GANG GREEN FALLS TO TORONTO’S BAY STREET BRUISERS
In the much anticipated rubber match between Ohio’s Gang Green and Toronto’s Bay Street Bruisers, it was the home squad BSB who took the victory in the third matchup played at Quad City Chaos. Gang Green was victorious 163-107 two years ago, but the Bay Street Bruisers were able to even the series at the 2013 Quad City Chaos tournament 207-112. In what has become a budding rivalry, Gang Green fell in the third encounter over the weekend 302-94.
Gang Green traveled with a new lineup to Quad City Chaos that featured three skaters who were not only making their international debut, but their Gang Green debuts as well. Rookies Tasha Cookies, Lita Fuse, and Hope Dela Vega all made the trip to Canada for their first real derby action with Ohio and all three played extremely well.
The Bay Street Bruisers got out to a quick start, holding Gang Green scoreless over the first three jams 13-0. Jammer penalties on both sides in the fourth jam boosted the BSB lead to 23-9. Throughout the first fifteen minutes of the bout, jammers on both sides were content to play “hit and quit” derby, calling the jam off after one scoring pass. A track cut to Gang Green’s Hop Devil yielded a 22 point jam for Toronto’s Sneaky Dee and bumped the Bruisers’ lead to 64-17. Gang Green’s Blitz Lemon also capitalized on a Titmouse penalty and scored 14 of her own three jams later. Unfortunately for Gang Green, two late jammer penalties allowed the Bay Street Bruisers to go on a 57-6 to close the first period. At the half, it was the hometown Bay Street Bruisers with a 134-37 lead.
The halftime score doesn’t indicate how close the first half actually was, but the four power jams to Toronto were what ultimately lead to the nearly 100 point deficit. The second half, however, was completely marred by jammer penalties by both squads. A total of fourteen jammer penalties dictated gameplay for the remaining thirty minutes of derby, seven for each side. In fact, between jams 7-9, there were eight total jammer penalties assigned between the teams. Midway through the period, the Bay Street Bruisers had amassed a commanding 203-60 lead.
The Bay Street Bruisers were able to outscore Gang Green 99-34 over the remaining fifteen minutes to secure the 302-94 victory. The loss takes Gang Green to an even .500 this season with a record of 1-1. Although the score was not in Gang Green’s favor, Garden of Beatin, KloverKill, Blitz Lemon, and Quiet Storm all played well in the pack. Hope Dela Vega, Lita Fuse, and Ally McSqueal showed a lot of promise on the jammer line and will be skaters to watch this season. Following the tournament, Blitz Lemon was named as Gang Green’s MVP.
Photos courtesy of Paul DeVisser (full set) and Joe Mac. Feature image by Greg Russell.