It was a first for international junior roller derby and for Powell River.
Team Canada’s junior team was one of four which competed for flat track glory at the World Cup Junior Roller Derby Championships, July 8 and 9, in Kent, Washington.
For adult players world cup roller derby, held every second year, has been a staple over the last eight years as the sport’s popularity has continued to increase around North America and the world. But up until this year, there has not been a junior category at the international competition.
Two teams from the United States, one from the east and the other from the west, competed against Canada and Australia.
Finishing in third place, members of Team Canada’s junior roller derby team said they went home feeling like they won first place, according to the team’s Facebook page which includes several hundred photos of the teens in action.
Powell River’s Selena Go-Mad, 16, also known as Emily Lister, played on the team.
“We put a lot of hard work into it,” Emily said, explaining that the teams from the United States were extremely tough and competitive.
Emily’s mother Nicki, a player for Pow!Town roller derby, told the Peak that even though the team had only played together a few times, she saw constant improvement throughout the tournament.
“By the end of it they were pretty tight,” said Nicki. “I think our kids did a really good job and they jelled as a team.”
During the first day of the tournament, the Canadian juniors played three 30-minute bouts against the three other teams in the championship. Then the next day the team played three one-hour games in a double-knockout tournament. The American teams dominated, taking first and second, while Canada came third and Australia fourth.
“It was a lot of fun, but really hard,” said Emily who, after two days since returning, was still recovering.
Nicki noted a distinct cultural difference between the way derby is played in the US and how it is played in Canada. She said that, national stereotypes aside, Canadian players seemed to be more laid-back and having fun compared to their American counterparts.
Emily said that it was a great experience to not only make new friends from around Canada but also from Australia.
The Lister family’s history with roller derby goes right back to the start of Powell River’s Pow!Town team in 2011.
Emily and her older sister Katherine started learning roller derby with coach Blonde Slambition, also known as CaroleAnn Leishman. Leishman did not have experience with roller derby per se, but had enjoyed figure skating and had some coaching experience.
“The small group of us started skating in parking lots and finally the Complex rink,” said Leishman. “Pretty soon the entire Lister family—Emily, Katherine and parents Nicki and Matt—all had skates and gear and were signed up.”
Leishman said the fledgling team connected with other teams on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland and had coaches come out to teach fundamentals. It was clear by the number of young teens who came with their parents that they would have enough interest to start a junior team.
“Emily took to it like a duck to water,” said Leishman. “She put those skates on and just started to go. She had natural ability and agility right from the get-go.”
In 2012 and 2013 Pow!Town was fortunate to be able to get coaches from Team Canada, who played in the first ever World Cup Roller Derby (for adults 18 and older), to come to Powell River for training camps and they spent some time with the juniors as well, Leishman added. One of those coaches was 8 Mean Wheeler, also known as Kim MacKenzie, who later was chosen as one of the Team Canada Junior coaches, she said.
“[It] was great for Emily already having that relationship started,” she added.
Emily said her Team Canada experience has added to her roller derby skills, lessons she plans to bring back and share with Pow!Town.
