The Nanaimo Nemesis roller derby team doesn’t win a lot of bouts these days – but just wait a few years.
The Nemesis Candy Crushers junior girls’ team is taking to the sport and some of the skaters have potential to crack the senior women’s roster in coming seasons.
“These girls are amazing,” said Amanda Gould, coach of the juniors. “They have no fear. They’re not scared to do anything so they’re picking it up so fast.”
The Candy Crushers practise twice a week, at the Nanaimo Ice Centre and at South Wellington Community Hall. Girls from age 5-17 participate, and size difference isn’t as big a deal in junior because the girls positionally block rather than throw hip checks like the Nemesis ladies.
“They still get bruises, they still fall down a lot, but they’re doing great with it,” said Gould. “Some of them have really toughened up a lot in the past two months.”
There are other fledgling junior programs in Victoria, Cumberland and Powell River, so the Candy Crushers could get some game action by season’s end. In the meantime they have enough players for lively intrasquad action at intermission of senior bouts.
“Everybody wants them to scrimmage right now because everybody loves them,” said Gould.
The Candy Crushers welcome any newcomers. Gould said roller derby really appeals to certain girls.
“They seem to have a lot of fun here, they get to wear cool clothes.They’re meeting new people that they wouldn’t normally meet,” she said. “A lot of these girls, they don’t fit into the [traditional] sports category … They’re kind of into sports, they just hadn’t found one. So this has been a great thing for them.”
DERBY DETAILS … For more information about the Nemesis Candy Crushers, search for the group on Facebook or e-mail amandagould@live.com … The team is also looking for sponsors … For more roller derby coverage from earlier this season, please click here, here and here.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com