Keweenaw Roller Derby's jammer Suomi Slammer, right, skates past the Mid-State blockers thanks to her KRD teammates keeping them bottled up on the opposite side of the track. (Kent Kraft/For the Gazette

CALUMET — Even though temperatures have stayed chilly, the action was heating up in the Calumet Colosseum when Keweenaw Roller Derby (KRD) took to the track in their season opener against Mid-State Roller Derby out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

The score was close throughout the match between these two teams, but KRD was able to start their season off with a win, outscoring Mid-State 150-126.

Kim Kong set the tone for KRD in the very first jam, slicing through the opponents to take lead jammer and a quick 3-0 lead. Mid-State’s Cutthroat Cutie took lead jammer in the second jam and was able to score four points quickly. Suomi Slammer struggled getting past the Mid-State defenders, but thought quickly on her skates to pass the star to Kim Kong who instantly put pressure on Mid-State’s jammer.

This heads up move by Suomi Slammer early on in the bout was emblematic of KRD’s play throughout the game. When their jammers had trouble with Mid-State’s stout defense, they’d quickly take the stars off their helmet and pass it to the pivot. The tactic ensured KRD’s ability to score points in most of the jams, and continued putting pressure on Mid-State.

Cutthroat Cutie was the only jammer who scored points for Mid-State through the first five jams of the game as KRD took an early lead of 11-5. Luna Stormborn broke the game open for KRD after taking a star pass and getting a power jam when Lilo & Stitches, Mid-State’s jammer, was penalized. Scoring 12 points to Mid-State’s four in that jam, KRD extended their lead to 23-9.

Soon after, there was a battle of the Slammers as KRD’s Suomi Slammer competed against Mid-State’s Tijuana Slammer. Mid-State came out ahead and managed to tie up the game at 31-31. They even momentarily took the lead, 35-33.

A few jams later, KRD’s Johnny Crash skated past the Mid-State squad four times, racking up 12 points and was able to put KRD back in the lead 45-40. KRD never trailed again after that.

At halftime, KRD went into the break with a 79-72 lead. Their strategy for the second half was to keep that lead and play smart in each and every jam. Suomi Slammer had an 8-0 jam early on in the second half, Kim Kong had a 12-3 jam, but most of the jams in the second half were small point gains for both teams.

KRD kept the pressure on Mid-State with a multitude of star passes, calling off jams to prevent Mid-State from scoring points, and forcing the Mid-State jammers to the side of the track and out of bounds. These tactics allowed KRD to more than double their lead from halftime and win the game.

Continuing with the tradition of having teams pick VIPs from the opponents, KRD selected Tijuana Slammer, No. 3213, as Mid-State’s VIP jammer, and Lolly PopYa, No. 99, as their VIP blocker. In return, Mid-State selected Suomi Slammer, No. 753, as VIP jammer and Amelia HitsHart, No. 724, as VIP blocker.

Up next

KRD hits the road to take on the Rockford Rage in Rockford, Illinois, on Saturday, May 16. They will return to action in the Calumet Colosseum on Saturday, June 20, against Harbor City Roller