West Kootenay Roller Derby rolls into the Trail arena this Saturday.
The action starts at 5 p.m. when the home team, the Rossland Trail Roller Girls, takes on Castlegar’s Dam City Rollers. The Dams are coming in hot after defeating their competition last season.
But the Nelson Killjoys reminded them last month that it’s anyone’s game when they outplayed Castlegar in the first double-header of season six.
“It’s a new purple team this year,” says Dams’ skater and founding team member Kristina Kruchkowski (aka Kitty Karnage). “We still have lots of familiar faces on the bench but have gained some new sisters this season, both of the fresh variety and from the [dissolved] Valley Brutality.”
The Roller Girls are shaping up to be a real contender with the return of a couple all-star players and some new talent. The Red Army is looking to entertain its hometown crowd, according to skater Ashley McKenzie (ASH), and that may come at a price for the Dams.
“I feel like we are no longer the underdog and now are a team to be afraid of,” she admits.
The SPCA is hosting a half-time show that could result in the adoption of a few animals. But the oohs and ahhs will likely amplify when the animals exit the track to make room for the second bout of the night.
The Killjoys are refocusing their game for a new competitor after the league’s Valley Brutality folded due to a low roster.
The Spokannibals are traveling from Spokane to battle it out with old friends, some of which they played when they went head to head with the league travel team, the Kootenay Kannibelles.
“We are very excited to be playing them — they rank very close in stats to us so it should be a very evenly matched game,” said Nelson’s Danielle McGrath (McWrath).
Doors open at 4 p.m., with the first game at 5 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. Follow the derby girls to the Roller Girls’ clubhouse, the Arlington Bar and Grill, post double header for a pint and an autograph.
Tickets are $10 in advance at the Arlington Bar and Grill and Maglio Building Centre in Trail, The Flying Steamshovel in Rossland or online at brownpapertickets.com. The remaining tickets will be for sale at the door for $15.
For more information, visit kootenayrollerderby.com or check out the league’s Facebook page.