Lethbridge youth to join Team Canada at the Junior Roller Derby World Cup. Left to right: Mackenzie Heidinger, Jesse Leger, Kyira Franklin, Abigail Reimer, Myra Moore. Top: Jasper Davis. Bottom: Audrey May. (Photo: Lethbridge Roller Derby Guild)

By Sarah Jones

Lethbridge youth join Team Canada in Junior Roller Derby World Cup

Dec 13, 2022 | 4:09 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Several young hopefuls from Lethbridge will be making an appearance at the Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA) World Cup in Valence, France in 2023.

The Lethbridge Roller Derby Guild has announced that seven of their players will be joining Team Canada next year alongside head coach Caroline Reimer, who will also be doubling as the national coach.

Local skaters Mackenzie Heidinger, 16, and Myra Moore, 14, will be playing on the female division team.

Audrey May, age 15, Jesse Leger, 15, