Photography and Videography Waiver for MVC 2015

If you are a photographer or videographer who plans to shoot the event, you will need to download, print, and sign this waiver form.
This is for anyone planning on bringing in photo or video specific gear to the venue.

Announcing the officials crews of MVC 2015

Announcing the officials of MVC 2015!

THR: Miss Trial
THR Apprentice: Chunk Rock Girl

THNSO: Danger Prone Daphne
THNSO Apprentice: Heather Harlin


Referee Crews:

CHR: Chopsaw
IPR: Xavier Bacon
JR: Pushup Zebra
JR: Chunk Rock Girl
OPR: Trickster
OPR: Apple Corrie
OPR: Ria Culpa
CHR: Miss Trial
IPR: The Gorram Reaver
JR: Davie Darko
JR: Big Smack & Fries
OPR: Wreckordian
OPR: EmPower
OPR: Potomac Ripper

CHR: Sugar Daddy
IPR: Bob Lloyd
JR: Dread Hochuli
JR: Punk You
OPR: Headless Horseman
OPR: Organic Panic
OPR: Wreck Support

Alt: Reffeweizen
Alt: Whistle Bloki

 NSO Crews:

CHNSO: cameltopher
Penalty Wrangler: Down N Jersey
Penalty Tracker: John Brawls
Inside Whiteboard: cameltopher
Jam Timer: Yours TruLeigh
Score Tracker: Stella Starlight
Score Tracker: Toxic Marcotic
Scoreboard: Rogzilla
Penalty Box Manager: Killah Beezus
Penalty Box Timer: Hui Will Rock You
Penalty Box Timer: Heather Harlin
Line Ups Tracker: Shebra
Line Ups Tracker: Babe-onic Plague
Alt: Scooby Doom

CHNSO: Fatal Exception
Penalty Wrangler: Goldie Gloves
Penalty Tracker: Fantasmic
Inside Whiteboard: Fatal Exception
Jam Timer: Three Kyle Island
Score Tracker: The Hound
Score Tracker: Mariah Scary
Scoreboard: Captain Hammer
Penalty Box Manager: Clipnocky
Penalty Box Timer: Julius Freezer
Penalty Box Timer: Veronica Scars
Line Ups Tracker: Michael Mitton
Line Ups Tracker: Hard Core Vette
Alt: Danger Prone Daphne

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 5/22/2015; Wiles #611

Photo by Juan Paden

What is your derby name?
Wiles of the Devil, but I only use it when reffing now. I skate under my last name, Wiles.

What is the story behind your name?
You know how Jules in Pulp Fiction would quote the Bible before cappin' some punk? In Ephesians 6:11, you'll read that you're going to need the full armor of God to withstand the Wiles of the Devil. You best protect thyself if I'm on the track.

What number do you wear?
611

Why did you choose it?
Eph. 6:11, of course, but the number has other significance for my family. Shout out to my li'l sis.

What is your role in the league?
Skater. But I also referee for Assault City Roller Derby, Syracuse's WFTDA team.

What is your preferred position on the track?
Blocker.

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
I played football and ran track in high school, then I pretty much became vegetative lump until I found derby. I am the faculty adviser for the Syracuse University Quidditch team though. Go Snare!

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
I get knocked down, but I get up again.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
Every time we hold back an opposing jammer and somebody says, "Nice wall!"

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
All the team players who encourage each other and keep the positivity flowing. Bob, Tommy, Brandon, Bobby, Graham, Phil, Aaron, Baird (miss you, dude), Phil, Oxen, Kitten... And the ones who keep the intensity and just don't quit Anthony, Woo, Brandon, Thug... And the new guys who keep knocking me down the roster Heff, Pound, Morgan, Dick... You know, everybody. Everybody on the team has taught me something, and everybody pushes me to be better.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
Being welcomed to the team by a bunch of veterans who taught me to skate better, play the game, and trusted me enough to put me on the track. I've lived in Central New York for a while now, but I never had any family here until I found derby. I have a new family at home now too though, but the Quadfathers are better than brothers.

