MRDA Preview: (4) Puget Sound @ (1) YMMD

By James Brains, Last updated Fri Jul 6 2012 5:04pm

DES MOINES, IA -- Last year’s meeting between YOUR MOM Men’s Derby and Puget Sound Outcast Derby was one of the fiercest, dirtiest, most intense, and most entertaining bouts of the year. The fairly unknown visitors from Des Moines, IA, traveling with only nine skaters for their first MRDA bout, finished with four after expulsions, foul outs, and injuries. In all, there were 77 penalties, 6 expulsions/foul-outs, a punch to the junk, a fight, and way too many “your mom” jokes. When the dust cleared, the more established Puget Sound team skated away with a 237-143 victory.

“We are most definitely a different team from last year,” YMMD’s Frank Not Sohotra, aka Dante Muse, said in reference to that brutal bout a little over a year ago. It’s hard not to agree with him. Just look at what YMMD did to then #1 New York Shock Exchange at Spring Roll in May. Not only did they hand them their largest loss ever at 199-148, they exhibited a much improved understanding of the game and a dangerous ability to adapt to NYSE’s strategies.

This Saturday, 7pm CDT in Des Moines, IA, #1 YMMD and #4 Puget Sound will get to see how much has changed in the last year. What hasn’t changed is YMMD’s collection of elite athletes. YMMD brothers Frank Not Sohotra and Peter Pan (aka Tony Muse) have combined for 16 world speed skating records and have been profiled in Sports Illustrated. They've also got arguably the best blocker in roller derby, YMMD’s Seahorses Forever, who is a former Rollerjam skater along with Puget Sound’s Mo “Quadzilla” Sanders. Seahorses didn't get a chance to make much of an impact in last year's game, as he fouled out with his 7th and 8th majors just 10 minutes in.

“Frank Not Sohotra and Peter Pan are well respected in roller sports,” Puget Sound’s Geno Guerrero confided. “It’s an honor to be on the same track with these champions. Also, watching Seahorses Forever and Sanders on the same track is a show no one wants to miss.”

YMMD’s Frank Not Sohotra is looking forward to checking out Puget Sound’s new talent: “I have not seen Stan Corfe for a long time. My brother (Peter Pan) and I raced him when he was a member of Team Canada and we represented Team USA in speed skating. Jeff Dupont is another ex-speed skater.”

Corfe (formerly with the Vancouver Murder) and Dupont (formerly of the Lane County Concussion) are two of many new transfers since last year’s match-up. Earl McDonald and Brishen Thomas are two other recent transfers from the Lane County Concussion who will be skating Saturday.

Both YMMD (5-0) and Puget Sound (3-0) are undefeated this season in MRDA play, though Puget Sound fell in the latest MRDA rankings from #2 to #4 due to their lack of bouts against higher-ranked opponents. Their only bouts this season are 100+ point blowouts against the other two MRDA leagues in the West, Portland and Lane County. But, they will have plenty of opportunities to prove their mettle with this weekend’s bout and a meeting with #2 Magic City Misfits at RollerCon.

“We repping that West and taking on #1 in MRDA,” Guerrero exclaimed.

“This is going to be a tough game. Two good teams. If you are in the area, come check it out,” Frank Not Sohotra added.

It is guaranteed to be some of the best play men’s roller derby has to offer.

4 Stan Corfe // 11 Chad Grout // 13 Geno Guerrero // 19 Cory Acklus // 23 Mo Sanders // 24 Earl McDonald // 27 Brishen Thomas // 35 Jeremy Franz // 53 Jeff Dupont // 56 Michael Colella // 67L Jack Mosley // 97 Keith Jewell // 101 Travis Lind

3 Peter Pan // 4hir Lily Pad // 5 Lil Bunny Foo Q // 6 Sugar Boots // 7 Seahorses Forever // 9 Frank Not Sohotra // 11 Dearth Diggler // 12 B.S. Smacker // 13 Bin Blockin // 24 Cleveland Stever // 50 Tallerina – Queen of the Winter Carnival // 56 Suicide Snow Cone // 65 Skatin Worshiper // i69 Twinkle Toes