Special scene for athletes at Alberta’s first roller derby provincials

“It’s been exhausting,” said provincials chairperson Joel McNally. “Each team played four games, that’s two per day. Roller derby is a very physically taxing sport and that is a lot of game play to pack into two days. A lot of these girls are going to be hurting for the rest of the week.”

The host Regulators claimed a fifth place finish over the weekend, accumulating 500 points over their four matches.

Team captain Belinda Crockford has been involved with the local roller derby scene for over a decade and said the community is what keeps her coming back.

“We play together in different games, we play against each other, and you just feel the love,” said Crockford. “Sure, you’re fighting on the track but as soon as the jam is over, you’re high-fiving your teammates on the other team. That’s just the best part about it.”

Calgary’s Jane Deere squad captured the Wild Rose Challenge trophy, scoring 1,064 points over their four games to run away with the championship.

The Red Deer BOOM finished as runner-up with 913 points, the Fort McMurray Tar Sand Betties captured third place at 682 points, and it was a fourth place showing by Lethbridge’s Deathbridge Derby Dames with 582 points.

Although the competitors weren’t a part of Alberta’s top level of roller derby, Crockford said the success of the provincial tournament helps elevate all levels of the sport in Alberta.

“The ‘B’ level is just really pulling it together and getting stronger,” she said. “So, it’s bringing the other level up even higher.”

This past weekend’s event was easily the largest the Gas City Roller Derby Association has ever hosted, setting the stage for further events to come to town.

“It really emphasizes that Gas City Roller Derby has the ability to put on a good event,” said McNally. “We have a good reputation in our community for putting on good events. We put on an annual Christmas event that’s very popular, our games are well produced, the referees get paid, and the players always seem to have a good time.”

For veterans like Crockford, she has seen roller derby grow from four or five competitors to a side due to limited numbers to a sport that is attracting fans and spectators to watch.

“It’s growing all the time,” said Crockford. “For us to have an actual governing body and to have a provincials like in hockey, ringette and other sports, it just means it’s evolving into something bigger.”

When the Alberta Roller Derby Association originally proposed the idea of a ‘B’ level provincials, there was limited interest from city clubs tasked with hosting the event.

However, McNally is hoping this year’s event will help set the stage for other cities across Alberta to hold their own provincial championships in the near future.

“Only two leagues offered to host it when the Alberta Roller Derby Association made the opportunity to do provincials available,” he said. “Ourselves and Fort McMurray, and we were chosen. I expect more teams, more leagues to try to put this event on in the future.”

Following the final whistle on Sunday, all five teams gathered together for one final picture to commemorate the historic weekend.

Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

McNally said it wasn’t surprising to see competitors become friends, as the goal of the entire tournament was to celebrate a game that brings strangers from across the province together.

“Roller derby attracts a specific kind of people,” said McNally. “Everybody in derby seems to be really tight, really good friends. So, in a way it’s sort of like a big family reunion in some ways.”

Gas City Roller Derby Association will be hosting new skater training on October 3 at the Cypress Centre, providing equipment for those looking to learn the ropes of roller derby.

Competitive action meanwhile will return on December 7 with junior and adult games planned ahead of their annual Naughty vs. Nice winter matches.

by Scott Roblin

Special scene for athletes at Alberta’s first roller derby provincials

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