What is your motivational quote?
Pain is weakness leaving the body.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
Viva la Evolucion, a ref for ACRD (also one of my graduate students) and his partner The Crazy Cait Lady from Port City Roller Derby invited me to a WFTDA bout in Syracuse. I pretty much said "I want in!" within the first 30 seconds. I became a ref and signed up with the Quadfathers soon after.

Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about?
I want to thank Professor Sarah Hall and our daughter Chloe for letting me do this. Can't wait until baby C.Ray can skate with us as a Quadtoddler.

Official Hotel of MVC 2015

The Quality Inn, located at 200 S James St Rome, NY, is the official tournament hotel for Mohawk Valley Cup 2015.
Just mention you are coming to town for the Mohawk Valley Cup roller derby tournament when you call to make your reservations to get the group rate.
Call 315-336-4300 for reservations
qualityinn.com/hotel/ny153

[for those familiar with Rome, this is the hotel with the Denny's in the building, about 1/2 mile from the venue]

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 4/24/2015: Chapin #43

Photo by Juan Paden

What is your derby name?
Derby name for a few years was Red BAaron but now I just go by Chapin.

What is the story behind your name?
Wal-Mart caries this delicious brand of microwave and oven pizza. Someone brought it up and it just fit perfectly, couldn't get away from it until I realized that derby was heading into a more professional direction. I like the idea of skaters playing under their real names instead of the weird, awkward, and sometimes, innuendo ridden skater names.

What number do you wear?
43

Why did you choose it?
I had the same number in little league soccer from the 6 until 11 so it just made sense to keep the trend going. Its also my lucky number for the same reason.

What is your role in the league?
Jammer.

What is your preferred position on the track?
JAMMER!!! I cant block to save my life.

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
Pre-Derby, I have skated session, at minimum 2 times a week, since 1998. I am the epitome of a rink rat and love it. Pre-skating I played little league soccer from age 6 until I moved to new york, focused mainly on that and splashed in some basketball and baseball.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
Being able to stand up on skates... That's pretty important.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
Every year I set goals for myself. This year I set 3 goals and already have achieved two. Highest scoring jammer on our team, and getting a MVP Jammer, next up on the list is 80% lead jammer for a game. Every time I get to mark one of those off my list, its an accomplishment.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
Every single one of the blockers, there is no single person. Anyone who is willing to get out there and give up their body to help their jammer through, I look up to them. I don't have the ability to help someone out that much on the track.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
That's the easiest question on this thing and I am sure most of the team agrees, our game against Twin City Terrors at the end of MVCup. We were expected to get crushed and held our own and played the best game of the year. We may have lost but that game was the most amazing game I have ever played with these boys.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
I helped found the (now named) Hill City Rollers in Oneonta and we started our own mens team named the Roundhouse Rebels, we managed to recruit 5 guys before things fell apart. Graham approached the remaining three of us to join ranks with the Quads. Oxen and Thug both joined months before me but I finally broke down, joined and haven't looked back. I still work on the training committee for the Oneonta girls league and bench coach the All Stars team.

Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about?
4 and a half years into derby, I have seen many players and volunteers come and go but not a single person has had a greater impact on me then Baird. The dedication and love that man showed, not only for the sport, but for every single person he meets, is beyond amazing. Thank you Baird for being an amazing human being! Now get back here and let me hit you!

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 4/17/2015: Bobby Brady #8

Photo by (not Hispanic Attack- anyone know so we can credit?)

What is your derby name?
Bobby Brady

What is the story behind your name?
At newbie class some of my fellow skaters thought that I looked like Bobby Brady from The Brady Bunch.  So everyone started calling me Bobby Brady.  It ended up that I look more like Peter Brady but Bobby Brady already stuck.

What number do you wear?
8

Why did you choose it?
I won the pine wood derby and broke my first bone when I was eight.  For some reason that year stuck with me when I was a kid and 8 has always been my lucky number.

