CN Power goes 1-1 on final road trip of 2011

This fall ToRD’s CN Power attained full WFTDA status and began play in the North Central Region. In only a few short months the team has made staggering leaps forward and has turned a few heads in the process. It has been somewhat of a whirlwind season for the team, but one that has positioned them nicely to make a potential run at the playoffs next year, their first full year in the WFTDA, but it will certainly not be easy, and big losses to highly ranked playoff teams show that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.  The final road trip of CN Power’s season took them to Indianapolis to play two games, games that would be representative of the highs and lows of this initial foray into the highest levels of contemporary roller derby: a stiff challenge against the 3^rd ranked Naptown Roller Girls Tornado Sirens, and a thoroughly dominant performance against the 20^th ranked Derby City Roller Girls.

Beginning WFTDA play in 2008, Naptown’s profile has risen steadily in the North Central Region, making the playoffs in 2010 and culminating in a run to the WFTDA Championships this year where they ran into a formidable wall called the Philly Roller Girls. They were bumped from the tournament in the first round; nonetheless, the team’s thrilling performance at the North Centrals, in which they often seemed down but not out, showed that Naptown has the depth of talent and certainly the will to be a continuous contender. Playing out of the 8000 seat Pepsi Coliseum on the Indiana State Fair grounds, Naptown has a big profile in its home city, and is part of the first wave of truly successful, big-stadium flat track roller derby teams in the WFTDA. For CN Power, it was the first taste of the big time.

Rebel Rock-It put the first points on the board for CN Power. (Photography by Michael Guio)

The ToRD travel team was caught a little wide-eyed and in awe to open the bout against the Tornado Sirens, quickly falling behind 41-0 behind the steady jamming and solid pack recycling of the hosts. Missing a few key jammers, CN Power reached into its own deep bench to put some first-time jammers on the line, and it was one of those first-timers, regular pivot Rebel Rock-It, who put the first points up on the board for the visitors nabbing 6 points about five minutes in to break the goose egg and allow the team to relax. CN Power seemed to settle down after that and with strong pack work from Nasher the Smasher (who also fell into some uncharacteristic penalty trouble later in this one), Panty Hoser and Jubilee early were able to hold the hosts pack and prevent them from running away with it. In the team’s best jam of the bout, another regular blocker, Aston Martini, danced confidently through a solid pack to pick up 15 points in her first jam with the star for ToRD’s travel team. But behind amazing jamming from the likes of Maiden America (41 first half points), R.I.P. Tide (28) and Blue Messiah (27), the Sirens were able to pull ahead 115-35 at the half.

Naptown's Asian Sinsation and Dora the Destroyer were dominant in the pack.

Perhaps displeased with allowing the visiting upstarts to contain them in the late stages of the first half, Naptown came out blazing to kick off the second. Asian Sinsation and Dora the Destroyer were dominant in the pack all night and the diverse Cereal Killer was a thorn both in the pack and with the star; and in a period of dominance that highlighted the experience gap between the two teams, Naptown took complete control of the game, scoring 74 points in the opening four jams of the half to pull ahead 189-35. A critical time-out calmed the nerves of CN Power and allowed the team to refocus (only giving up 76 points for the rest of the game). Tara Part and Brim Stone continued to show strong leadership and reliable blocking on the track, while Hurlin’ Wall stepped up and seemed to relish the physical challenge posed by the opposing team as she had one of her strongest games with the team. Dyna Hurtcha was a steadying presence on the jammer line and it was a late 19 point pick up on a power jam that breathed new life into CN Power and helped them finish strong and skate off the track with their heads held high. Penalty troubles were really the difference in this one (CN Power gave up 7 power jams in the second half) as the discipline and steadiness of the veteran Sirens allowed them to skate relatively cleanly and keep control of the game throughout. In the end, the 266-67 loss was actually a solid showing for CN Power, exceeding the predicted expectations of Flat Track Stats.

Hurlin Wall had a strong bout for CN Power.

It was a different story on day two of the season-ending road trip as CN Power faced off against Louisville Kentucky’s Derby City Roller Girls (a team that last year was ranked as high as 17^th in the North Central). After a sluggish start that saw both teams come out of the gates neck and neck, about half way through the first half, CN Power settled in and started to pull away for a 122-24 lead at the half.

In the second half the Toronto skaters completely took over the bout. Defensively, the Toronto packs were too much for the overwhelmed Derby City skaters as every skater on the CN Power bench contributed to the fierce pack work that typified the second half. The jamming core of Dyna Hurtcha, Betty Bomber and Rebel Rock-It had little trouble putting up points in the half (Bomber closed out the game with a natural 30 point jam to add an exclamation to the day), and CN Power eventually ran away with it, giving up only 4 points in the half and pacing themselves to a 295-28 victory to end 2011 on a high note.

Although only full members of WFTDA for a few months now, CN Power has certainly announced themselves as a team to watch in the North Central. Finishing 2011 with a 9-3 record, their only losses came to top-ranked WFTDA competition in Montreal’s New Skids on the Block (6^th in the East) and Naptown (3^rd in the North Central), and the far more experienced Grand Raggidy Roller Girls (11^th NC). They thoroughly dominated lower ranked North Central teams all year and early on, at the Quad City Chaos, scored a big unsanctioned victory over the Tri-City Thunder (16^th NC), Toronto’s closest WFTDA rivals. While it remains to be seen where CN Power falls in WFTDA’s year-end rankings (which will be the team’s first official ranking), Flat Track Stats has shown CN Power to be on a steady incline up the rankings, having them at 37^th overall and 12^th in the North Central to close out 2011. 2012 already looks to be an exciting year for Toronto’s premier roller derby team as they’ve got big sanctioned bouts lined up with Fort Wayne, Roc City and Grand Raggidy, not to mention tournament play including a Quad City Chaos that could be a full WFTDA sanctioned tournament for the first time.

**Stay tuned to torontorollerderby.com for updates to the 2012 season; did you know that season tickets are already on sale?? Available online!**

Going Global: First Roller Derby World Cup Thrills

Canada and France kicked things off at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup (Canada won 244-17). (Photo by Greg Russell)

When the dust settled, and the final teams skated away from the Bunker in Toronto; when the bleachers were wheeled out, the lights and scaffolding broken down, and the flags pulled from the wall; when the echo of the final whistle of the final bout of the inaugural Roller Derby World Cup finally faded away, little remained in the Bunker that would give away the fact that one of the most important events in a sport’s young history had just occurred there. There were just scraps: empty beer cans, torn laces, worn toe stops. And memories, of course.

Thursday' Stars vs. Stripes Team USA exhibition bout featured two of the best flat track lineups ever. (Photo by Greg Russell)

A week before the World Cup began, the Bunker did not look like a location ready to hold an international sporting event. Even on the opening day murmurs could be heard about the appropriateness of the facility, a massive Cold War munitions bunker in the middle of a vast sprawl of old warehouses and hangars that were once part of a Canadian Air Force based just north of Toronto. Those used to the stadiums that were often the venues in WFTDA’s Big 5, were at first taken aback by the underground feel of the space: its quirks and eccentricities. But any doubts were erased when the Stars and Stripes took to Track 1 on Thursday night for the Team USA split-squad scrimmage (won 109-108 by the Stars). The energy from the fans and other teams lining the track, within such proximity to the biggest names in the game, was palpable; it was electric and inspiring, and the energy owed a lot to the intimate setting of the unique venue. By the time Ireland and Finland closed out Friday’s games with one of the more entertaining bouts of the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup (a 148-134 victory for Finland), there was no question that the Bunker had sold itself to the fans.

With an abundance of talent (like Suzy Hotrod and Sassy), Team USA was far above the rest of the competition. (Photo by Neil Gunner)

As much as it has been exciting to see the WFTDA playoffs in large stadiums, outside of the Championships the attendance at the Regional playoffs has been sparse which has made the stadiums look cold and empty (despite the number of devoted fans there). The Bunker, on the other hand, was constantly packed for four days, with fans feeding off of each other’s energy and the general euphoria of being at a tournament of this magnitude. Despite the blowouts and the disparity of the countries involved, every bout on each track was lined with loud, adoring fans. Plus, it gave the event a small and exciting start, something that can be built upon in the future.

