"I love derby," chanted everyone at the Battlefords Roller Derby League's practice Monday evening at the Northland Power Curling Centre. "I am part of a team. I am faster, I am stronger, I am crazier than those that don't."
This chant, written by BRDL president Heather O'Neill, was inspired by one of O'Neill's trips to play with a team in Swift Current. She said they do it before every game and thought it was a good idea for the team to have one of their own.
"The goal is that we'll do that in our dressing room before the game to get us pumped and ready to play and kind of give us our team oneness," said O'Neill, who goes by the derby name "Booty Squishus" on the track. "It's been good for our team."
Soon, these practices will turn into games as the BRDL's second season of bouts starts Saturday in Lloydminster when the Rubby Rollers take on the Nuclear Free. Also Saturday, the Lunachicks, the second team in the BRDL, make their debut against the Angels of Assault.
The league added 16 new players over the off-season, which gave them the ability to create a second team. Once a year, the league hosts a "fresh meat" camp to intake new skaters.
"We put them through a 12-week skating program that teaches them everything they need to know about derby," O'Neill said. "They don't need to know how to skate. We'll teach them how to skate in that 12 weeks, teach them how to fall, how to take hits, give hits and block."
One of the rookie skaters is Melissa Morrison, the team's media specialist. She took an interest in derby when she moved to the Battlefords last year.
"They just started a derby league in my hometown in New Brunswick and I was moving just when the Muddy River Rollers were starting," said Morrison, also known as "Eastside." "I was really disappointed. When I got up here, I was really excited because there was a league up and going."
O'Neill said the league learned "quite a bit" from last year's inaugural outing. They had a strong season last year, finishing the year in the top 50 of derby rankings that list over 200 teams from across North America. The success at the end of last season allowed the team to have goals for their league.
Saskatchewan has three travel teams called "A travel teams." O'Neill wants the Rubby Rollers to be the fourth.
"We're really trying to work our senior skaters up so that by the end of the season and starting into next season we can actually have an A travel team to compete against those guys as well," O'Neill said. "We'd compete against bigger teams in Calgary and get invited to Women's Flat Track Derby Association tournaments and stuff. We'd like to be a competitive league in the province."
To accomplish this goal, O'Neill and player/coach Jes Kohut, or "Jesi Leethal," have travelled to Saskatoon to learn more about the game by taking in their practices. The BRDL is a self-taught league, but Saskatoon has acted as a mentor league as they have sent coaches to assist in practices. The Saskatoon league allowed Kohut and O'Neill to travel with them to a tournament in Spokane, Wash.
"They brought us along so we could just see them playing at that level and play with them," said O'Neill. "We could learn and get more experience so we can bring it back to our team as well."
The experience has helped O'Neill get provincial recognition in derby. She tried out and was selected to be a part of Team Saskatchewan.
"They did tryouts for the whole province and I went to just judge where our league was at and where we needed to be," said O'Neill. "I ended up making the team which was pretty amazing for us. I think it's a good thing for our league."
She said the coaches and other skaters on the team were excited to have someone from a younger league as the provincial team is dominated by skaters from Regina and Saskatoon.
Practices for the league have begun at the Northland Power Curling Centre this season. After spending time in the Agrivilla earlier this year, the BRDL jumped at the opportunity to have an exclusive place for the summer. After approaching manager Len Taylor, the league rented the space.
"Everywhere else we've been . . . we got bumped for a lot of things," O'Neill said. "So, we miss a lot of crucial practice time before bouts and stuff. This way, so far we're the only people here this year. So, we won't be bumped for anything."
O'Neill added, "It's a really great partnership for both of us."
The partnership has allowed the BRDL to explore options to get more recognition for the sport in the community. They have applied to host the provincial championships in September. The event would be in the NationsWEST Field House where they will take out the turf at BMO Pitch to host the competition.
The regular season bouts will once again take place at the Civic Centre, followed by an after party in the upper auditorium. Part of the contract for bouts is the home club providing an after party for skaters and fans 19 or older. It helps promote unity within the sport and, in the case of the BRDL, works as a fundraiser for the league.
The first bout for the Rubby Rollers is May 10 when they host the Norsask Diefen-Break-Hers. Advance tickets for the bout and after party can be purchased at Freedom Skate and Snow and Expressions Styling Studio. Tickets for the bout can be purchased at the door. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the first whistle at 6 p.m.