What is your role in the league?
Skater.

What is your preferred position on the track?
Blocker

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
I played soccer, basketball, and baseball in my elementary school years.  In high school I played
Volleyball.  In college I played a season of Club Hockey and a season of Club Rugby.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
I feel my biggest strength is the ability to read a Jammer and anticipate what they are going to do.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
My proudest accomplishment was when we won a bout for the first time.  It showed that we were doing something right and helped set the path of where we are today.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
One of the skaters that I look up to is Baird. Although he is not currently skating with us he has definitely left a lasting impact on the team that has carried over to this season. He is one of the most committed, dedicated, positive, and hard working skaters that I have known. His example is something that we can all learn from to become better skaters and a better team. We miss you man get back here soon!

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
The final whistle of our last bout at the cup.  It was a great feeling ending our best season yet.

What is your motivational quote?
“Play it like you know it” – Thomas Burt

How did you get involved with roller derby?
I heard about The Quadfathers after watching a women’s bout.  I looked them up and they invited me to a practice.  The rest is history.

Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about?
I would like to say thank you to my family and friends who have supported me over the 5+ seasons.  It always means the world to me when I see you all cheering me on.  I also would like to thank my team.  Through the ups and downs both on and off the track you have always been there.   We truly have a special group and I am proud to call you all my brothers.

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 4/10/2015: Joe Stever #96

What is your derby name?
I skate under my real name now but everyone knows me as Woo.

What is the story behind your name?
When I first started skating my name was Wizard of Odd, the girls at CNYRD practice started calling me Woo for short and it kinda stuck. I switched to my real name just before MVC 2.

What number do you wear?
96

Why did you choose it?
It was my older brother's number when we raced motocross. He retired and I started using it. Plus it is the year I graduated high school.

What is your role in the league?League President and I organize MVC.

What is your preferred position on the track?
Anything that doesn't involve a star.

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
Wrestling, football, soccer, indoor soccer and motocross.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
Awareness and I think I read the game fairly well, that doesn't have anything to do with skating though does it.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
Seeing how far the Quadfathers have come since the beginning when it was just me, Grambo and Die-Lon and thinking someday we might have enough guys to field a full team.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
All my teammates bring something to the team but if I had to pick one I guess it would be Thuggy Bear, I mean Ruffo. He reads the game so well and always seems to be in a position to back you up when needed.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
It is hard to just pick one. My first time playing was on a compilation team consisting of Harm City and the Quadfatthers vs Ct, so getting to play Harm city for the first time in like 4-5 years was pretty cool. Making the semi-finals at the Cup is a big one. Though it wasn't part of the regular season, getting to play with Team New York at State Wars was a lot of fun as well.

What is your motivational quote?

"This I say to be the best, to be yourself, and not like the rest. Work real hard to be real tough. But, 100% is not good enough. Set the impossible as being your goal. Then reach deep inside from within your soul. All you've got is all you could ask. To help you achieve your impossible task!"
- Mean gene Mills

How did you get involved with roller derby?
Slay West introduced me to derby. I watched one of her games and went to a CNYRD practice with her soon after to maybe become a ref. I was watching and this really weird guy with dreadlocks comes up to me and starts talking about how he wanted to start a men's team. We had our first team meeting soon after at Uncle's Bar & Grill, picked team colors and tried to figure out how we were going to talk other guys into doing this crazy thing. Can anyone guess who the weird guy with dreadlocks was?

Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about?
I wanna thank Slay West for getting me started in derby, supporting my derby habit and always pushing me to be a better player and teammate.

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 3/20/2015: Jim Ruffo #1618

by Hispanic Attack

What is your derby name? 
My actual name.

What is the story behind your name? 
According to my mom, my parents were seriously considering "Vincent", which ended up being my middle name.

What number do you wear? 
1618

Why did you choose it? 
It's the first four digits of the golden ratio, a famous mathematical constant.

