Next Friday, the West Kootenay Roller Derby League kicks into high gear with a double header in where else but Rossland.
The night starts at 5 p.m. on Friday the 13th, with Babes of Brutality taking on Lumber Jackies in the first match and Dam City Rollers taking on Rossland’s Gnarlie’s Angels.
The Angels finished last season as league champions as they took back the lead in overtime laps, in what was a stunning finale.
The team will be playing to keep up the unbeaten streak that they managed all of last season.
League president Michelle Sylvest said there are a number of changes for this year.
For one, the league has expanded the amount of games to 26 this year. They’ve also added two new teams: Trail Bad News Betties and the Slocan Valley Vendettas will join the fray this year officially. Last year they played, but the games were only exhibitions.
Sylvest, who plays for the Betties under the name SylvestHer StallOwn, suspects there will be some interesting rivalries this year.
“I think we’ll have some competition from the teams that didn’t end up playing all season,” she said. “I think that’ll bring the level up for everyone .”
They will also be hosting the Western Regional Championships this year.
“So it’s a pretty big season,” she said.
The teams began training in January, but Sylvest said a lot of the teams keep up practice over the course of the off-season, from September to January.
The doors open at the Rossland arena at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 13, with first whistle at 6 p.m.
Tickets and more info available at www.kootenayrollerderby.com.