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The Outfit Fri Apr 26 2013
Outfit Ready To Get 2013 Season Rolling
The Chicago Outfit just wants to play their game.
The Outfit's A-team, the Syndicate, and C-team, the Shakedown, open their 2013 seasons tomorrow at the Windy City Fieldhouse. The Syndicate skates against the Nashville Rollergirls while the Shakedown takes on the Davenport, Iowa-based Quad City Rollers.
The Outfit's B-team, the Shade Brigade, opened their 2013 season last weekend in Madison.
This year, said Jan Trainor, who skates for the Syndicate under the name Queefer Sutherland, the teams aren't preparing as much for individual opponents and are instead concentrating more on making sure they play the best game possible.
"We're playing our game," Trainor said.
Syndicate bench coach Travis Trainor said the Syndicate's lineup has changed quite a bit over the last couple years. But he was quick to add that turnover is a normal part of roller derby.
"There's no way to keep people from going," he said.
For Outfit veterans, the 2013 season meant adjusting to a new ruleset that went into effect on Jan. 1. But while the new rules brought a bit of a learning curve, the team loves them.
"I think that the bench coaching has been a lot smoother," said Joan McDonald, also known as The Joan Ranger. "It's fostered a lot of communication. I think it's been kind of fun to adjust."
For Tammy Tsiones, an Outfit rookie skating under the name Pippi Long Smackings, it will be exciting just to watch Saturday's bouts. She's not rostered, though she said she is going to skate on May 11.
"Derby is completely new to me," she said, adding that she's a bit overwhelmed by it all.
Adding to that, Tsiones said, is the fact that she didn't skate for nearly two months after making the team because of an injury.
"I might have broken my elbow," she said with a slight smile. "I was off skates for seven weeks. I feel like I'm behind."
If you go
- What: The Chicago Outfit's home opener.
- When: Tomorrow. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first bout between the Shakedown and Quad City Rollers starts at 7 p.m. That will be followed by the Syndicate taking on the Nashville Rollergirls.
- Where: Windy City Fieldhouse, 2367 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago.
- How much: Tickets are $15 and are available at the door of via Eventbrite.