What is your role in the league? 
Secretary.

What is your preferred position on the track? 
Wherever I'm most needed. Except jammer. Pivot is OK, as long as there are no star passes involved.

What’s your pre-derby athletic background? 
I did soccer, track, and cross-country in high school. I also used to skateboard, snowboard and play basketball, but not in any organized way.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater? 
Probably my ability to see what's happening on the track and react accordingly. I'm a really good bridger.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why? 
n/a

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why? 
I admire all of the work Joe Stever and Graham Espe for they have done over the years to get the league started and keep it healthy.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season? 
Our last game of the Mohawk Valley Cup against the Twin Cities Terrors.

What is your motivational quote? 
n/a

How did you get involved with roller derby?
 My girlfriend, Melissa, started as an official with the league in Oneonta, where we live. There were some guys there who were trying to put a men's team together at the time, including fellow Quadfathers Oxenfree and Aaron Chapin. She harassed me until I agreed to come to a practice.

Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about? 
n/a

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 3/13/2015: Bob Fowler #28

Photo by Sean Childs

What is your derby name?
My derby name is The RagingHomo but I skate under my real name now.

What is the story behind your name?
I chose that name in the hopes of becoming a positive role model for teens and young adults who maybe struggling with their sexual orientation by showing them that they can be a part of a team and accepted for who they are. I still believe that there is a place in roller derby for everybody.

What number do you wear?
28

Why did you choose it?
I chose that number to honor my step sister. She taught me how to skate when I was young. She died in a tragic accident when she was 28 and her birthday was Dec.28th. There were other factors involved that kept bringing up that number so, rather then fear it or look at it as some kind of curse I chose to honor her with it..

What is your role in the league?
I'm a blocker

What is your preferred position on the track?
Upright and next to a teammate.

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
 A lot of farm work.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
I feel as though I am a team player and can work well with anybody out on the track weather they be a vet or someone new to the team.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
Well, its not really 'my' accomplishment but my proudest event/moment was playing in a bout with my son against the Connecticut Death Quads. It was amazing to be able to share the track with him and to see him holding his own and doing so well. I couldn't help but feel proud.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
The ones in orange and black because they have my back. I respect all of my teammates for different reasons and for all the same reasons.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
Playing the Twin City Terrors at MVC. I want a rematch. Derby Monster is a beast of a jammer.

What is your motivational quote?
"5 SECONDS!!!" it gets my blood pumping.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
I used to watch roller derby as a kid and would hit up the local skate rink on the weekends with my friends. I had always want to play roller derby and then one day several years later while at work a coworker told me that she was going to go check out roller derby after work. I didn't believe her and we went back and forth about it and she eventually invited me to go along with her. She is now known as my wife in roller derby. Thank you Becky. 

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 3/6/2015: B. Scherz #35

What is your derby name?
B. Scherz

Photo by Juan Paden- JPaden Photography

What is the story behind your name?
When I joined the Quadfathers in 2012 I decided to skate under my real name rather than having a derby name. I like people's derby names but it just wasn't for me. I'm pretty lame (my favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla if that helps determine my level of lameness).

What number do you wear?
35

Why did you choose it?
This was my number growing up playing hockey.

What is your role in the league?
Captain as well as behind the scenes as a member of the Board.

What is your preferred position on the track?
I prefer blocking but last year against Albany we were missing a jammer and they put me in and I put up a pretty big number and that was pretty much the end of my career as a blocker. I still get my fix though when I feed the baby to my eager blockers.

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
I played hockey, lacrosse and soccer in High School.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
Hard work and dedication at practice are definitely my greatest strengths. I push myself 100% in every drill and try to finish first in any speed or endurance drill we have. I am aware that people on the team look up to me and if I am pushing myself they hopefully will feed off that and push themselves as well.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
Being selected to back to back All-Tourney teams at the Mohawk Valley Cup. Once as a blocker followed by being voted on as a jammer.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
She is technically not a teammate but Coach Kitten(my fiancee, soon to be wife) is who I look up to the most on the team. She came in and really turned our team around. She comes up with great practices and always pushes us to another level. We wouldn't be the same team without her at the helm.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
The second half of our game against Minnesota in the 3rd/4th place game at MVC. That was the best half of derby we had played all season and in my opinion we really surprised them with how we played.

