A Team France jammer gets hit off the track by Red Deer's Ana 'Gutts' Guttridge. (Darren Stehr)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Red Deer athletes represent Canada on junior roller derby world stage

Apr 26, 2023 | 4:48 PM

Four Red Deer-based roller derby athletes competed on the international stage this past week.

Team Canada faced off against teams from France and the U.S. in Toronto April 22-23. It was the first time practices and games had been held as a national team.

Players range in age from 13 to 18, all of whom follow a strict virtual training schedule and practice drills in their home leagues.

“Team Canada travelled from across the country to meet in Toronto for practice and some friendly competition between two much more established teams,” says organizer Jennifer ‘Raspoutine’ Zammit, President of the Junior Roller Derby Association of Canada. “These kids met each other for the first time at breakfast on Saturday, and dinnertime they had won their first game.”

Canada and France are among eight teams vying for the sport’s top prize, the Junior Roller Derby World Cup, held in Valence, France this July; also the first time that competition has been held outside North America.

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“Every one of our 35 Team Canada athletes were selected for their skills and abilities, but as a coaching team we were careful not to put too much pressure on them until they had a chance to find their feet as a team,” says head coach, Caroline ‘Meow’ Reimer. “It is incredible that our team played so well at this stage. They were worthy opponents of Team France, and they managed to win a full game and then a second scrimmage against Pittsburgh.”

According to the association, roller derby is a contact sport played on traditional quad-style roller skates. At its roots, roller derby began as a sport for women, but has evolved to be an inclusive sport for all genders.

Key to its culture, they add, roller derby players, coaches and referees are known by their “derby names” that often embrace the rough and playful nature of the sport.

Among the Canadians were the following Red Deer athletes:

• Ana Guttridge, “Gutts”
• Kaylee Spottiswood, “Killerina”,
• Raina Macfie, “Red Streaks”
• Mila Rennie, “Rennie”

The rest of the roster is as follows:

· Ami Traore, “Ami Gotcha”, Medicine Hat AB

· April Willie, “April Sours”, Airdrie AB

· Audrey May, “Audzilla”, Lethbridge AB

· Davis Leibel Gerein, “Bette Davis Eyes”, Calgary AB

· Jesse Leger, “Cheshie”, Lethbridge AB

· Elise St-Onge, “Derby Devil”, Houston BC

· Kyria Franklin, “Clawless”, Lethbridge AB

· Cleopatra Granneman-Mason, “Cleopassya”, Chilliwack BC

· Everton Slaferek, “Everton”, Saskatoon SK

· Mahawa Traore, “Hawabunga”, Medicine Hat AB

· Lainie MacDonald, “Hurricane Laine”, Fredericton NB

· Stella Ideias, “I’ll Hurt Einstein”, Toronto ON

· K’Senya Schell, “K Slam Ya”, Medicine Hat AB

· Ella Gudmundson, “Killer Ella”, Estevan SK

· Makayla Soper, “Ma-Kill-Ya”, Stratford ON

· Mackenzie Heidinger, “Medusa”, Lethbridge AB

· Ella Toles, “Miss Koozie”, Swift Current SK

· Naomi Morrell, “Scream Soda”, Victoria BC

· Rylee Stilborn, “She-Hulk”, Airdrie AB

· Myra Moore, “Shredher”, Lethbridge AB

· Katie McLean, “Skatie McPain”, Guelph ON

· River Evans, “Speed Demon”, Hamilton ON

· Abigail Reimer, “Super Fly”, Lethbridge AB

· Meira McEllistrum, “Tank”, Airdrie AB

· Talulah Nance-Armstrong, “Tenacious T”, Calgary AB

· Vincent Price, “The Mystic”, Saskatoon SK

· Tess Charlton, “Tornado”, Guelph ON

· Valerie Klassen, “Valkyrie”, Kitchener ON

· Violet LeBlanc, “Vicious Vi”, Fredericton NB

· Deliya Beck, “What the Beck”, St. Catharines ON

Coaches and support staff include:

· Caroline Reimer, “Meow”, Lethbridge AB

· Christine Manders, “Fred”, Hamilton ON

· Jenna McLean, “Ferris Bruiser”, Calgary AB

· Raina Owen, “Raina Terror”, Saskatoon SK

· Jennifer Zammit, “Raspoutine”, Stratford ON

· Barbara Lapointe, “Banshee”, Oromocto NB

· Andrew de Souza, “D-Ray”, Burlington ON