Kitchener-Waterloo, ON

by Whacks Poetic

The 2014 WFTDA Division 2 Kitchener-Waterloo Playoffs were a series of firsts: first internationally hosted D2 tournament, first European D2 competitor and first Bucky the Beaver sighting. The final game of the tournament would be no different. For the first time in WFTDA history, a playoff final would feature no US teams, with the Rideau Valley Roller Girls from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada taking on Bear City Roller Derby from Berlin, Germany. Both teams had already qualified for WFTDA 2014 Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, but this bout would determine who they play and what color medal would hang around their necks at the end of the night. Gold would suit the Canadian skaters and silver adorned the Germans in a game that was decided by 3 points.

The air was electric as the teams took the track to start the game. Every movement seemed deliberate and every moment worth savoring. Rideau took the lead despite a track cut for Shania Pain in the second jam and Bear City tied it up in the fourth jam 12-12. The fifth jam would see box trips for both Master Blaster and Shania Pain and ended with Rideau being up by 1, 22-21 but with their jammer in the box. Bear City took the lead for the first time in jam 6 with Donner Doro putting up 9 points for the skaters in red.

Master Blaster continued her dominant ways for Bear City, putting up 16 points in jam 9 which left Rideau’s score at half of their German opponents. Rideau was usually successful against Donner Doro and Kozmic Bruise, usually attaining lead jammer in those instances. They brought the game back to one point in the penultimate jam with Austin Tatious scoring 4 points against Kozmic Bruise. Bear City’s Master Blaster, at the end of the half, however, would have 10 lead jammers under her belt in the 13 jams she appeared in and would finish the first 30 minutes with a 23-point jam to bring her team’s lead to 20 points, 127-107.

The second half would see a change in Rideau Valley’s strategy. They focused on minimizing Master Blaster’s playing time with star passes off the line and playing out jams when she wasn’t wearing the star. The game stayed close until a track cut by Austin Tatious when she had lead jammer meant a full 2 minute jam with Master Blaster wearing Bear City’s Jammer cover. Bear City’s lead increased to 32 points, 158-126. The very next jam saw a powerjam for Rideau's Soul Rekker and a foul out for Hannah Murphy.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, the score differential was in single digits once more, 158-149. With just under 10 minutes, the score was even closer 188-185. In the very next jam, however, Rideau failed to field a jammer with Master Blaster on the line for Bear City. Fortunately, for Rideau, Master Blaster didn't land an apex jump and earned a track cut, causing the jam to be called early.

Soul Rekker lined up unopposed for the next jam and re-took the lead for Rideau by 2 points with 6 minutes left, 194-193. Master Blaster grabbed 3 points in the next jam for another lead change. Jam 20 went 2 minutes with both Paulina Pocket and Soul Rekker being not lead. A star pass by Soul Rekker to Sister Disaster would give Rideau an 11-point lead, 213-202 with 3 minutes left.

The final jam saw a typical jammer rivalry, Soul Rekker versus Master Blaster with Rideau Valley up by 5, 225-220. Master Blaster gained lead, but Soul Rekker stayed close behind. The jammers went pass for pass with Master Blaster needing a scoring pass plus one point to tie the game. With 10 seconds left in the jam, Soul Rekker went to the box on a back block. The final whistles blew and the crowd fell silent waiting for confirmation of the final score. Rideau Valley won 243-240.

“This tournament allowed us to see what was working and wasn’t for us. We might spend more time focusing on skill-based stuff," said Master Blaster on what the next couple months will look like. "Most importantly, we need to make sure we can afford to go to Champs. That would be our 3rd trip to North America this year. We only took 11 skaters to this tournament because we couldn’t really afford it. We’ll need to find support to ensure we can take advantage of this opportunity."

Rideau Valley will face the Detroit Derby Girls at the 2014 WFTDA Championships in Nashville, TN. Bear City will face the Fabulous Sin City Rollergirls at the same tournament.

“My team surpassed all expectations and triumphed in the face of adversity," said Rideau Valley Coach Adam.

Final Score

(9) Bear City Roller Derby 240
Rideau Valley Roller Girls 243