KRD jammer Suomi Slammer (middle) tries to get past GRRD blockers while KRD blocker Jeffrey Dahminator (left) tries to assist. KRD blocker SweetTNT (second to right) and KRD pivot Amelia HitsHart (far right) try to keep the GRRD jammer from passing. (Photo courtesy of Jack Kunnen)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Keweenaw Roller Derby (KRD) got their season started in Grand Rapids, taking on the “Attack!” squad of Grand Raggidy Roller Derby (GRRD). Though the teams started off with a strong back and forth, KRD doubled GRRD’s score at halftime and took home a victory, 121-85.

Kim Kong set the initial tone with a 4-0 jam to start things off for KRD. The teams traded the lead a few times before Kim Kong once again took to the track for an 8-0 power jam, putting KRD up 19-10.

Suomi Slammer, newly minted as the team captain for this season, had a 4-0 jam, putting KRD up 23-10. GRRD mounted a strong comeback to get the score up to 23-19. KRD scored in the next jam to give a little more breathing room, 26-19.

However, during that jam, KRD lost two blockers to penalties meaning the GRRD jammer would only have two KRD blockers to get past next jam. Random NPC skated to the line as the jammer for KRD with only Amelia HitsHart and Jeffrey Dahminator as blockers. They didn’t let the pressure get to them at all.

Taking off from the whistle, HitsHart and Dahminator stifled GRRD’s jammer and Random NPC became lead jammer, scoring four points before calling off the short-handed jam session.

To put that in perspective for anyone not entirely familiar with roller derby, Random NPC had to get past all four GRRD blockers twice before GRRD’s jammer got past the two KRD blockers. It was a statement jam for KRD, now up 30-19.

Kim Kong ended the first half the same way she started it, taking lead jammer and scoring for KRD who went into halftime up 52-26.

In the second half, GRRD showed they weren’t giving up, outscoring KRD 11-0 and tightening things up to 52-37. That fifteen-point deficit was the closest GRRD would get for the rest of the bout.

A few jams later, KRD was up 72-37 and the GRRD team seemed to get even more aggressive in response. A jammer for GRRD was called for a penalty twice in the same jam while Starbuck skated serenely around, chalking up another eight points for KRD.

In the end, the offensive onslaught from Kim Kong, Suomi Slammer, Random NPC, Starbuck and Johnny Crash proved too much and the stellar defensive play from the entire team proved too strong for the GRRD Attack! squad. KRD looks to bring home the momentum as they start their home season in May.

Most Valuable Player awards were given out to each team for defense to Luna Stormborn (KRD) and Ann O’Steel (GRRD) as well as for jammers Random NPC (KRD) and Hit-Squeak (GRRD). Skating for KRD for the first time at this bout were Krausefire and Rainbow Bash.

Luna Stormborn, Kim Kong, and Amelia HitsHart all tried out for Team Michigan, an all-star team for the state, on Sunday, April 20. They will not hear back about their efforts for some time, but if any of these KRD members make it on the squad, the team will share the news far and wide.

UP NEXT

The KRD squad starts their home season on Saturday, May 24, against Chippewa Valley Roller Derby at the Calumet Colosseum.