There was never any doubt that Team USA was going to capture this first ever world cup, but the dominance with which they accomplished the feat was potentially surprising (even after three days of crushing victories, their 532-4 semifinal victory over Australia was somewhat shocking). They are playing the sport in a completely different stratosphere than any of the other countries, but at the very least, Canada showed that there are countries playing the same game. Team USA raised the bar, showed the potential heights of the game: it is now the world’s responsibility to rise up to it.

Australia finished in fourth place (they defeated Sweden 126-80 in the quarterfinals). (Photo by Neil Gunner)

Although expected to be one of the top countries, Australia was still one of the surprises of the tournament. In the first round they handled another pre-tournament favourite Germany with relative ease (136-53) before distancing themselves from eventual fifth place finisher Finland, 179-29. In terms of heart and swagger, New Zealand impressed, facing off against Team USA twice and surviving to tell the tale, while defeating Germany in a thrilling elimination game that knocked the Germans out of the top eight. Finland was a true surprise in the tournament, struggling in the preliminary round before taking out Ireland in that stunning elimination bout to advance to the quarterfinals; their victory for fifth place over Sweden in a Scandinavian showdown was inspiring.

Aside from the final, Canada dominated the tournament including a 499-31 quarterfinal win over Finland. (Photo by Neil Gunner)

But the host nation impressed most of all. 3-0 in the preliminary round (defeating France, Sweden and Brazil by a combined score of 848-50), they destroyed Finland in the quarterfinals (499-31) before facing off against their expected rivals for second place, Team England. Lead by a strong, experienced core of skaters that included pivots 8 Mean Wheeler and Jess Bandit, jammers Iron Wench, Luludemon and Georgia W. Tush, offensive blockers  Windigo and Smach Daddy, defensive closers  Lil Mama, Bone Machine and Semi Precious (who, despite begin a late addition to the team, was a force for the Canadians), and triple threat Beretta Lynch, the Canadians kept their cool and, more importantly, maintained their discipline in a thrilling semi-final against England. They pulled ahead early and held on in a tight one, only truly closing out the game definitively in the waning minutes for a 161-90 victory and a guaranteed silver medal. Despite some impressive pack performances in the final from 8 Mean, Boner, Windigo and tournament MVP Smack Daddy, and some exceptional jamming from Iron Wench (5 leads for a 50% lead percentage) and Luludemon (18 points total and a pretty remarkable 2.5 points per jam), they ran into the impenetrable wall that was Team USA. Canada seemed content to hold USA to fewer points than anyone else and managed to score more points against them than all of their previous opponents combined, all in all, an impressive performance.

Despite giving them their stiffest test, Canada was overmatched 336-33 by USA in the final. (Photo by Greg Russell)

This tournament was an experiment in real time that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this sport has gone global; that this sport is important, more important that just a game. That the women out there on the track have accomplished something so much larger than each individual skater, than each team. The skaters at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup have not only become ambassadors of their game, but they’ve become leaders, the front line of an unprecedented movement of women in sports. They’ve given the women of the world a unique voice in a chorus of oh-so-similar sports voices; they’ve created an opportunity where none existed; they’ve built a world-wide phenomenon that spreads daily and, most importantly of all, an international sport to call their own.

***For game-by-game recaps, please visit DNN to read Justice Feelgood Marshall’s bout analysis.

***To order DVDs of the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup (singles or sets) visit rollerderbyworldcup.com.

THE FINAL STANDINGS (and first ever flat track roller derby International rankings)

1. USA (5-0)

2. Canada (5-1)

Canada and England finished 2-3 and played in a thrilling semifinal won by Canada 161-90. (Photo by Neil Gunner)

3. England (4-1)

4. Australia (4-2)

5. Finland (3-3)

6. Sweden (4-3)

7. France (3-4)

8. New Zealand (2-4)

9. Germany (3-2)

10. Ireland (2-3)

11. Scotland (2-3)

12. Brazil (0-6)

13. Argentina (0-4)

THE ALL-WORLD TEAM

Argentina: SargenTina

The Iron Wench was Team Canada's tournament MVP (seen here fighting through a USA wall). (Photo by Neil Gunner)

Australia: Short Stop
Brazil: Nanda
Canada: Iron Wench
England: Kamikaze Kitten
Finland: Kata Strofi
France: Francey Pants
Germany: Heavy Rotation
Ireland: Zola Blood
New Zealand: Skate the Muss
Scotland: Marla Mayhem
Sweden: Swede Hurt
USA: Joy Collision
Tournament MVP: Smack Daddy (Canada)

2011 Roller Derby World Cup: Preview

On Thursday, December 1^st, 2011, France and Canada will take the track to kick off what could be considered one of the most important gatherings of flat track roller derby teams in the sport’s decade-long existence. The 2011 Roller Derby World Cup marks the first time that international teams will come together to play in a competitive flat track roller derby tournament. The importance of this event in the dissemination and global exposure of the sport cannot be overlooked.

Taking place in the Bunker in Toronto on two tracks over an ambitious four-day period, the tournament will kick off with a round robin “seedings” mini tournament featuring bouts with shorter, 20 minute halves between teams who were grouped by a random draw based on experience and international diversity.  Concluding on Friday, all teams will then be placed in an elimination bracket based on how they fared in the round robin portion (due to the uneven number of teams—13—the top three seeds will receive a first round bye).

In 2008, Team Canada (captained by current Team Canada member 8 Mean Wheeler), travelled to the UK for a series fo bouts.

With so little cross-international play at this stage in the development of the sport (in 2008 Team Canada travelled to the UK to play a series of bouts), expectations are wide open for the tournament. Based purely on age of programs, total leagues and games played, the “big four” are USA, Canada, England and Germany (these are also the top four countries in terms of rostered skaters from WFTDA teams). In terms of sheer number of leagues, Australia and New Zealand have actually now passed Germany. But beyond that, expectations are wide open. Although choosing from a much smaller pool, Scotland and Sweden both boast a huge number of WFTDA affiliated skaters (18 and 19 respectively), with the majority of those players being chosen from the countries’ two WFTDA affiliated leagues (Auld Reekie and Glasgow in Scotland, Stockholm and Crime City in Sweden with the Swedes also picking up Knickerblocker Glory from London). Along with England (who are made up of a core 11 from the London Rollergirls who are ranked 5^th in the Eastern Region), the knowledgeable cores that make up Sweden, Scotland and England could prove to be a big advantage in a tournament where teams will have to come together quickly (France and Finland have chosen from similarly small pools, but the comparative lack of experience takes away some of this advantage).

The host country, Team Canada is built around a core of Montreal players (6)

Semi-Precious gives a helpful push to Soul Rekker; both Rideau Valley skaters are members of Team Canada. (Photo by Derek Lang)

and a few other WFTDA-experienced skaters from Toronto, Tri-City and Terminal City, but beyond that is a mishmash of regional selections (the lone Maritimer on the team, Rainbow Fight, has had to be replaced due to injury); nonetheless, based on experience Canada should be considered one of the favourites in the tournament. They will be lead by the six members of Montreal’s New Skids on the Block (the first non-US team to qualify for the WFTDA playoffs) who should provide the core jammers with Iron Wench and Georgia W. Tush; blockers Smack Daddy, Lil’ Mama, and Bone Machine; and pivot Jess Bandit (who is also co-captain). Sharing the pivot stripe will undoubtedly be ToRD’s Brim Stone (co-captain) and Terminal City’s 8 Mean Wheeler, but Beretta Lynch (West Kootenays, and capable of playing any position) and Oil City’s TeeKnee (a Brim Stone style triple threat) could also lead the pack (Beretta Lynch could play any position). The Blocking contingent will be rounded out by injury-addition Semi-Precious (who, despite her late selection, is a more-than worthy addition), Red Deer’s Gunpowder Gertie  and Edomonton’s big hitting  Hell on Keller, while exceptional triple-threat Windigo (who plays south of the border for Houston Roller Derby) can be counted on in any role. The rest of the players provide a lot of depth at jammer with the wily Taz from Red Deer joining Forest City’s Killson, Tri-City’s Motorhead Molly and Rideau Valley’s Soul Rekker as skaters who shine with the star. Canada should do well against France, Sweden and Brazil in the preliminary round. Although France and Sweden, featuring rosters built of players familiar with one another, should not be taken lightly, and Brazil (who will be lead by Gotham’s Brazilian Nut) are a pure wild card who could be capable of anything and have absolutely nothing to lose: always a dangerous combination.

