The Kootenay Kannibelles rocked the Selkirk College gymnasium in Castlegar on Saturday as they went toe-to-toe with Fernie’s Avalanche City Roller Girls.
The Kannibelles kicked off the West Kootenay roller-derby season with a convincing but bruising 345-117 win over Avalanche City.
The Kannibelles and Avalanche have seen major shakeups since they last faced off in August 2013. Both teams lost a number of long-standing teammates and picked up some new talent, who proved they could handle the rough going.
The Kannibelles’ jammers found themselves up against a rotating door of hit after hit. Core strength proved the name of the game for Ursula Aggress, making her debut as a Kannibelles jammer and proving that it takes more than a thump to the chest to knock her down. Lil Squirt lived up to her name, ducking into the smallest of gaps on her way into the pack only to come rocketing out to the front again.
Bark Messier, a fresh recruit to the Kannibelles, reminded the Avalanche blockers that though she may be new, she has moves just waiting to be unleashed.
Kid Sinister put on the star for a couple jams, blasting through the opposing walls as if shot out of a cannon. Concrete Cindy and Pantsoff took turns rocketing into Avalanche skaters at every turn, buying time for Belles’ jammers as the clock ticked down.
Despite the wide-margin of victory, both teams fought relentlessly and the Kannibelles never felt complacent with their lead, as evidenced by the rapt attention of fans glued to their seats.