Halifax Roller Derby's Dead Ringers Face Saint John Razor Girls This Weekend

Bout in Dartmouth is HRDA's first of the season against a rival league

by Halifax Roller Derby Association Press Committee

Sharpen your tongue and tighten your wheels: Halifax's Dead Ringers skate against the Saint John Razor Girls this Saturday at Shannon Park Arena in Dartmouth. The June 1 bout is the Halifax Roller Derby Association's (HRDA) first home game this season in which they’ll host a rival league, and HRDA encourages Haligonians to take the opportunity this Saturday to cheer on their local derby girls.

"Saint John is strong; they have a lot of heavy hitters," said Ringers bench coach Lydia Stalingrad. "But we've been practicing defensive strategy, and our jammers are smart and fast. This is going to be a really, really good game to watch."

The Dead Ringers is one of Halifax's two home teams; in the season opener on May 4 the Ringers beat out the league's other home team, Las Bandidas Locas, 305-126. HRDA's travel team, the Halifax Harbour Grudges, which is made up of skaters from both home teams, travelled last weekend to New Brunswick to challenge the Fredericton Daisy Cutters. The Harbour Grudges were trailing at half-time 195-57 and fought back to come away with a 305-190 loss.

HRDA is young compared to many of the New Brunswick roller derby leagues, but the near 100 members of the Halifax-based league are quickly building an organization to rival even the most experienced teams in the Maritimes.

"We have three teams right now, with one more being organized, plus a LoCo [low contact] league, on top of education in schools about derby and fitness for girls and all sorts of other community events," said Nicole Maunsell, a.k.a. Nuclear Dawn of the Dead Ringers, who is wearing the captain's "C" for the June 1 bout. "Our community outreach is priority, so is making sure that everyone who wants to skate can do so, whether you're a junior high student who doesn't feel comfortable taking part in traditional sport or a stay-at-home mom who loves to roller skate but doesn't want to risk injury. And for dudes, there's reffing, which is extremely challenging and physically demanding."

Inclusiveness might be the hallmark of modern-day roller derby, but that doesn't mean the teams are non-competitive.

"Oh, we want to win," said Stalingrad. "The girls want to win, and they're going to be vicious. Patient, because that's what I've been pushing the past few weeks, but vicious. You can see it in their eyes, in their stance, in their edge. This Saturday is going to be a tough bout, and we're ready."

Saturday's bout starts at 7pm, doors at 6. Advance tickets (at www.HalifaxRollerDerby.ca) are $10, $12 at the door. Kids pay $5, $6 at the door. Kids under 5 free. Get advance ticket prices when you show up at the door with a non-perishable food item for Feed Nova Scotia. Half-time prizes, fans are welcome to attend the after party at Menz and Mollyz. Bring chairs/blankets to get close to the action with track-side seating on the floor. HRDA is always looking for volunteers, check out halifaxrollerderby.ca, find Halifax Roller Derby Association on Facebook, and follow @yhzrollerderby on Twitter.

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