Latest Bout:
7/22/2023 Burning River: All Stars 209 vs Windy City: Third Coast 166
7/22/2023 Burning River: Haz-Mat Crew 99 vs South Bend 269
WFTDA International Rankings

Latest Bout:
7/22/2023 Burning River: All Stars 209 vs Windy City: Third Coast 166
7/22/2023 Burning River: Haz-Mat Crew 99 vs South Bend 269
WFTDA International Rankings

Captains Red Devil and Robert Deadford show off their team colors.

It is the opportunity of a lifetime.

OK, well maybe that’s a stretch, but still, can you name another sport that lets fans make their dreams come true by auctioning off the chance to be a guest captain? Didn’t think so.

But that is exactly what the Burning River Roller Girls did for its annual charity bout, Black & Blue 6, Nov. 19 at the Wolstein Center.

Not only did our guest captains (with help from their on-skates co-captains, Eva Lucien on Team Black and Hidden Ajennda on Team Blue) get to draft their teams, the lucky winners also got to attend a team practice and scrimmage this week for an all-encompassing derby experience.

Without any further ado, let’s meet the captains of Team Black and Team Blue.

Tammie Konicki, aka Red Devil, rose to the challenge of leading Team Black after discovering BRRG only three months ago from her friend, our very own Pinky Teasadero.

Tammie spent six years in the Army, leaving with the title of Staff Sergeant and now works in wireless communications. She attended an NEO Roller Derby (our Akron sister league) bout and a wRECk Derby (Northeast Ohio Recreational Derby) practice and caught the derby bug.

She hopes one day to skate for the Burning River Roller Girls and decided to bid to be a guest captain as a way to get more connected.

“I want to stay involved and learn more about derby and this was a great way to do that and help a great cause,” she said.

Team Blue is helmed by Doug McCutcheon, aka Robert Deadford, a longtime fan of BRRG who has only missed a single home bout since 2009!

When he’s not watching derby, Doug plays harmonica and keyboards in several local bands. He also has experience serving our country in the Ohio Army National Guard from 1966-1972.

As more than a casual observer he’s most looking forward to “coming up with some ideas and making choices that help the team and the overall game. Not to mention the rush of being in the middle of all the excitement and the opportunity to learn more about roller derby.”

Will the instruction of a former Army Staff Sergeant win the battle for Team Black? Or will the passion of a dedicated derby fan lead Team Blue to victory?

Only one way to find out — you need to be in a seat at the Wolstein Center when the first whistle blows this Saturday.

Tickets still available through the Wolstein Center.