SLEMON PARK – There is never a lack of optimism surrounding any team at the start of a new season.
That is exactly the case for the Twisted Sisters of the Wharf City Roller Derby League.
“We are really excited about this year’s team,” said team member Sally Bernard in describing the make-up of this year’s roster. “Our new skaters, who learned how to skate with us in the fall, are really strong this year.
“We graduated some solid, solid new girls, and we are really excited to see them in their first game. The rest of us are vets from varying degrees of experience. We have a really good team dynamic for this game. Everybody seems really positive, we don’t have an injury count and we are feeling really good.”
Increased depth
One of the reasons for the enthusiasm in the Twisted Sisters’ camp is numbers. The team will enter the 2018 campaign with 16 players on the roster, although only 10 or 11 players are expected to be in the lineup Saturday.
“This is our first year in three years that we’ve had more than 12 skaters,” noted Twisted Sisters co-coach Erik McKay. “We are going to have the most we’ve had on the roster, and it’s going to be nice to be able to pick and choose (who goes into the lineup) when somebody can’t make it.”
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The Twisted Sisters will begin their 2018 five-bout schedule at home on Saturday against the Avon River Rebel Belles of Windsor, N.S. Start time at The Plex in Slemon Park is 7 p.m., and the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is by donation, with 50 per cent being donated to Lennon House, which is located in South Rustico. The vision of Lennon House is to support the recovery of individuals from substance abuse and subsequent mental health challenges.
Different skills
Bernard, who serves as team co-captain along with Maureen Gay, said the new players bring different skills.
“Some of them are really strong jamming, some of them are really strong blocking,” continued Bernard in an interview with the Journal Pioneer before Wednesday evening’s practice. “It’s great that a lot of them have come from a sporting background, so they have a head for the strategy.”
Twisted Sisters co-coach Lindsay McKay is also excited for the start of the new season and working with the newcomers.
“Communication is such a good thing to have as a team, and, like Erik said, they really work well together,” she said. “It’s really nice to see new people around as well.”
When asked what will be a key to the team’s success, Erik McKay replied, “If we can really focus on and get our defence down, if the newer skaters can get to the defensive level as the experienced skaters, I think we have a really good chance.”
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Roster
Twisted Sisters’ 2018 season-opening lineup:
Player Derby Name No.
Maureen Gay Mosie O’Pummel 11
Sally Bernard Vandana Shove’r 65
Shelley Lilly Poison Lilly 4
Kendra MacLellan Stompin’ Mom 116
Alisha Arsenault Darkwing Ducky 77
Shelley Schurman HellCat Fury 45
Tara Simmons Kick Her ASSets 24
Kristine Heer KrissyKarCRASHian 262
Nancy Manderson Lady MacDeath 333
Dionna Kenny DiSciple 316
Erika Groman Pancake 17
Natascha MacLeod Sinister Minister 724
Jill Ross Tragedy Ann 15
Holly Osborne Sugar & Slice 33
Sheri Warren Bruising Belle 79
Jacquelyn Mantie Smack Her JACKS 56
Coaches
Lindsay McKay Lindsane Asylum
Erik McKay Destructo Mollusk
