The Estevan Junior Coaler Rollers roller derby team opened their season with a tournament at the Power Dodge Curling Centre on May 9 and 10.
The Coaler Rollers were split into two teams, one consisting of both level one and two skaters, and the other team consisting of level three skaters.
Both teams lost all their games, but the youth had fun throughout the tournament and improved with each game, according to coach Juli Dzuba.
“Both teams did really well, we’re really proud of how they played. It was a little rocky starting off but they really pulled together as teams,” she said.
The tournament consisted of teams from Saskatoon, Rocanville and Regina; and it was a round robin format.
The level three team’s first game was against the Regina Miss Demeanors and they fell 451- 47, and in their second game, against the Rocanville Small Town Thrashers’ level two and three team, they dropped a 302-97 decision. The score of their final game, against the Saskatoon Bridge City Bruisers was 384-160.
Estevan’s level one and two team played a game against the Rocanville level one and two team and fell short 277-223. Both teams also played in a black versus white scrimmage game.
This is the first time for most of the Estevan members playing in a roller derby game and experience what the game is really like.
“I think it was really eye opening for them. They got to see how it actually works and how everything went down, but I think a lot of the girls liked it and were really excited to keep going,” Dzuba said.
Throughout each game, despite the losses, both Estevan teams did get better and learned more about the game, as well, Dzuba said.
“I noticed so much improvement, they did amazing and I’m so proud of them.”
Going forward, Dzuba said, the teams need to continue to keep practicing and keep working together to earn that first win of the season.
The Coaler Rollers do not play this upcoming weekend but next weekend the level three skaters will be playing a game against the Small Town Thrashers.
In roller derby, the objective is to score points by a player (the jammer) passing the opposing team’s four blockers. And Dzuba noticed some techniques they can improve on for their next game.
“We need to tighten up our blocking a bit and stop their jammer more,” she said
The tournament in Estevan was the Coaler Rollers only home games of the season and they will be playing the rest of their matchups on the road.