What is your motivational quote?
"I love it when people doubt me, It makes me work harder to prove them wrong"-Derek Jeter.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
My brother was one of the early skaters that joined the Quadfathers and I watched a game and fell in love with it and haven't stopped skating since.

Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about?
I'm really excited for the 2015 Quadfathers team. It seems like we have started to turn a corner and are on the way up. Who knows what will happen this season but all I know is that it's going to be one hell of a ride.

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 2/27/2015: Melvin Stankus #87

What is your derby name?
Melvin Stankus

by Juan Paden

What is the story behind your name?
My name originates from my cat. He got hit by a car and his time was cut short. He meant a lot to me.

What number do you wear?
My number is 7787 but recently changed it to just 87.

Why did you choose it?
I chose this number because it's my birth date. July 7 1987.

What is your role in the league?
I'm new to the league so my role in the league is a jammer for now.

What is your preferred position on the track?
I don't think that i have a preferred position on the track. I like to jam and block but feel comfortable doing both.

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
Before derby i had a lot of athletic history. I started playing baseball when i was four then picked up bowling followed by football. After high school i played a little bit of baseball still then joined an adult softball league. I still continue to bowl though.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
I'd have to say my greatest strengths as a skater are my ability to adapt quickly and my stamina. Ever since i was little i never got tired during games.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
My proudest accomplishment so far would have to be when I got MVP against Mass. It was a very hard fought battle and I was shocked to have gotten MVP. It was also my first time receiving a MVP award as well.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
The person I look up to on my team would have to be Brandon Sherz. He's a great skater and challenges me to make myself want to be the best skater i can be.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
My best memory from the 2014 season was probably when laid The Rev from Montreal flat on is back. It felt awesome especially knowing he's on team Canada.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
I was first introduced to roller derby from a girl I used to date. Her sister and boyfriend played and always asked me to try it out. Eventually I did and instantly fell in love with the sport.

From Grambo:

by Hispanic Attack

Stankus and I have gone head to head jamming against each other when he skated for CDTA more times than I can remember. He's super competitive, and has that Energizer Bunny energy level that just never drops. I'm psyched he's transferred onto the Quadfathers this year. Not only do I get out of most jamming duties (yay!) but I know how he likes to jam so blocking for him is a lot of fun. And for the record, I DID manage to come from behind and catch him after this pic was snapped...haha.

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 2/20/2015: Graham Espe aka Grambo #37

What is your derby name?
Grambo, but I skate under my real name now.

What is the story behind your name?
It was a childhood nickname. This will definitely date me, but when video rental stores and VHS players were new things, we used to go to the local video store and they had a deal where you rented a VCR in a huge suitcase kinda thing, plus any two movies, for the weekend. So I got to pick one movie, and probably 20 times I rented the same Rambo cartoon- y'know, because Rambo was a great idea to make into a cartoon for little kids. Then again, there were still ashtrays in every airplane seat armrest at the time sooooooo.....

What number do you wear?
#37. Although I started out wearing "1st Blood" to go along with the Rambo thing- but since that translates to #1 on the track, I felt a little silly hearing myself called 'Number One' all the time.

Why did you choose it?
Its got a lot of metaphysical significance.

What is your role in the league?
I was one of the founders. I was President for the first few years of
our existence, and then as I took on more responsibility for MRDA, I stepped back from home league stuff. Currently, I just handle the financial book keeping.

What is your preferred position on the track?
I don't really have one.

