Feature Preview: #18 Montreal @ #12 Minnesota

By Garrison Killer, Last updated Fri Mar 2 2012 3:47pm

Adapted with permission from minnesotarollegirls.com. Original article here.

ST. PAUL, MN -- This Saturday, DNN #12 Minnesota (officially #2NC WFTDA) hosts DNN #18 Montreal (officially #6E WFTDA) in the first-ever bout between the two teams.

This bout will be available live on DNN courtesy of the Minnesota RollerGirls. Action starts with a home-team expo at 7:30 Central, with Montreal / Minnesota to follow at approximately 8:45pm.

While the rankings point at a mismatch between the level of the MNRG All-Stars and that of Montreal’s New Skids, this one definitely has the potential to go either way -- or come down to the last jam. Although Montreal stalled out at the finish line at the 2011 East Playoffs, their 104-88 defeat of current DNN #4 Texas and their near-upset of #10 Windy City at ECDX earlier that year proved that they're capable of hanging with the top levels of competition.

Minnesota, on the other hand, hasn't yet finished a explosive upswing that started in late 2010. Then, they made a surprise trip to Championships, where they lost to Charm City by 131 points; when they met again at 2011 Championships, Minnesota won by 39 and gave eventual third-place finisher Texas a real run for their money before losing by 33 points.

While Minnesota has a reputation for playing smart, soul-killing defense, so too does Montreal. The New Skids like getting in close and physical when opponents get the power jam; watch for Smack Daddy (#3X), Chasing Amy (#454g), and Cheese Grater (#289) in the pack when one of their jammers gets sent on penalties. In their season-opening defeat of Old Capitol City, Minnesota scored only slightly more than 50% of the lead jams in the game, even though they crushed OCC on the scoreboard 362-58. That stat could be key in a matchup against a much more seasoned Montreal crew.

This bout features a fairly high percentage of skaters who participated in last December's Blood and Thunder World Cup. The New Skids on the Block will be fielding five players from that tournament - four of 2nd-ranked Team Canada’s roster (Smack Daddy, Bone Machine, Lil Mama, and Jess Bandit) as well as Francey Pants of Team France. Minnesota’s own MEDUSA and Juke Boxx represented Team USA.

There are two other World Cup vets from Montreal that will not be suiting up: key jammer Iron Wench is in Sweden, and league OG Georgia W Tush is still out recovering from a broken collarbone sustained against Team England at the World Cup. With those two usually combining for the majority of Montreal's points, the Canadians might find their offense hurting in this outing. For Minnesota, Second Hand Smoke (aka Killaman Jaro) continues to be sidelined with injury, while Citizen Pain will be rotated out for the Montreal bout. In Citi’s place, Hurtrude Stein will rejoin the All-Star pack.

00 Naughty Kitty // H8U Tiki Torture // 13 Medusa // A18 Juke Boxx // 28 Scarmen Hellectra // 55 Venus Thightrap // 69 Vuedoo Prodigy // 75 Harmony Killerbruise // 187 L’exi Cuter // 727 Hurtrude Stein // 109 Psycho Novia // 172 Shiva Shank’n // 711 Ova Achieva // 1837 Diamond Rough

A00U Ti-Loup // 1X Mange Moi el Cul // 2 Lil Mama // 8 Jess Bandit // 24 Francey Pants // 38 Rae Volver // 3X Smack Daddy // 86 Lady J // 118 Trash n Smash // 289 Cheese Grater // 454 Chasing Amy // 1111 Bone Machine // 2000 Apocalipstick // 8080 Greta Bobo