Canada Roller Derby – In the leadup to the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup, Team Canada Women’s Roller Derby is one of three international teams invited by England Roller Derby to participate in the international tournament “Northern HemisFear,” to be held at Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, UK, 5-6 August 2017. 

Competition features World Cup rematches

Besides Canada and England, Team Finland and Team Sweden are also invited to the round-robin tournament, which revives several late-round matchups from the last Roller Derby World Cup in 2014. England is the reigning World Cup silver-medalist, having prevailed over Sweden in the quarter-finals and Canada in the semi-finals. Canada placed fourth in 2014, having eliminated Finland in the quarter-finals. Team Canada expects all four teams to be contenders for the podium at the next World Cup, to be held in Manchester, UK, in February 2018.   

International tournament experience for the full roster 

Team Canada will bring most of its current roster of 31 skaters and development players to Nottingham as part of a quest to solidify its team play. ”This tournament is a perfect opportunity for Team Canada to compete against other national teams prior to the World Cup. It also gives a chance for the athletes to get a taste of the competition they will encounter” at the World Cup, according to Head Coach Jessica Paternostro.

Team Canada focused on World Cup preparation

Since the current team was named in November 2016, Team Canada athletes have been attending monthly training camps or exhibition games, to date facing Team USA, Roller Derby Masculin de Montréal, Team Alberta, and five-time Women’s Flat-Track Roller Derby Association champions Gotham Girls Roller Derby. 

These training opportunities are part of a long-term team development plan aimed at the 2018 World Cup. Says Paternostro, “Our focus is to solidify our game. We have had the opportunities to compete in scrimmages and games, but this will be the first tournament for Team Canada [in this World Cup cycle]. I’m looking for Team Canada to improve and grow stronger with every game. With Canada being so large, we have been working on unity and consistency. We are working hard to make sure our strategy is on point and executed with confidence and precision.” Assistant Coach Bryan Mcwilliam adds, “Our goal throughout the entire journey to the World Cup in February is to keep our process in mind and build towards our goal of reaching the podium at the Cup. The tournament in Nottingham is a stepping stone in our team’s development and progress towards that end goal.” Strength & Conditioning Coach Ian Verchere notes that, “Halfway into our 2018 World Cup mission, this tournament is a chance to assess the results of the hard work the athletes have been doing both on and off the track.”

Team Canada bootcamp and exhibition game vs London men

In the days following the tournament, Team Canada will also coach a bootcamp in Birmingham, UK, on 7 August, and reconvene in London for an exhibition game against Southern Discomfort Men’s Roller Derby on 8 August. 

About Canada Roller Derby

Canada Roller Derby is a non-profit organization founded in 2017, whose mission is to manage Canada’s national roller derby team(s) and to develop the sport across Canada. 

TEAM CANADA INFORMATION

Web:          http://canadarollerderby.com
Facebook:      TeamCanadaRollerDerby
Twitter:     @TeamCanadaRD
Instagram:     @teamcanadarollerderby

EVENT LINKS 

Northern HemisFear tournament information:  http://www.facebook.com/events/1883460565201595

England Roller Derby:  http://www.facebook.com/englandrollerderby/

Team Sweden Rollerderby:  http://www.facebook.com/teamswedenrollerderby/

Team Finland Roller Derby:  http://www.facebook.com/teamfinlandrollerderby/

Southern Discomfort Men’s Roller Derby:  http://www.southerndiscomfort.co.uk