They started with 25 players and are ending with 13.
鈥淲e are black and blue all over. Our roster is a tiny bit smaller than when we begun,鈥� said Sea to Sky Sirens roller derby captain Shelby Lundstrom.聽
鈥淭his was a particularly rough season.鈥�
Despite their injuries, the squad is lacing up the skates one more time for the final match of the year. On Sunday, Aug. 2, the Sirens are set to play their last home game at Brennan Park Recreation Centre against Vancouver鈥檚 Cereal Killers.聽
It鈥檚 a special game, said Lundstrom, a.k.a Steemin Seeman. This will be the first time the team skates during the 麻豆社国产Days Loggers Sports Festival and it鈥檚 their last chance to prove their grit on home turf.聽
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 won a home bout yet,鈥� she said.
You could say the team is the ultimate underdog, she admitted. Out of 119 travel teams, the Sirens are ranked 90. This year, the squad hasn鈥檛 won any games that count toward the standings.聽
But that doesn鈥檛 mean great strides weren鈥檛 made, Lundstrom noted.聽
This season marks the first time the team has had two dedicated coaches and enough players to enter tournaments.
鈥淲e played a tournament in Richmond. It took us down a peg,鈥� she said, adding the two-day event led to a couple of injuries.聽
The Sirens come from humble beginnings. Eight years ago, a group of friends would meet in the Walmart parking lot to go roller skating. Today, the team has grown to run a junior and Freshies program through Brennan Park.聽
鈥淲e鈥檝e slowly been building our team over the last few years.聽
The programs allow us to introduce people to the sport and grow the number of people who can play,鈥� said Lundstrom.
Anyone 18 years and older can participate in the roller skating intro course. The Sirens bring gear to loan and participants sign up through the rec centre. The program starts rolling on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The Sirens aim to have their junior program in place for January.聽
Lundstrom first put her helmet on with the Sirens five years ago, but her yearning to join the sport reaches back further.聽
鈥淚 saw a movie about roller derby on T.V. Then I saw the Sirens in the Christmas parade in Squamish. I thought, 鈥楾his is what I have to do,鈥欌�� Lundstrom said, noting having a baby delayed her entry onto the team.
Roller derby is one of the few contact sports for women and that鈥檚 part of the reason Lundstrom is addicted to it.聽
It鈥檚 safe hitting, she said, but nevertheless, the matches are intense. The calibre of play within the sport has risen tremendously since roller derby made a comeback in the early 2000s. Recently it was even under consideration for the 2020 Summer Olympics.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 the adrenaline,鈥� Lundstrom said, excitement ringing in her voice.聽
鈥淚t is a great group of girls. It is very supportive and encouraging.鈥�
The whistle blows for the Sirens鈥� final game at 7 p.m. with the doors opening at 6 p.m.聽
Lundstrom said she hopes the Loggers鈥� Days event will result in a larger crowd to come cheer them on.聽
鈥淕irls on wheels, boys on loggers. Who won鈥檛 want to see that?鈥�
For more information on the Sirens and their programs, check out their website www.squamishrollerderby.ca or go to the Facebook group 麻豆社国产Women鈥檚 Roller Derby.聽