Team USA, the pre-tournament favourites, will play a split-squad exhibition bout on Thursday.

Despite the limitless possibilities in this tournament, the one thing that everyone can agree on is the dominant potential of Team USA. The roster of the team is filled with the superstars of the sport from Sassy and Psycho Babble in the west, to Suzy Hotrod and Teflon Donna in the east, to Smarty Pants and Juke Boxx in between, there are absolutely no holes in this fantastic roster. So dominant could this team be that they will split for a “Stars vs. Stripes” exhibition on Thursday night that could prove to be one of the best bouts of the tournament. While spots 2-13 might be up for grabs, anything less than a first place finish for Team USA will be considered a massive disappointment.

*The tournament kicks off Thursday, December 1^st, 2011, at 5:00 PM. You can catch all the action live on DNN (including the special Stars vs. Stripes exhibition bout that will be boutcast live on Thursday, December 1^st, at 9:00 PM.)

SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 1:

5 P.M., Track 1: Canada vs. France
5:30 P.M., Track 2: Australia vs. Germany
6:20 P.M., Track 1: Argentina vs. Ireland
6:50 P.M., Track 2: New Zealand vs. U.S.A.
7:40 P.M., Track 1: Brazil vs. Sweden
8:10 P.M., Track 2: Australia vs. Finland
9 P.M., Track 1: USA vs USA expo bout

Friday, December 2:

9:30 A.M., Track 1: England vs. Ireland
10 A.M., Track 2: New Zealand vs. Scotland
10:50 A.M., Track 1: Canada vs. Sweden
11:20 A.M., Track 2: Finland vs. Germany
12:10 P.M., Track 1: Brazil vs. France
12:40 P.M., Track 2: Scotland vs. U.S.A.
1:30 P.M., Track 1: Argentina vs. England
2 P.M., Track 2: France vs. Sweden
2:50 P.M., Track 1: Brazil vs. Canada
4 P.M. – 5:30: Welcome Ceremony: Parade of Nations
5:30 – 10 P.M.: Beginning of elimination round

Saturday, December 3:

9:30 A.M. – 8:30 P.M.: Elimination and placement rounds

Sunday, December 4:

10:30 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.: Elimination and placement rounds
6:30 – 9 P.M.: Closing celebration and award-giving at the Bunker

Unofficial Rosters: 2011 Roller Derby World Cup

Team Rosters for the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup (**Unofficial**)

Team Argentina

Arson Tina  (Gotham Girls Roller Derby)
Barbie Turik (Argentina)
Chargin’ Tina (Los Angeles Derby Dolls)
Crazy Legs (Queen City Roller Girls)
Disturbio Santo (Argentina)
Ini (Argentina)
MAKIavelica (Argentina)
Minx X Vixen (Argentina)
MissVik (Argentina)
Nina Brava (Argentina)
Psycho Thrasher (Argentina)
Sargentina (Windy City Rollers)
Sun of the Beach (Argentina)
Turbonegra (Argentina)
Vale (Argentina)
White Rabbit (Argentina)
Rosie the Ribhitter (Houston Roller Derby)

TEAM AUSTRALIA

Amykazee (Canberra Roller Derby League)
Bambi von Smash’er (Canberra Roller Derby League)
Blockidile Dundee (Sun State Roller Girls)
Cookie Cutter (Sun State Roller Girls)
Fang Fiend (Brisbane City Rollers)
Dodge & Bolt (Coastal Assassins Roller Derby)
Haterade (Sydney Roller Derby League)
Juke Nukem (Brisbane City Rollers)
King Cam (Canberra Roller Derby League)
Ladykiller (Sun State Roller Girls)
Muzzarati (Sun State Roller Girls)
Rose Ruin (Sun State Roller Girls)
Ruby Ribcrusher (Victorian Roller Derby League)
Sculley (Sun State Roller Girls)
Short Stop (Canberra Roller Derby League)
Slawta Dawta (Sun State Roller Girls)
U Sooz U Lose (Victorian Roller Derby League)
Susy Pow (Newcastle Roller Derby League)
Tricksey Beltem (Adelaide Roller Derby)

Team Brazil

Brazilian Nut #16 – (Gotham Girls Roller Derby)
Brazilian Bombshell #26 – (South Bay Derby Mizfits)
Matadora #777 – (Stuttgart Valley Roller Girlz)
Lobster #7 – (Capital City Derby Dolls)
Barberry #13 – (Sugar Loathe Derby Girls)
Moshzilla Firefox #tr00 – (Sugar Loathe Derby Girls)
Dana Bebitched #1204 – (Sugar Loathe Derby Girls)
She-Tara #87 – (Sugar Loathe Derby Girls)
Lola Nolimits #100 – (Sugar Loathe Derby Girls)
Blockaway Bitch #69 – (Sugar Loathe Derby Girls)
Sugar Slum Fairy #72 – (Sugar Loathe Derby Girls)
Hell Yaz #21 – (Sugar Loathe Derby Girls)
Kaia Pilsen #107 – (Gray City Rebels)
Jewel Jitsu #1000do – (Gray City Rebels)
Yada Yada Lara #181 – (Gray City Rebels)
Peryl Streep #1949 – (Gray City Rebels)
Mariah Bearings #5 – (Ladies of Hell Town)
Debbie Hatcher #9 – (Ladies of Hell Town)
Mojo’n Jet #33 – (Ladies of Hell Town)
Kozmic Killa #83 – (Ladies of Hell Town)
Atom CockRoach(Suelen) #31 – (Ladies of Hell Town)

TEAM CANADA

Killson (London, Forest Derby Girls; Thames Fatales) Semi-Precious (Ottawa, Rideau Valley Roller Girls; Slaughter Daughters, Vixens)
Soul Rekker (Ottawa, Rideau Valley Roller Girls; Slaughter Daughters, Vixens)
Brim Stone (Toronto, ToRD; Gore-Gore Rollergirls, CN Power)
Motorhead Molly (Kitchener, Tri-City Roller Girls; Vicious Dishes, Thunder)
Rainbow Fight *INJURED*(St, John’s, 709 Derby Girls; Vaders Vixens)
Georgia W Tush (Montreal, MTLRD; New Skids on the Block)
Smack Daddy(Montreal, MTLRD; New Skids on the Block)
Lil Mama (Montreal, MTLRD; New Skids on the Block)
Iron Wench (Montreal, MTLRD; New Skids on the Block)
Bone Machine (Montreal, MTLRD; New Skids on the Block)
Jess Bandit (Montreal, MTLRD; New Skids on the Block)
TAZ (Red Deer, Red Deer Roller Derby Association; The Belladonnas )
Gunpowder Gertie (Red Deer, Red Deer Roller Derby Association; The Belladonnas )
Maiden Sane (Regina, Pile O’ Bones Derby Club; Lockdown Lolitas
Hell ‘on Keller (Edmonton, E-Ville Roller Derby; Los Pistolitas)
TeeKnee (Edmonton, Oil City Derby Girls; Oil City All Stars)
Beretta Lynch (Kootenays, West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby; Kootenay Kannibelles)
8Mean Wheeler (Vancouver, Terminal City Rollergirls; Faster Pussycats, Terminal City All Stars
LuluDemon(Vancouver, Terminal City Rollergirls; Riot Girls,  Terminal City All Stars)
Windigo (Houston, Houston Roller Derby; The Brawlers,  Hard Knocks)

Coach: Coach Pauly / Assistants: Mack the Mouth, Furious Paul Piche.

