The Bow Valley Roller Derby Lady Macs have announced their 2015 schedule, which will include two home games this year, while bringing the sport to Lake Louise for the first time in team history.
The Lady Macs opened their season last weekend in Okotoks, where six rookies recruited from the team’s fresh meat sessions made their debut.
“We are thrilled to have so many new players this year to round out our roster,” said BVRD president Lesley ‘Banisher’ Bannister. “Roller derby is such an amazing, inclusive sport that brings together people from all walks of life and we’ve seen it evolve from a niche interest to something very mainstream.
“Every year we increase our Fresh Meat intake, which absolutely reflects the growing popularity of the sport.”
The team will play twice on the road in May, challenging Invermere’s Killer Rollbots on May 23, then Lethbridge on May 30 in a mini-tournament.
The Lady Macs will take their game to Lake Louise on June 13, followed by a bout on Friday (June 20) at Banff’s Fenlands arena. There are no games scheduled for Canmore this season, as the team could not secure a facility.
Roller derby is a contact sport with five players a side, roller skating around a track. During a bout, both teams participate in short matchups called jams, where the designated scoring player, the jammer, scores points by passing members of the opposing team. The remaining girls on the track, three blockers and a pivot, make up the pack and attempt to hinder the opposing jammer while helping their own by playing offence and defence simultaneously.
There are more than 18 roller derby leagues in Alberta, including men’s and junior leagues. National standards have now been introduced for game play, skater skill testing, insurance and rules.
Visit www.bowvalleyrollerderby for more information.
