CDL All-time 10: Greatest Teams
As the CDL gears up for its monumental 10th season, the Dodge Blog is ready to mix things up a little bit. A little bit of nostalgia for our vets and a history lesson for our noobs; we are going back to look at the best teams to ever step on the CDL courts. Get ready for the first edition of the CDL All-time 10: The 10 best teams in the history of the CDL
10. Pandamonium! [Seasons 3-9]
Always the bridesmaids, Pandamonium has been “in the mix” of the top teams in the CDL for years. With a lethal combination of very powerful guys and crafty, experienced girls, Pandamonium always seems to be within an earshot of a Golden Dodgeball. While it may not be quite the same, they do have the consolation prize of being considered one of the 10 best we’ve ever seen.
9. Pork [Seasons 1-9]
In their heyday, Pork was a consistent front-runner and over the years they have knocked on the door of greatness several times. Unfortunately for these loveable swine, greatness was never home. 10 Seasons later Pork is still hanging around (albeit with a very different roster) and original captain Shawn Chow has on many occasions brought the franchise over to the Vancouver League. Easily holding the Dodgeball record for team with the largest all-time roster, it is impossible to complete this list without including the CDL/VDL’s sweetest (and most sour) team.
8. Blackout City [Seasons 2-9 {kind of}]
Shock & Balls, Swat, and now… the Tune Squad. What this team lacks in name consistency they make up for in play consistency. The core roster that I will always know as SWAT has been around for a long time and have almost always finished top 4 in the standings. While these hard hitting vets have yet to put together a championship playoff run, they still continue to remain one of the most feared regular season teams in the CDL.
7. TMNT [Season 4]
Who? What? While the TMNT squad did consist of a number of future stars including Matt “Hung-er” Hung, Phil “Philly Sue” Sucheki, and Valentina “Tina” Jiew, they neither won a championship nor stayed together as a longtime franchise. So what did the heroes in a half-shell do to merit their place on our prestigious list? Well, in season 4 this plucky team took down the defending 3 –time champion Ball’s Axe in the A-tier semi-finals. How did this classy team of spirit veterans react to defeating the heavyweight favourites? By acknowledging the success of their adversaries and initiating a gym-wide standing ovation for the Ball’s Axe. But I’ll save that story for the next article…
6. Gym Tan Dodgeball [CDL Champions Season 9]
The Defending Season 9 Champs are the first of our former A-tier champion teams to make this list. Heading into this year’s playoffs, this team came in with a great deal of talent but not a whole lot in terms of expectations. On the back of unofficial playoff MVP Dave Baxter, it was truly one of those nights where everything went right. Gym, Tan, Dodgeball has already disbanded, but their Season 9 playoff run will always go down as one of the most masterful single night performances of dodgeball that the CDL has ever seen.
5. Head Hunterz [CDL Champions Season 8]
In 4 short seasons the Head Hunterz have gone from young, cocky upstarts to young, cocky champions. Upon the first time this squad stepped foot on the court, everyone knew they were going to be a team to be reckoned with. 3 Short seasons later they were already champions. While talks of a Head Hunterz “dynasty” were certainly premature, it will be interesting to see how far this franchise will grow, and if they can rebound from last season’s huge letdown in order to stake their claim back at the top of the league.
4. Family Friends and Healthy Alternatives [CDL Champions Season 6]
Family Friends entered the CDL with the specific intent of ending a dynasty. With a stacked roster and great team chemistry this all-star squad achieved their goals and came out of CDL Season 6 with a Golden Dodgeball to show for it. Although they would only be a one-hit wonder, with a disappointing follow-up season, they must be recognized for coming in and beating possibly the most talented team the CDL has ever seen in the biggest of games.
3. Fat Cat Pussy Balls [CDL Champions Season 7]
Fat Cat Pussy Balls hold several distinctions including being the only team whose name is spelled incorrectly on the CDL Championship trophy. Aside from that they also put together the most dominant regular season in CDL history, followed up by what seemed like a relatively straight forward championship win. Having disbanded the following year, the CDL will never know what this team could have achieved.
2. Strangers with Candy [CDL Champions Seasons 4-5]
For my money, Strangers With Candy was the most talented team to ever play in the CDL. The Strangers entered the CDL as newcomers to the party league, but long-time vets and Executives of the sister league in Vancouver. Players like Rogan, Wenn, and Coop have long dominated with championships in the VDL and achieved similar success upon entering into Coquitlam. Dominating with 2 championships in 3 seasons as members of the Coquitlam Dodgeball League, SWC’s time here was short but undeniably successful. While they came to Coquitlam and pillaged our league for championships, it was the CDL that had the last laugh, robbing SWC of Bri Rajala, our longest serving Female Executive.
1. Ball’s Axe [CDL Champions Seasons 1-3]
Look at the CDL Championship Trophy and you will see one name pop up far more times than any other. Detractors may attempt to point out that in the early seasons of the CDL, the players and strategies were not what they are today, and that this team benefited from weaker competition. That all notwithstanding, The Ball’s Axe are the league’s original dynasty. They are the Montreal Canadians, New York Yankees or Boston Celtics of the CDL. Regardless of what anyone may say to try and cheapen their success, no team has 3-peated since in the CDL. I’m willing to bet, no one ever will.
There you have it dodgeball fans. The best teams to ever leave their mark on the CDL. Of course, this list will become out of date in a few short months. That’s the beauty of dodgeball folks, in 5 years we have seen teams rise, fall, and be re-born. Who will be the next squad to enter among the CDL’s elite?