ECDX Preview: (19) Montreal Takes on (5) Texas, (14) Charm City
FEASTERVILLE, PA -- Friday night's leadoff WFTDA bout for this year's ECDX sets up a rematch of one of last year's most surprising upsets, as Montreal (#19 DNN, 6E WFTDA) attempts to repeat their 104-88 victory over Texas (#5 DNN, 1SC WFTDA). Montreal also has a chance to crack the top three in the East when they battle Charm City (#14 DNN, 3E WFTDA) on Saturday night.
Live on WFTDA.tv. Montreal/Texas begins at 7:30pm Eastern on Friday, June 22. Montreal/Charm begins at 6:30pm Eastern on Saturday, June 23.
Montreal skated on a roster of 10 in that game while Texas was missing a significant chunk of their most experienced and effective players, notably Olivia Shootin' John, Bloody Mary, Sarah Hipel, and Vicious Van Go Go. With Texas bringing their A roster to Feasterville and Montreal lacking key 2011 elements Smack Daddy and Iron Wench, it seems that the Canadians will have their work cut out for them. Texas is 5-1 on the year, though their 32 point loss against Rose City was their only bout against top-level competition.
However, Montreal has a history of occasionally markedly stepping up their game when faced with such competition. This year, they had a very respectable 31 point loss to Kansas City; last year, they very nearly surprised Windy City at ECDX before losing 130-105. They're coming off of a important psychological hurdle, as they finally defeated regional rival Steel City for the first time; Steel City stopped them twice in key games last year, once in London and once in the opening round of the Eastern playoffs.
While Montreal's game with Texas will get much attention as the leadoff game, their Saturday evening game with Charm City will be much bigger for their playoff rankings. Each year since the WFTDA switched to a four-region format in 2009, the top two slots have been held by Gotham and Philly while the third has shifted between Boston and Charm City. A Montreal victory over Charm City would likely guarantee a change there -- but Charm City has beaten Montreal badly in both of their previous meetings (207-85 and 159-57).
T2 Allie B. Back // 2AA Battery Operated // 2 O'Chit // 8 Free Radical // 12 ThouroughBled // 34 Lady Quebeaum // 45 Quickshot Kitty // 63 Holden Grudges // 100 Rosie the Rioter // 101 Crowella De Vil // 110 Uvetta Work // 415 Holly Gohardly // 777 Trixy von Doom // 1618 I.M. Pain // 1968 Colleen Oscopy
A00U Ti-Loup // 1X Mange Moi el Cul // 2 Lil Mama // 8 Jess Bandit // F18 The Honey Badger // 23 Ninja Simone // 38 Rae Volver // 40 Georgia W Tush // AK47 Assassinista // 86 Lady J // 118 Trash N' Smash // 289 Cheese Grater // 420 Mel E Juana // 454 Chasing Amy // 516 Iron Wench // 658 Surgical Strike // 1111 Bone Machine // 2000 Apocalipstix // 8080 Greta Bobo
02 Shortcut // 03 Olivia Shootin' John // 5 Smarty Pants // 9 Babe Ruthless // 12 DeBella DeBall // 19 Molotov M. Pale // 22 Polly Gone // 30 Bloody Mary // 33 Luce Bandit // 52 Ruby Wring // 56 Lucille Brawl // 76 Curvette // 77 Sinnerfold // 86 The Killa' Sal Monella // 92 Flash Gorgeous // 914 Virgo Vengeful // 989 Killbox // 1600 Barbara Ambush // 1853 Vicious Van GoGo // 1889 Belle Starr
