The St. Albert Heavenly Rollers Derby League is now a big wheel in the sport as an apprentice affiliate of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.
The WFTDA is the governing body for women’s flat-track roller derby and a membership organization for the leagues to collaborate and network. It created and maintained the first standardized rule set for the flat-track game, now in its fourth edition.
The WFTDA also serves as the sanctioning body for games, hosts tournaments, sets safety standards and provides insurance to athletes and leagues.
“These are very exciting times for our league. We often compare it to being able to join the NHL,” said Celeste Thiesen, a.k.a Petra Phi, vice-president and promotions director for the Heavenly Rollers league.
The WFTDA boosts of more than 250 all-female, skater owned and operated leagues worldwide that have united to lead the growing sport of women’s flat track roller derby.
WFTDA apprentice leagues are considered pre-members of the WFTDA and have access to many of the resources and benefits of full WFTDA members.
Apprentice leagues are matched with veteran member leagues, who guide them in the processes and requirements necessary to become a full member of the association.
“We are only the second league in Alberta (out of approximately 20 leagues) to apply and be accepted into this wonderful organization,” Thiesen said. “There are only approximately 18 WFTDA apprentice or full WFTDA leagues out of about 150 leagues in Canada currently. A majority of the leagues that belong to WFTDA are out of the United States and we are so thrilled that we could join them and help advance the sport of roller derby within Canada.”
The Heavenly Rollers, St. Albert’s first roller derby league, was formed in September of 2010 with the intention of providing a safe place for females 18 years and older of varying backgrounds and athletic abilities to explore the sport.
Thiesen described the Heavenly Rollers as “fearless women athletes” committed to excellence in sportsmanship.
The last bout of the season for the Heavenly Rollers is Nov. 30 against the Greater Edmonton Junior All-Stars. The first jam whistle is 8 p.m. at Metroplex Arena, 11420-112 St.
Tickets are $10 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/500348.