TEAM ENGLAND

Dee-Mise (Rainy City Rollergirls)
el VISIOUS (Hellfire Harlots)
Feral Fairy (Rainy City Rollergirls)
Fox Sake (London Rollergirls)
Frightning Bolt (London Rollergirls)
Grievous Bodily Charm (London Rollergirls)
Hustle Her (Central City Rollergirls)
Jack Attack (London Rockin’ Rollers)
Juicy Lucy (Auld Reekie Rollergirls)
Kamikaze Kitten (London Rollergirls)
Metallikat (London Rollergirls)
Missy Rascal (Rainy City Rollergirls)
Ninjette (London Rollergirls)
Raw Heidi (London Rollergirls)
Rogue Runner (Dolly Rockit Rollers)
Shaolynn Scarlett (London Rollergirls)
Stefanie Mainey (London Rollergirls)
The Mighty Mighty Bash (London Rockin’ Rollers)
Vagablonde (London Rollergirls)
Violet Attack (Birmingham Blitz Dames)

TEAM FINLAND
Doris (Helsinki Roller Derby)
Lizz Troublegum (HRD)
Kati Kyyrö (HRD)
Kata Strofi (HRD)
KC Knucklebone (HRD)
Trixie GrandBang (HRD)
Liisa Saari (HRD)
Suvi Hokkari (HRD)
Page Disaster (HRD)
the Blizzard (Bristol Roller Derby)
Misty Muffdiviah (Crime City Rollers)
Pink Spanker (Kallio Rolling Rainbow)
Udre (KRR)
Bloody-HO-Mary (Tampere Rollin’ Hos)
Juicy Butther (Dirty River Roller Grrrls)
Only (KRR)

Head coach: Estrogeena Davis
Assistant coach: Tigre Force
Manager: Claire Leah Threat

TEAM FRANCE

Bambu Sengoku (Roller Derby Toulouse)
Bestia Loca (Roller Derby Toulouse)
Belle Zebuth (Les Petites Morts de Bordeaux)
Bone E. Vicious (Paris Rollergirls)
Bloody Vuitton (Paris Rollergirls)
Butch Shan (Paris Rollergirls)
Cash Pistache (Roller Derby Toulouse)
Chakk Attack (Roller Derby Toulouse)
Cherry LieLie (Paris Rollergirls)
Dual Hitizen (D.C. Rollergirls)
Emi Wild (Les Petites Morts de Bordeaux)
Karla Karschër (Les Petites Morts de Bordeaux)
Katy Fury (Paris Rollergirls)
Kozmic Bruise (Paris Rollergirls)
Francey Pants (Montreal Roller Derby)
Router Girl (Pioneer Valley Roller Derby)
Maggie Yo Teen (Roller Derby Toulouse)
Meryl Strip-her (Paris Rollergirls)
Truck Off Pooky (Paris Rollergirls)
Whisky Mamy (Paris Rollergirls)

Remplaçantes (Alternates) :

Joan Jet 27 (Paris Rollergirls)
Feroce Satine (Roller Derby Toulouse)
Hell Alaniak (Les Petites Morts de Bordeaux)
L’ascleuse (Roller Derby Toulouse)
Dee I. Why (Roller Derby Metz Club)

TEAM GERMANY

- BamBule #66 (Berlin Bombshells)
- Call of Booty #3 (Ruhrpott Roller Girls)
- Chibi Abuser #00 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Elli Minate #8 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Headhunter #242 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Heavy Miss Gale #0 (Harbor Girls, Hamburg)
- Heavy Rotation #505 (Berlin Bombshells)
- Kiddo #10 (Berlin Bombshells)
- Kitty Carrera #4 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Mercedes Bends #0049 (Philly Roller Girls)
- Noxious Angel #17 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Polly Purgatory #13 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Psycho Annie #67 (Ruhrpott Roller Girls)
- Public Enemy #1 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Resident Shevil #28 (Berlin Bombshells)
- Snowblood #101 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Spacy Tracy #35 (Barockcity Rollerderby, Ludwigsburg)
- Sweet Gwenrolline #9 (Ruhrpott Roller Girls)
- Titty-Twista #81 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)
- Vegas #80 (Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz)

Coaches:
Titty Twista, Rockdog, ChefXecutioner

TEAM IRELAND

Agony Annt (Dublin Roller Girls)
B.A Blockus (Dublin Roller Girls)
Bad Faith (London Rollergirls)
Belle for Leather (Dublin Roller Girls)
Chemikill Hazard (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Crow Jane (Cork City Firebirds)
Coco Pox (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Holly Sheet (Dolly Rockit Rollers)
Jessica Mooney (Kernow Rollers)
Jessica Rammit (Dublin Roller Girls)
Kitty Cadaver (Dublin Roller Girls)
Lil’ Edee (Dublin Roller Girls)
Peppy Nephrine (Dublin Roller Girls)
Phantom Jemerald (Cork City Firebirds)
Roisin Roulette (Birmingham Blitz Dames)
Rush’n Barron (Cork City Firebirds)
Sinister Mary Clarence (London Rollergirls)
Tina Gutt-her and Jamm (Dublin Roller Girls)
Wile E. Peyote (Rat City Rollergirls)
Zola Blood (Dublin Roller Girls)

TEAM NEW ZEALAND

Bad Jelly the Bitch (Pirate City Rollers)
JustAss for All (Swamp City Roller Rats)
Axl-Slash-R (Northland Nightmares)
Poison Petal (Hellmilton Roller Ghouls)
Skate the Muss (Pirate City Rollers)
Terror Satana (Pirate City Rollers)
Hurricane Hori (Pirate City Rollers)
Solid Sarge (Northland Nightmares)
Chick Cheney (Pirate City Rollers)
Poison Pixie (Mount Militia Derby Crew)
Perky Nah Nah (Wellington)
Miss Metal Militia (Hellmilton Roller Ghouls)
Boom Shakalaka (Hellmilton Roller Ghouls)
Evil K’Neevil (Dead End Derby)
Black Panther (Dead End Derby)
Miss Chevus Mynx (Dead End Derby)
Big Mack (Pirate City Rollers)
Lawless Mess (Dead End Derby)
Pentakill (Pirate City Rollers)
Tuff Bikkies (Richter City Roller Derby)
Blocktimus Prime (Dead End Derby)

Elle Qaeda (Pirate City Rollers) – Manager

Pieces of Hate (Pirate City Rollers) – Coach
Fia Fasi Oe? (Pirate City Rollers) – Assistant Coach

TEAM SCOTLAND

Armed Bandit (So Cal Derby, formerly Glasgow Roller Girls)
Betty Gogo (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Blazin Phoenix (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Bronx Betty (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Ciderella (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Clinically Wasted (Granite City Roller Girls, Aberdeen)
Crazy Legs (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Dangermouth (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Alma Geddon (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Fight Cub (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Lily Lethal (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Marla Mayhem (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Marshall Lawless (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Minnie Riot (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Mistress Malicious (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Mo Be Quick (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Moxie Emerald (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)
Viper (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Whiskey Galore (Glasgow Roller Girls)
Wild Oates (Glasgow Roller Girls)

Reserves:

Rock’n'Riot (Granite City Roller Girls, Aberdeen)
Ruby Riot (Granite City Roller Girls, Aberdeen)
Psychomilly (Dundee Roller Girls)
Velosidy (Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh)