If you had asked me a year ago, I would have told you jamming. Although the physical demands are huge, the goals of the job are simple- get by the opposing team and keep skating. I like that simplicity.
Now that I'm blocking more, I really like the mental game, the on-track communication, the offense-defense switching and working as a unit.

By Hispanic Attack

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
Ummm.....does playing guitar in a band and getting tattoos count?
I was always into outdoors stuff- hiking, kayaking, etc, but the only organized sport I played before derby was basketball in 7th and 8th grade.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
I think its probably my ability to keep a cool head. I don't get fired up easy. I keep my focus and consider whatever's going on part of the game. Even times where people have tried to start nearly throwing punches - I just kind of stand back and laugh, not because I think I'm a tough guy or anything, but just because I can't imagine letting myself get that upset or fired up about a game.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
Probably being awarded all-tournament team at Mohawk Valley Cup in 2012. That trophy means a lot to me.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
I give the most credit and respect to the new guys who are still trying to hit their minimum skills, and sticking with it past all the failed attempts, bruises, ill-fitting equipment, etc. I can't imagine joining men's derby as a brand new skater today, especially with a league/team where you don't already know a bunch of people. Its easy to say that I look up to the skills some of our vets have- and its genuine, I really do, and I could list something for everyone on the team. But those new guys who I have to give a shoulder to lean on as we do laps so they can skate the apex without drifting off the track, seeing their legs wobble and knowing they feel like they're going to die- and then seeing them show up again the next week for more- that's what I look up to most.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
First jam of our first game against Harm City. We had no idea what to expect as we hadn't played them before, and they were ranked above us (at least on FTS). I had skated with Sin Diesel and Gearhead before on a few occasions, and I knew I didn't want to get hit by them if I could help it. Ferrari Kid had recently moved down there from VT, and I had skated against him a bunch of times and knew he was tough as a jammer. The rest of the guys were a mystery. We came out of the gates strong, my blocking lineup was spectacular. They drew a cut on the Harm jammer almost right away, and I scored a 15-0 jam to kick off the season.

What is your motivational quote? 
Geeze, I had to think back to my old MySpace profile for this one.....
Teddy Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. 

How did you get involved with roller derby?
My wife Heather gets all the credit on this one. She was a founder of our sister league, Central New York Roller Derby, and brought me on to help as a ref and with business development. After a couple years of reffing and being the girls' hitting dummy at practice, I realized I wanted to play too. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 2/13/2015: Tommy Talbot #1225

Photo by Ashley Poole, 2011

What is your derby name?
TOM-A-HAWK but I go by Talbot now.

What is the story behind your name?
I wanted part of my name in there so I did a facebook questionnaire on what my name should be and this was the one that won out.

What number do you wear?
1225

Why did you choose it?
Its my birthday

What is your role in the league?
Sargent at Arms

What is your preferred position on the track?
Blocker

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
Gymnastics, Soccer, and Running

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
I am pretty agile on my feet and can take a pretty good hit.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
Brandon as he is so motivated and focused that he makes me want to push myself past my comfort zone.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
I would probably have to say the feeling of how our team really started clicking together and our season started to turn around and we started really putting up a fight with the higher ranking teams. I feel like we are going to turn some heads this upcoming season.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
Well its a funny story, Bob Fowler started and they were having an open skate so he told me I should go, so I did and WOO and Grambo saw me skate and told me that I had to join.. so I did..

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 2/6/2015: Flyin Phil #5

What is your derby name?

Flyin' Phil


What is the story behind your name?
Back in the early 1980's, I used to skate the streets of Boston and jump onto, over and/or off of nearly anything I could find. I'd often jump down sets of 10-12 steps and do a 180 in the air on the way down so I'd land skating backwards, all with a Camel cigarette hanging out of my mouth. Of course, that was a long time ago and my knees just aren't what they used to be then, and I haven't smoked in many years.


What number do you wear?
#5


Why did you choose it?
My favorite number (eight) was already taken by Bobby Brady when I joined Quadfathers in 2011. Five is the month I was born.


What is your role in the league?
Blocker.


