Friday, May 8, 2009

The League Marches On!

No, the MMBBL is not dead, defunct, deceased, decrepit or anywhere close to Done, it's simply been a bit of a difficult time for most of those involved, as our collective place of employment is planning a move and a restructuring. Still, we did find the time to throw together a great playoff for the Dungeonbowl and an incredibly crazy one-month Chaos Cup tournament.

The Dungeonbowl was won in an incredible double-overtime finish by the Blackwater Bilgerunners over the Bleakwood Breakers. A true marathon match, All that the players could really say when the clock ran out was "wow". Unfortunately, the Breakers' coach had to move on to another town when the dust settled.

The Chaos Cup was quite simply the most confusing season we've experienced to-date. Played in a double-elimination format, the schedule was constantly haunted by attendance snafus ( most of which were less human error and more unfortunate circumstances). In the end, four teams met in a special four-way format, with exciting and absurd results. When all was said and done, the Darkmire Carnosaurs and Drudgetown Deadites settled on a first place tie with seven points each, with the Sun Temple Chupacabras and Smash and Go'nads finishing with a respectable four apiece.

Now it's time for the big one. The Blood Bowl season. Five months now separate sixteen teams from ultimate glory. There are some new squads as well as some old ones, returned from hiatus.

Bloodbath Division looks to live up to its name yet again, with the return of its usual favourites, the Darkmire Carnosaurs and Bloodsand Blasters. The Stargazin Farmboys, Ibisi A-Nile-Ators, and Lurkers of Azzilizza are back to continue carving out their places in league history. The Panama Scourge, a new team coached by Cliff Walker, arrived for the Chaos Cup and had a very good showing for a rookie squad. Ryan Keizer brings a new team to the mix as well - the Spleen Bay Rat Packers, who are a team of gnolls based on the high elf template. Finally, an old favourite has returned. The Meathooks are back and bloodier than ever! Fans the league over will be gripped with a mix of excitement and terror!

Deathdealer Division has had its own share of shuffles. Returning are such highlight reel teams as the Smash and Go'nads, Sun Temple Chupacabras, Blackwater Bilgerunners and Blueriver Wardoves. Likewise returning are the up-and-coming Fjord Rangers and hard-hitting Dark Iron Dreadnaughts. The new crew showing up for this division is Matt Stroud's Plotzburgh Shankers, a human team with decidedly looser morals than his true-hearted Fly-by Knights. Last but not least (unless speaking in terms of clothing), comes the return of a team which has not been seen since our inaugural season - the Greenskin Bumlookers are back from their beach league to leave their oily, toned mark on the MMBBL!

From May to August, sixteen weeks of hard-hitting, high-flying action is coming your way, until September brings the playoffs and the battle for the greatest prize in all the land: The Blood Bowl! Stay tuned, sportsfiends! The Mighty Miramichi Blood Bowl League is back and ready for kickoff!

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