Team Sweden

Alotta Riot 040 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)
Ankefar 21 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)
Barbara Barfight 101 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)
Becky Lawless 8 (Stockholm Roller Derby)
Bess I’rv Cold 50 (Stockholm Roller Derby)
Fenix Fortsomfan 180 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)
Firebird Steele 78 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)
Fisty 38 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)
HussInsane 747 (Stockholm Roller Derby)
HyperNova 56(Stockholm Roller Derby)
Jazz Ass 6(Stockholm Roller Derby)
Jo Evil Eye 925 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)
Kit Kat Power 664 (London Rockin’ Rollers)
Kix deVille 90(Stockholm Roller Derby)
Knickerblocker Glory 44 (London Rollergirls)
Mad Maloony 79 (Stockholm Roller Derby)
Ninja 303 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)
Swede Hurt 46(Stockholm Roller Derby)
Twist’d T 47(Stockholm Roller Derby)
Vix Viking 13 (Crime City Rollers, Malmö)

Coaches:
Swede Hurt
Mad Maloony
Sloppy Boggins

TEAM USA

Amanda Jamitinya (Rocky Mountain Rollergirls)
Atomatrix (Oly Rollers)
Bonnie Thunders (Gotham Girls Roller Derby)
Claire D. Way (Boston Derby Dames)
DeRanged (Rocky Mountain)
Donna Matrix (Gotham)
Fisti Cuffs (Gotham)
Frida Beater (Rocky Mountain)
Joy Collision (Charm City Rollergirls)
Juke Boxx (Minnesota RollerGirls)
Juska (Denver Roller Dolls)
Little A (Tampa Bay)
Medusa (Minnesota)
Psycho Babble (Rocky Mountain)
Sassy (Oly)
Sexy Slaydie (Gotham)
Shenita Stretcher (Philly Roller Derby)
Smarty Pants (Texas Rollergirls)
Snot Rocket Science (Steel City Derby Demons)
Soulfearic Acid (Rose City Rollers)
Suzy Hotrod (Gotham)
Tannibal Lector (Oly)
Teflon Donna (Philly)
Tracy Akers (Denver)
Urkin Jerkin (Rocky Mountain)
V Diva (Dutchland Rollers)
Varla Vendetta (Windy City Rollers)
White Flight (Rose City)

Coach: Buster Cheatin’

Assistant Coach: Bonnie D. Stroir

Preliminary Round Groups Set for 2011 Roller Derby World Cup

Preliminary Round Groups

Group A

Canada
Brazil
Sweden
France

Group B

Germany
Australia
Finland

Group C

USA
New Zealand
Scotland

Group D

Argentina
Ireland
England

**It was broadcast on DNN on Thursday, November 17, 2011. Stay tuned for the archive.

Conquered but not Divided: Gotham Becomes First Two-time WFTDA Champ

You’ve just walked into the 1^st Bank Center on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado. It’s the third game of the 2011 WFTDA Championship and the first thing you hear is the roar of a crowd; then the already ragged voice of an over-excited track-side announcer calling a “grand slam.” You rush along the crowded concourse passing derby vendors and over-priced beer hawkers until finally finding an opening. You rush up a set of stairs and for a brief moment, as you gaze out over the thousands for that first glimpse of big-stadium derby, the track looking impossibly larger and smaller than anything you’ve seen before because of the scope of the game and the grandness of the stage, your breath is taken away. So taken by the sight are you that it takes a moment to gather yourself, to look about for a place to sit. You feel like you’ve somehow stumbled onto an oracle summoning the future of flat track roller derby; until, of course, you manage to sit and gather yourself, take a deep breath and realise: the future is now.

*

For the second year in a row the extraordinarily talented Oly Rollers lost in the WFTDA Championship bout to a team that played a more sophisticated game; a grittier, slower, more nuanced version of the sport, one that has evolved on the flat track and that each year looks a little more different from the banked track game that preceded it. And that could be at the heart of Oly’s inability to hold their position at the top of the heap: in many ways they still play a banked track version of the sport on a flat surface, what has on the digital pages of this site been referred to as “hit and run” roller derby.

Oly and Gotham in the 2011 final.

Oly is, without a doubt, a team of immensely proficient skaters, and one-on-one, a player such as the magnificent Sassy is still able to mesmerize with her timing and instinct, and so good are they—so mind-bogglingly talented are they—that they are still able to dominate pretty much any team on the planet that is playing the game. While last year, it took late-game heroics for Rocky Mountain to foil Oly’s attempt to defend the title, this year in the final they often looked perplexed against Gotham. Stunned at times in the second half of their surprisingly undisciplined 140-97 loss, for here was a team that embraced the tactics emerging organically from playing the game on a flat surface, but here also was a team that could skate. They could hit, they had the footwork, the endurance and raw skill. In the final of the 2011 WFTDA Championship Gotham Girls Roller Derby may have emerged as the first perfect flat track team. Not just a perfect roller derby team, but a perfect flat track one. In a sport as young and as “unfinished” as this one is, we may finally have ourselves a model off which to base the future.

While there was still some resistance to change at this year’s championship, there wasn’t as much of the cynicism that sometimes marred the experience of last year’s tournament (the insulting and narrow-minded “Slow Derby Sucks” movement, for example, that among other things, called for boycotts of particular teams in propaganda-ish flyers). And while boos did reign down when things didn’t get moving at the start line (hopefully for the teams that allowed it to happen and not those who were taking advantage of the teams who didn’t know what to do, or didn’t realize it was to their detriment), there was less meanness behind it, and the signs in the crowd that insulted teams last year were replaced in 2011 by more good-natured, even playful ones like “Occupy The Pivot Line,” or “The Pivot Line Needs Love Too.”

Minnesota All Stars were a much different team from the one that lost in the first round in 2010.

While a lot of the fans have certainly embraced the multi-speed nature of the flat track game (remember, as recently as 2009 fans were still booing trapping tactics on power jams), it seems that all of the top teams have come around as well. The Minnesota Girls All Stars are probably the best example of a league and a team that has finally come to embrace the flat track game. Although one of the oldest leagues in flat track history, only one year ago, at last year’s championship, it looked as though the sport had passed them by. They seemed reluctant to play the slow-game tactics that had come to define flat track, and relied on traditional hit and run strategies. They were destroyed in the opening round by the multi-speed, multi-strategy Charm City Roller Girls 249-118.

What a difference a year makes.

After a thrilling run at the North Central Regionals that came up just short, Minnesota was drawn in the first round against Charm City once again. While it was a similar Charm team to last year’s, Minnesota could not have been more different, or more prepared. They played a slower, more patient game, and the bout was full of nerdy derby as nearly every jam began with what is coming to be called a “rugby” or “scrum” start. Minnesota, looking like a revitalized team, got their revenge, 160-121.

Kansas City, champions in 2007, was the breakout team of the 2011 tournament.

As exciting as it was to see an original WFTDA team buy into the more contemporary version of the sport, as fitting as it seemed that Texas returned (after only one year’s absence) to the final four, and as thrilling as it was to see WFTDA crown its first two-time champion, this was a tournament of breakouts. While Sassy may still be the smartest and best one-on-one blocker in the game, her teammate, Hockey Honey (a Jet City transfer), looks to be a super-blocker in training and needs to add just a bit of control to her game to become considered one of the best there is. And finally, surprising tournament MVP and super-breakout player Kelly Young (along with her big-time blocker teammate Eclipse) led the breakout team of the tournament, Kansas City Roller Warriors, all the way to a surprising birth in the final four (they seemed to run out of steam against Texas in the third place bout leading early on before fading in the end and falling 136-112). Though it should be noted that Kelley Young has had a storied career in the sport, this was the year her name finally lit up the marquee and the larger flat track community took notice. Finally, Gotham, who seemed a top player or two on the depth chart away from competing last year, was pushed over the edge by transfer skaters Sexy Slaydie (a monster in the pack from Nashville) and Wild Cherri (Tampa Bay) who finally gave the team a consistent and formidable three-jammer rotation that was untouchable in the tournament and was a huge factor in their championship victory.