What is your preferred position on the track?
Blocker.


What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
Roller-skated outside for many years, always on quads. I probably spent as much time downhill skiing, doing moguls and such. I found parallel skiing and quad skating to utilize very similar techniques.


What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
I'm fairly hard to knock off my feet and I have very good endurance.


What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
Coaching the Oz Roller Girls to a 10-2 won-loss record in their first season (2012) and being awarded Most Valuable Blocker at the Boomtown Renegade Roughnecks season-ending bout last year (2014).


Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
The Quadfathers has so many talented, veteran skaters that I really don't have a single teammate I look up to... I can find skills to be emulated from each of my veteran teammates.


What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
The final bout of the 2014 season that the Quadfathers skated against Twin City Terrors. Though we lost that bout, we were skating more as a cohesive team than at any other time in the 4 years I've skated with the Quadfathers.


What is your motivational quote?
Every jam is a new jam.


How did you get involved with roller derby?
I helped found, head-coached and head-reffed the ManchVegas Roller Girls in Manchester, NH in November, 2008. Been heavily involved in multiple forms of roller derby ever since.


Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about?
Just looking forward to another exciting season! Thanks.

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 1/30/2015: Heff Factor #89

Photo by Davie Darko

What is your derby name?
Heff Factor

What is the story behind your name?
It is a nickname that is pulled from my last name, everyone has always called me Heff. When I used to play hockey one of my teammates nicknamed me Heff Factor and it just stuck.

What number do you wear?
89

Why did you choose it?
My 2 numbers I used in Hockey were 12 and 89 and I picked 89 because 12 was close to another guy’s number on the team so I didn’t want it to be confusing to anyone on the team or the officials.

What is your role in the league?
Right now I am focusing on earning my spot on the track regardless if that is a blocker, pivot or jammer.

What is your preferred position on the track?
I love playing as the Pivot but I know I have a long way to go. I like playing as the Pivot because you are focused on blocking but if the jammer needs relief you can jump in and help out, kind of the best of both worlds in my opinion.

What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
I grew up as a competitive swimmer and swam in the USA swimming program in Connecticut with my best stroke being Butterfly. In college I picked up hockey and figure skating where I played on intramural teams and in adult leagues. After college I found roller derby and haven’t looked back.

What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
My greatest strengths are using what I have learned from hockey and figure skating and applying it to roller derby where it has proven useful time and time again.

What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
My first 2 practices with the Quadfathers, where I decided I want to try this even though I live 2 hours away from the closest MRDA team. The first practice the captain Brandon said, “yeah, he can skate” then at my second practice Grambo told me, “I would have never guessed you never played Men’s Derby before”. After hearing this from 2 very well accomplished skaters I knew I belong on the track.

Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
Being relatively new to the sport I look up to the entire team, and I can’t single anyone out. I learn something new from everyone every time we take the track together. I look up to Brandon a lot because he is a very well accomplished skater and I go to him all the time for advice.

What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season?
My favorite memory of the 2014 MRDA season was during the Mohawk Valley Cup when I was rostered for my first game which was the bronze medal game in the cup. I had several referee friends that pulled me aside during warm ups that wanted to take a photo with me. They were so happy for me becoming a skater, I will never forget the photo I got with Tripp Ur’Mamma[QCRG] and Davie Darko[RCRD] for taking the photo.

What is your motivational quote?
When I used to do competitive rowing my coach once told me when he was challenging me and another rower, “There is nothing to fear, but fear itself.” This quote has stuck with me for a long time. We were so scared we were going to flip the boat that day, and it motivates me every time I lace up.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
A friend of mine told me lets go to a Roller Derby game. I showed up and thought it was awesome, and said I wonder if they do men’s roller derby. The next year I started reffing for Roc City Roller Derby in Rochester, NY then after 1 year of reffing I tried Men’s derby and haven’t looked back.

