominated it’s previous bouts with sound fundamental play and few penalties. After the shaky start to the weekend in which the Shock Exchange barely squeaked by Puget Sound, they roared back and dismantled the Dallas Deception with a score of 182-46.

The GateKeepers managed to jump out to an early lead in the first half behind some stellar blocking and great jamming. Gnat King Kill would put the GateKeepers on the board first with a 9 point jam. Just a couple jams later, Batwing would explode for a 14 point jam to give the GateKeepers a 28-0 lead. On the sixth jam of the bout the Shock Exchange would finally get on the board as Jonathan R would pick up 2 points. Short Knocks then took full advantage of a jammer penalty on Ladies Knight to put 18 points on the board extending the GateKeepers’ lead to 48-2. A couple jams later Rinkworm and Jonathan R would combine to cut the lead to 49-34. After a quick timeout by the GateKeepers, they would come back out and re-establish control of the game by not allowing a single point the next three jams and extending the lead back out to 73-39. The rest of the half would see a little bit of back and forth, but the GateKeepers pretty much matched the Shock Exchange point for point and the half ended with the GateKeepers leading 90-55.

In the beginning of the second half the Shock Exhange came out and limited the GateKeepers to only 5 points in the first 7 jams and were able to close the gap to 98-73. During the eighth jam of the second half Debaucherous Prime was able to rack put an 18 spot up on the board and the GateKeepers then began to go into cruise control with the score at 113-75. The GateKeepers were able to hold onto a sizable lead the rest of the half but Rinkwork made things interesting for the Shock Exchange when Batwing was sent off for a major track cut on the last jam. The clock would do no favors for the Shock Exchange though as time ran out on them, but not before Rinkworm would make things interesting by cutting the lead to 158-138 which would be the final.

Final Score: GateKeepers 158 New York Shock Exchange 138
Leading Scorers:
GateKeepers: Batwing (51); Gnat King Kill (41)
New York: Rinkworm (52); Jonathan R (47)

Final Thoughts: The GateKeepers continued on Sunday night what worked for them in their previous two bouts at Spring Roll. They played a disciplined game using strong fundamentals and team play to control the pace of the game and overwhelm their opponents. Strong blocking and great jammer play combined to create a situation in which the GateKeepers were able to jump out to an early lead over the Shock Exchange and never look back. At one point early in the first half the Shock Exchange only trailed by 15, but that would be as close as they ever got. To give you an idea of how big this bout was, the bout between the Harm City Homicide and the TC Terrors on track 2 was temporarily suspended so that both teams and the fans could come over and watch the final minutes of this bout. The Shock Exchange had a target on their back for a long time and I think it is safe to say that that target is now squarely on the backs of the GateKeepers.

I have to say that my first Spring Roll was amazing. Seeing so many incredibly talented teams in one place was a real eye-opener and made me really appreciate what we have right here in St. Louis. The GateKeepers have great depth and a ridiculous amount of talent. That talent will be on display right here in St. Louis on May 21st when local league play resumes between the RiverFront Crimes and the Dogtown Rockets (Purchase Tickets). You will also have your first chance to see the GateKeepers’ Travel Team in action on June 11th as the Twin City Terrors from Minneapolis/St. Paul come to town. That evening will feature a double-header in which the Arch Rival Roller Girls will also square off against the Northstar Supernovas. Be sure to check back regularly for your opportunity to purchase for these and all the other bouts scheduled.

- Star-Spangled Hammer

Disclaimer: All stats are unofficial. However, Star-Spangled Hammer is pretty confident that they are correct.