*

As you follow the stream of spent fans exiting 1st Bank Centre, your head humming, the roar of the crowd still echoing, you come to the realization that with each passing WFTDA Championship, that with each passing season, the game continues to find itself; this year it seemed more stable in its identity, more confident in what it has become. Born from a game of speed and agility on a banked surface, it has evolved into its own species: a game of pace and stability on a flat track that looks less and less like the sport that parented it less than a decade ago. And as you pull out of Denver, the sounds of the games still ringing in your ears, the city rising up among the mountains that fall away as your plane ascends, you think to yourself, contentedly, that the sport of flat track roller derby has finally become what it will be.

**For complete game-by-game recaps, visit DNN

Divide and Conquer: A Preview of the 2011 WFTDA Championships

Continental Divide and Conquer: The 2011 WFTDA Championships (Denver, Colorado; November 11-13)

For fans of flat track roller derby there is no more exciting weekend than the annual WFTDA Championships. It represents the pinnacle of the young sport, and each year provides a canvas upon which the newest strategies, the latest skill developments, and the increased athleticism that the sport requires are painted. Due to the young age of the sport and the accelerated pace at which it is growing, it is possible to say that each year, the WFTDA Championships has provided the best flat track roller derby ever played. And this year will undoubtedly prove to be the best yet.

The first WFTDA champs, the Texas Rollergirls, join every other previous champ at this year's tournament.

Since the Texas Rollergirls Texecutioners won the inaugural championship in 2006 and catapulted the young sport into the North American sports and pop culture consciousness, there have been four other champions crowned: Kansas City Roller Warriors (2007), Gotham Girls Roller Derby (2008), Oly Rollers (2009), and Rocky Mountain Rollergirls (2010). They will all be present at the 2011 WFTDA championships. While WFTDA has never crowned a two-time champion, this seems like the best chance for that to happen.

But considering the young age of the sport, this tournament has been more about developing the game than anything. In 2006 when virtually every flat track league on the planet (there were only 20 leagues in 2005, the year that the United Leagues Coalition—soon to be the WFDTA—was formed) converged on Tucson, it was an opportunity for all the leagues from the disparate corners of the United States to get together and share in the development and help nudge along the evolution of the sport.  From those early rules-refining days in 2006/2007 to Duke City and eventually Denver’s isolation and trapping revolution in 2008/2009, every major change and growth in the sport has been disseminated through the championship tournament.

2009 champs Oly Rollers were the first team to appear in back-to-back championship games.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP CURSE??

While the Texacutioners became the first team to make two championship finals (2006 and 2009), last year the Oly Rollers became the first team to qualify for two consecutive finals. Despite the fact that the Oly juggernaut could very easily make it a third straight trip to the final in 2011, traditionally defending champs have not fared well in this tournament. After Texas dominated in 2006 and defeated Tucson 129-96 in the final, it seemed as if the god mothers of the sport would never be beaten, but they did finally lose the following year and ended up getting knocked out in the 2007 semifinals to Rat City. Rat couldn’t parlay that historic victory into a championship though and fell in the first WFTDA champs classic 89-85 to Kansas City. Although Kansas would win their first three in a row in 2008, their streak would come to an emphatic end when Windy City rolled over them 155-39 on the eve of the 2008 championship (where Kansas City would stumble further, finishing out of the top four).

By that 2008 tournament, Gotham had replaced Texas as the dominant force in the sport and after crushing Duke City and Philly in the early rounds would put an end to Windy City’s amazing season with a 134-66 trouncing in the final. Gotham would then cruise through the 2009 season undefeated only to be upset by Philly in the Eastern final by 1 point (ending a remarkable 18 game winning streak). Continuing the trend of defending champs falling hard, they would be eliminated by Oly in the 2009 quarterfinals to finish out of the top four.

By the end of the 2009 tournament, where Oly defeated the historic Texacutioners 178-100, it was clear that the Oly Rollers Cosa Nostra Donnas were the new leaders in flat track. From their entry into the WFTDA in January 2009 to their eventual loss to Rocky Mountain in the western final in October 2010, they put together the greatest run in the sport’s early history, winning 22 straight bouts. But even the mighty Oly suffered the curse of the championship and although they became the first team to return to defend their title, they fell in a one-point heartbreaker (147-146) to Rocky Mountain in last year’s championship.

The defending champion Rocky Mountain Rollergirls have not been as dominant in 2011.

The defending champion Rocky Mountain Rollergirls have continued the dubious trend. Despite starting 2011 strong with big wins over Philly and Rose City, they have faded this season. A tight win against Bay Area in May was followed by the team’s first back-to-back losses since 2009 (to Charm and Oly). In this year’s Western Regionals they were only able to scrape by Rat City in the semis (117-107) before losing to Oly in the West final (143-106). While they remain favourites heading into the tournament, they do not look like the terrifying machine that rolled into the Championships in Chicago last year.

THE PARTICIPANTS

Only two of the teams enter this tournament with undefeated records in 2011 WFTDA play: Gotham (10-0) and Oly (12-0).  At the other end of the spectrum, a number of teams enter the tournament with just over a .500 record: Philly Roller Girls Liberty Belles (11-8), Charm City All Stars (9-7), and Nashville‘s Music City All Stars (7-5). The rest of the teams settle somewhere in the middle. The opening round features the “bottom eight” teams vying for a spot in the quarterfinals with the four regional winners. While Rocky Mountain (2^nd West) should roll over Nashville (3^rd South Central) and Philly (2^nd East) should ring Naptown’s (3^rd North Central) bell, look for a Charm City (3^rd E) minor upset over Minnesota (2^nd NC) and a similar Rose City (3^rd W) upset over Kansas City (2^nd SC). (It should be noted that Rose City and Naptown are the only two teams making their Championships debut). This chain of events would set up for some intriguing quarterfinal matchups, none more so than the potential Gotham vs. Rocky Mountain showdown that could occur Saturday morning.

Gotham Girls Roller Derby looks poised to win their second WFTDA championship.

Gotham has been absolutely dominant this season winning their bouts with an average margin of victory of 185 points (Rose City and Denver were the only teams to give them “trouble”: holding them to 68 and 71 point victories respectively). On top of that, Gotham seemed to improve as the season went on: they beat Steel City in April by 244 points; by the time of the Eastern Regionals (when both teams were peaking) they managed to increase that margin to an astonishing 374 points (the 404-30 semifinal victory was one of, if not the, most dominant performance in tournament history). As good as Rocky Mountain was, their performances this year (particularly that stunning July loss to Charm) has not been as confidence inducing. Call it the championship hangover, but it is highly conceivable that once again, the defending champs will make an early exit and finish out of the top four.

Naptown joins Rose City as they only first timers in the 2011 WFTDA Championship.

If any team can compete with Gotham this season, it is the Oly Rollers. While the two teams do have common opponents this year (Montreal, Denver and Rose City) it is difficult to compare the two records because of the markedly different styles they play. Gotham has seemingly mastered “bispeedual” derby: IE: they can skate with the best of them, but certainly don’t mind mucking it up in a slow, gritty game as well (they’ve embraced all isolation strategies and other evolutions of the sport including the walled and/or slow starts that are the latest trend). All along Oly has maintained their very simple game and are the masters of traditional “hit and run” derby. They are phenomenal skaters with otherworldly endurance and have shown that they can run opposition ragged. So while it is easy to see Oly advancing to their third straight final, it is much more difficult to see them defeating Gotham’s complete-game roller derby. Gotham, who has moved to the top of DNN’s Power Rankings and also the top of flattrackstats.com’s stats-based rankings, seems to be on the verge of reclaiming the Hydra Trophy that they last held in 2008.

As with last year, it could very well be an all East-West final four (Gotham, Oly, Rose and Charm), although Texas (who made up for a mediocre season with an amazing run at the South Central Regionals) seems in the best position to spoil the party given their potential quarterfinal showdown with Charm City (they met in May with Texas squeaking by in a 6 point victory).

