It’s been a busy, wild 2011 for the Tri-City Roller Girls. Here are a few highlights from the year that was:
Strengthening Ties - The home season brings to mind so many great memories it’s impossible to share them all. You’ll just have to be there with us in 2012 to experience the awesome first-hand. Tri-City did have some great tilts against their closest neighbors, including Guelph, London and Toronto. Roller Derby is exploding in Southwest Ontario, so there will be more local rivalries developing every day in addition to our touring guests from afar.
Tournamental – The season began to pick up speed at the Beast of the East tournament in Montreal. Previously considered a guaranteed host-domination affair, the 2011 version of the Beast featured thrills, upsets and a raised bar all around that spells great things for the future of Canadian derby. On the All-Star front, Thunder managed to gain spots in both The Midwest Brewhaha hosted by Brew City and Philly’s East Coast Derby Extravaganza. Our ladies acquitted themselves admirably in their quest for their first WFTDA ranking.
What-da?- Tri-City entered the official rankings of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association mid-season, landing at 17th place of 26 in the North Central Region. Thunder rose one place in the fourth quarter by leap-frogging Sioux Falls and will begin 2012 in 16th. Our friends over at TORD are newly-arrived at WFTDA and not yet ranked, but I am certain the CN Power aim to make a splash in the months to come.
Flat Track International - Speaking of Toronto, they were also the proud host of Blood and Thunder’s Roller Derby World Cup, of which you might have heard a thing or two lately. Tri-City’s own Motorhead Molly was part of a star-studded Canadian squad that took home silver, having proved the only team tough enough to put a double-digit dent in the American juggernaut. The international presence in our ‘hood also allowed TCRG to host a boot camp with Team USA coach Bonnie D. Stroir and have a scrimmage with Team Germany, who may have been lured by the lingering atmosphere from Oktoberfest.
When Ya Get Drafted - The Team Draft for 2012 happened last weekend, and the following skaters were welcomed into the rosters of the Tri-City home teams:
New Vicious Dishes
Scat Girl #65
Finite Skate Automaton #1011
New Venus Fly Tramps
She Rough #89
Anne-Grrr #14
New Total Knock-Outs
Thieving Magpie #79
Preying Man Tease #6T9
Scorcheon #64
Ova’Kill #11
Eurogasmic #6
Chantal Krazyasskick (number forthcoming)
The Teenanator #703
Much Derby Love - This part is for you. The fans, the volunteers, the parents and derby widows, the co-workers who get dragged to bouts, the journalists, coaches, photographers and of course, the skaters new and old. Thank you. This could not be done without you. We are all part of something bigger than ourselves, you included. Especially you. Whether you want to bout together or just shout together, whether you’re derby elite or fresh off the street, TCRG loves what you do, and can’t wait to find out what the future holds for all of us.