The Hit List: Skater Spotlight for 1/23/2015: Oxenfree #48

Photo by John Bentham

What is your derby name? Oxenfree
What is the story behind your name? There are no ollies in roller derby.
What number do you wear? 48
Why did you choose it? no comment
What is your role in the league? Obstacle on wheels. Occasional NSO.
What is your preferred position on the track? upright and skating
What’s your pre-derby athletic background? Skateboarding. I think moshing counts too.
What would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater? I have OK balance.
What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why? Any time I can explain something to someone and they get it, or it helps them in some way.
Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why? Probably Graham. He's one of those people who can do anything and everything and he seems to keep a cool head. Maybe it's all of the sweating he does. He's also a really good jammer and can step in when needed *winkwink*.
What is your best memory of the 2014 MRDA season? Probably playing against the Twin City Terrors. Their logo is awesome and it's really the only reason we lost. We played a great game, their logo was just way better. Any new team considering a skull logo should look at theirs first, then give up.
What is your motivational quote? I dunno. Any image macro that has a broad generalization about life and a cool picture is fine with me. Maybe a kitten, or a rowing team at sunset or something. As long as I don't have to do much interpretation or any thinking at all really. That gets me pretty motivated.
How did you get involved with roller derby? I went to a practice, then I kept going to more practices. So far nobody has said I can't practice with them so I try and keep my mouth shut and my fingers crossed.
Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about? I want to apologize to Vermont Men's Roller Derby for scoring a bunch of points on them after not getting called on a track cut. I'm pretty sure Pope forced a cut on me in the first 15 seconds of a jam and nobody called it. I figure refs know more than I do so I went with it, but I still feel bad about it. I think I only jammed once or twice that game. Hispanic Attack took pictures so I look like a hero, but each shot of me jamming is a beautifully captured lie that I have to live with for the rest of my life. (Can you insert the TCT's logo in here somewhere? Seriously that thing is cool.)

Photo by Walter Romero / Hispanic Attack

Comments from teammates:

Fowler #28 - The first time Oxenfree had ever jammed in a bout for the Quadfathers was in Montreal against the Mont Royals. Oxen was not rostered to jam that day but due to an injury to a teammate he stepped up and jammed every other jam for the rest of that bout.. He never quit or gave up. He fought to the end and has been a great team player from that day on. He earn a great deal of respect from his teammates and anybody else who was paying attention that day....

Look out for weekly installments of the Hit List as you meet the 2015 Quadfathers roster!

MVC 2015- Important Links

Some important links for the 2015 Mohawk Valley Cup.

Teams - http://quadfathers.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-teams-for-mohawk-valley-cup-iv.html?spref=fb

Officials application - http://quadfathers.blogspot.com/2014/12/officials-application-for-mvc-iv-is-live.html

Ticket Information - http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1034033

Announcers - http://goo.gl/forms/PEZ9tI6zHT

If you are interested in being a photographer at the tournament, please email us at mohawkvalleycup@gmail.com for further details.

The teams for Mohawk Valley Cup IV!!

The Quadfathers would like to thank all the teams that applied for this years Cup. We had a record number of teams express their interest in attending. Pairing that list down was extremely difficult.

The New York Shock Exchange (New York, NY) received an automatic invite as the defending MVC Champions.

Returning to the Cup after a 6th place finish last year will be Jersey Boys Roller Derby (Springfield, NJ). The Jersey Boys made their MRDA debut last year at MVC.

The Race City Rebels (Indianapolis, IN) competed in the inaugural MVC. They placed 3rd and will be looking to improve on that this year.

You may have already seen in earlier announcements that MVC will be an international event this year with Tyne & Fear Roller Derby (Walker, Newcastle, England) and the Montreal Mont Royals (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) joining the tournament field.

The other first time participants are the Cincinnati Battering Rams (Cincinnati, OH) and the Philadelphia Hooligans (Philly, PA).

Rounding out the tournament field will be the host league The Quadfathers. The Quadfathers placed 4th last year and will be looking to move up.