So, is this the year that a two-time WFTDA champion is finally crowned? Will the coasts continue their derby dominance? Will the progenitors of flat track, the Texacutioners, return  to their final-four form? Thankfully, we won’t have to wait much longer for the answers.

2011 WFTDA Champs Participants (2011 Records / DNN Power Ranking)

East:

1. Gotham Girls Roller Derby All Stars (10-0 / #1)

2. Philly Roller Girls Liberty Belles (11-8 / #11)

3. Charm City Roller Girls All Stars (9-7 / # 12)

West:

1. Oly Rollers Cosa Nostra Donnas (12-0 / #2)

2. Rocky Mountain Rollergirls 5280 Fight Club (7-2 / #3)

3. Rose City Rollers Wheels of Justice (9-5 / #4)

South Central:

1. Texas Rollergirls Texacutioners (12-8 / #8)

2. Kansas City Roller Warriors All Stars (10-2 / #9)

3. Nashville Rollergirls Music City All Stars (7-5 / #19)

North Central

1. Windy City Rollers All-Stars (13-2 / #10)

2. Minnesota Roller Girls All Stars (9-3 / #13)

3. Naptown Roller Girls Tornado Sirens (12-3 / #14)

The bracket for the 2011 WFTDA Championships in Denver, Colorado (November 11-13). (Click to enlarge)

**** Read DNN’s team-by-team preview here. Tune in to all the action live on WFTDA.com.****

The Nerd’s thoughts on the playoffs so far:

Pondering the Playoffs 1: Eastern Regionals

Pondering the Playoffs 2: Western Regionals

Pondering the Playoffs 3: South Central Regionals

Pondering the Playoffs 4: North Central Regionals

Youth In Revolt: The Future of Flat Track (Part 2)

(* This article was originally written for print, but unfortunately the magazine folded before it could be published. A significantly edited version of this article appeared on this site in May 2011.)

TJRD's Knicker Kickers faces Hew Hampshire's Mad Missfits in their debut bout in May, 2011. (Photo by Joe Mac)

The fact that junior roller derby will change the competitive level of the sport was never more evident than during TJRD’s historic debut bout in May, 2011. On Saturday, May 14, history was made as the TJRD Knicker Kickers welcomed the Mad Missfits from New Hampshire. Not only was it the first junior roller derby bout to be played in eastern Canada, but the first ever cross-border roller derby bout between Canadian and American clubs. All things considered, the level of play was phenomenal. While things got off to a slow start as each team dealt with the pressures of playing under the big lights of a senior-derby venue in front of an actual crowd against unfamiliar opposition, the girls quickly became comfortable on the track. Solid positional blocking, fast pace lines and even the hints of isolation strategies were all in play. It was a tight bout early on with older skaters like Feral Carole (TJRD) and Pearl Slam (Mad Missfits) leading the packs as pivots, while Awesome Sauce and Kamikaze Kupcake jammed for Toronto, with Li’l Trouble and Auti-Mobile leading the offense for the Missfits. Leads were traded back and forth before Seemore Bruises broke the game wide open with a big pick up on a power jam to give her team a 31-24 lead; they would hold on to lead 34-27 at the half.

Coach Tommy, a derby dad and coach of the visiting Mad Missfits, echoes the importance of these junior leagues to girls and notes that many of the parents of his players also brought their girls to roller derby to avoid the “traditional” sports on offer, and the results have been obvious. “I think we are seeing a huge difference in (the skaters)! We are using derby to instill self-confidence, leadership, and determination in young girls that are being ‘missed’ by traditional sports,” he says. “In this way, I think junior roller derby can find its place in youth sports. It provides a competitive, athletic activity that can reach young girls who, for one reason or another, are uninterested in other sports.”

This outlet for young women is obviously important and the effects of roller derby extend far beyond the borders of the track and into the lives of young women. “Roller derby saved some of their lives,” B.D.I. boldly tells me of her teammates. Coach Lucid Lou (who coaches the league with Coach Vader, a retired ToRD skater, and current skater Mouth of the South and referees R’Effin Adora Bell and T-Ref) confirms this, and says that success for these young women has followed them from derby into their social lives and schooling. Lou has been a key part of ToRD’s fresh meat training program over the years, and has seen similar things from the senior skaters as well. “I see the growth in adults too. I’ve seen women come in (to fresh meat) in their 30s, and the transition that happens with them,” she says, “and it’s even more incredible to see that happening in a younger generation, where these girls are having a chance to self-evaluate and grow at a younger age.” The inherent inclusivity of the roller derby community means that junior roller derby provides a safe and celebratory space for all kinds of kids and a space where being oneself is not only allowed, but encouraged.

When The Kickers and The Missfits skated back onto the track for the second half, it was hard to tell who was winning as players on both teams glowed from their opportunity in the spot light. Fully warmed-up and acclimatized to the setting, the competitive level ramped up in the second half. Joan of Argghh was a more than capable pivot for the Kickers, while Biff Break It took on the stripe for the Missfits. Auti-Mobile took over the offense for New Hampshire, showing a great athleticism, leaping lines and juking blockers, helping her team retake the lead 45-43 five minutes into the second. The diminutive Miss Fit responded for Toronto, showing no fear against her much larger teammates. The various ages that play together now (out of necessity until the sport grows to the point where ages can be separated) makes for a wide disparity in sizes, but it didsn’t seem to affect the play or the confidence of the skaters. The sort of inclusivity at the heart of roller derby was apparent when a handful of Toronto skaters switched sides to play for the short-benched Missfits. Two of those skaters, L’il Trouble and Monster Mayhem, said that they didn’t mind. “As long as we get to play!” they both exclaimed on the bench before the game. The bout remained close right through to the end, with neither team capable of holding a substantial lead. Eventually, the Mad Missfits held on for the 82-74 victory, but both benches seemed awfully pleased with how things went.

It was an extraordinary and historic moment for the sport of roller derby and perhaps even women’s sport in general; this generation of youth skaters is just the peak of a steadily growing wave, a wave that is now even overtaking the education system. The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in derby-mad Austin, Texas, was the first school to offer roller derby as an official extracurricular activity. And while they are limited to playing junior leagues right now, another Austin school, LBJ High School, is set to join in on the movement. In New Hampshire, Coach Tommy says the Mad Missfits have been welcomed into local schools around Peterborough to perform demonstrations of the sport in yet another sign of the growing awareness of the legitimacy of the sport.

But their place in history was lost on the junior girls playing in that game in May. They didn’t seem interested in the larger meaning of their accomplishment. Their expressions said it all: they were there for the fun of the game, the camaraderie of the team. They were there for themselves, and nothing more. Watching those expression on the bench was actually almost as exciting as watching the play on the track. Their enthusiasm was so earnest and so complete that it was infectious and extraordinarily heart warming. They may not have grasped the larger implications of what they were doing—the reverberations that this would one day have in the larger roller derby community—but they certainly understood one thing clearly, perhaps even more clearly than their big sister skaters in the senior leagues: flat track roller derby is one fun sport.

*Read Part 1 here.

Youth In Revolt: The Future of Flat Track (Part 1)

(* This article was originally written for print, but unfortunately the magazine folded before it could be published. A significantly edited version of this article appeared on this site in May 2011. UPDATE: ToRD now plays out of The Bunker in Downsview Park, while TJRD now plays out of Jimmie Simpson Community Centre)

Toronto Junior Roller Derby skaters at the Hanger in May, 2011. (Photo by Joe Mac)

If you stopped by The Hangar, the home of Toronto Roller Derby (ToRD), on any Sunday afternoon this past winter or spring, you would have seen a pretty normal scene: A bunch of rollergirls running drills, scrimmaging, a few refs working on calls, refining their knowledge of the rules. It would look like any other scene that has been playing out in derby spaces all across North America (and increasingly, the world) since roller derby was reborn last decade. But if you were to get a little closer to the track, you’d see that what you were looking at wasn’t just a normal roller derby practice, and these were not regular skaters. You’d quickly realize that this was a Toronto Junior Roller Derby practice, and what you were looking at was the future of the sport.

