Derek Kaye
Castlegar News contributor
It was an exciting night of roller derby Saturday March 29 at the Selkirk College gymnasium as Castlegar’s Dam City Rollers took on Valley Brutality and Nelson’s Killjoys – defending league champs took on the Rossland Trail Roller Girls. The stands were jammed as the night got to a quick start. Team jammers tried to score points with every round of the track they made while the opponents impeded their circle turns.
The Dam City Rollers dominated the action with their jammer speed and no-nonsense blocks and jams of Valley Brutality. The final score was 320 to 123 for the home side. The Castlegar News spoke to their coach Saucy Pants about what he tells his team. He answered, “Go fast, go left and stay in the middle of the track.” It sounded like very good advice that was obviously working well.
Team media representative Pantsoff, four years with the team since its inception, discussed the very technical aspect of the roller derby skates. They have many similarities with the wheels and trucks of high performance skate boards. She says this is the first time the Dams have ever done this - had every single girl on the team jammed. “We are going to build all season and have every girl good at every position,” pointed out Pantsoff. “We want to win this year... we want to win the whole she-bang.” Other teams have designated jammers.
With this win, coaching, and game-winning attitude the “Dams” are off to a heck of a start. Their next match is Saturday April 26 at the Rossland Arena where they’ll take on the Rossland Trail Roller Girls, and Valley Brutality spars with Nelson’s Killjoys.