Toronto Junior Roller Derby (TJRD) was founded in May 2010, an initiative of long-time roller derby super fan B.D.I. with a lot of help from her derby-playing mom Lucid Lou (of ToRD’s Death Track Dolls). TJRD is one of nine (though they are popping up by the day) junior roller derby leagues in Canada (the others are established or just getting started in Edmonton, Grand Prairie, Regina, Saskatoon, Yukon, West Kootenay, Montreal and Saint John), and just the tip of a growing North American trend. The popularity of the Toronto league is undeniable as almost 50 skaters are now involved.”I thought it would be a good opportunity for girls in Toronto,” B.D.I. responds when asked about her drive to start a junior league. “There aren’t a lot of sports just for girls.” This sentiment is echoed among the other skaters in the league. “It’s an active sport…I’ve always been tough and I like how you can interact (on the track) with other girls,” says Lil’ Trouble, one of the league’s original skaters, when asked why she chose roller derby over other sports. Her teammate Monster Mayhem is a little more direct: “I can hit people.”

While this isn’t exactly true yet (junior roller derby plays a “loco,” or “low contact” form of the sport based on the WFTDA rule set), it does speak to roller derby’s appeal as a non-traditional option for girls in a male-dominated sports culture. TJRD skater Seemore Bruises actually started in ice hockey, but didn’t like it. “When she saw roller derby and the crazy cool chicks who play, she was really keen to try it,” says Seemore’s mother (and self-proclaimed “ridiculous” derby mom) Nancy Jo Cullen. “She loved the idea of an all-girl sport where a girl would be allowed to express her personal identity the way one can in derby.”

The twenty first century brand of roller derby (played on a flat track with strict, refereed rules) differs most from its earlier counterparts in its accessibility and reputation, two things that have been essential in its successful perpetuation. The flattening of the sport changed the nature of the game, and the slow strategic, positional derby that is rising out of it is a sport that (like football) allows and even encourages a variety of body types to play. This seems to be another important aspect of the sport for parents looking to get their girls involved in some kind of healthy activity. “There are so many different kinds of women playing roller derby, all kinds of body shapes and expressions of gender that I really appreciate. I think it’s a powerful, edgy, hysterical sport…there’s just so much fun in it,” says Nancy Jo. “I want (Seemore) to grow up believing that beautiful women come in all shapes and sizes and derby truly is a testament to this.” This inclusivity and accessibility is one of the key reasons that flat track roller derby (junior or otherwise) is establishing such deep roots.

And not only is flat track roller derby planting roots for the long haul, it is actually thriving and growing at an astonishing rate. The importance of these junior leagues to the continued success of the sport cannot be downplayed. The creation of  senior level farm teams to develop draft-eligible players has already had a profound effect on the level of play of the sport, as skaters are now drafted into the league with ample experience, including bouting (ToRD’s farm team, the D-VAS has proven successful in developing high-level, game ready rookies). But this impact will seem small once the junior leagues start to graduate skaters into the senior ranks on a regular basis, the entry-level skills and confidence of the players will change in a big way. To put it simply: Competitive derby is about to get a whole lot more competitive.

**Thursday: Part 2; a recap of TJRD’s first cross-border game against New Hampshire’s Mad Missfits)

CN Power takes the split on first WFTDA roadtrip

CN Power went 1-1 in its first WFTDA sanctioned roadtrip, scoring a victory over Queen City’s Lake Effect Furies while falling short against the Grand Raggidy All Stars. Both teams offered extraordinarily physical challenges to CN Power who were primed for top-flight competition after one-sided victories over the Hammer City Eh! Team and Killamazoo Derby Darlins. While CN Power remains officially unranked, both opponents were ranked well above the ToRD all stars in their respective regions. (*Disclaimer: The Nerd was managing the bench for the Grand Raggidy bout)

CN Power (- NC) 68 vs. Grand Raggidy All Stars 148 (11 NC)

Both opponents had size and strength advantages over CN Power that provided a unique set of challenges in the pack for ToRD’s all stars. Grand Raggidy finished the season ranked 11^th in the North Central, just one spot out of the playoffs, providing CN Power with an opportunity to see where they stood in their region: their performance should prove to be a confidence builder.

Things started off extremely tight, with the teams trading leads in the very early going and Grand Raggidy having a difficult time containing ToRD’s speedy jammer trio of Bambi, Defecaitlin and Dyna Hurtcha. But where they lacked in speed they made up in power, and quickly began to dominate the packs. Forming tight, almost impenetrable walls, the hometeam was able to keep fairly consistent control over the pace and formation of the packs that kept CN Power from being able to mount any sort of comeback once the hosts pulled into the lead.

Despite strong games from Panty Hoser and Lady Gagya coupled with the on-track leadership of Brim Stone and Tara Part, about halfway through the second Grand Raggidy was threatening to run away with it. Nonetheless, the Toronto skaters pushed through to the end, and in a positive sign of things to come, CN Power refocused late and kept their heads in the game, finishing strong and even carrying a lot of the play in the last five minutes of the game to narrow the spread that at one point was threatening to grow. Grand Raggidy held on for the 148-68 win.

CN Power (- NC) 139 vs. QCRG’s Lake Effect Furies (14 E) 123

One night and what seemed like half a country later, CN Power found themselves in Buffalo, NY to face off against Queen City’s Lake Effect Furies. The Furies, ranked 14^th in the very competitive Eastern Region, brought a similar skill-set as Grand Raggidy to the matchup: strong pack work and great one-on-one ability. Despite the long drive and the unfamiliar surroundings, CN Power roared out of the gates and rode a 24 point Candy Crossbones power jam to a 38-10 lead ten minutes. Bolstered by the arrival of some fresh legs in Candy, Bruiseberry Pie, Betty Bomber and Santa Muerte, CN Power kept pouring it on, extending their lead to 65-31 with eight minutes left in the half. But in a half that was loaded with penalties (on both sides) momentum swings were inevitable, and Queen City (who were coming off of a big victory over the Tri-City Thunder the night before), got their heads back in the game. Led by some phenomenal pack work from Vajeena Warrior, the Furies crawled their way back into it. Strong one-on-one play allowed them to dominate the packs, and they completely neutralized Toronto’s jammers late in the half (often continuously recycling them at the back of the pack). They kept Toronto off the scoreboard for the last 8 minutes and actually pulled ahead 68-65 at the half.

It was much the same to kick off the second half as the game threatened to get away from CN Power. Despite an early Toronto power jam, Queen City continued to ride strong blocking in the first ten minutes (while CU~T also threw down some big hits for the hometeam), increasing their lead to 99-75.

The penalty woes that had plagued both teams in the first disappeared in the second, which made for some exciting derby, and as they had the night before, CN Power began to get stronger as the bout slipped into its later stages. Jubilee and Aston Martini both had stand-out performances in the second half taking over the back of the pack and often peeling the opposing blockers off of CN Power’s jammers. Nasher the Smasher also had a strong bout, often effectively goating the Furies’ jammers to buy time for her own. With just over eleven minutes remaining in the game ToRD slipped back into the lead 104-103 for the first time in the half. The teams would continue to trade leads in an increasingly tense bout, until Dyna Hurtcha took advantage of a power jam to put up 19 points and give CN Power a 126-110 lead with just under five minutes left.

Some Queen City strategic miscues (including a few intentionally delayed penalty box entries by their jammers) allowed CN Power some breathing room. Leading 139-118 heading into the final jam, Queen City picked up lead and five points on a grand slam, but it was all they could manage as CN Power held on for the 139-123 victory.

CN Power's new mascot was on hand in Grand Raggidy (thanks to the slamtastic Slam Wow!)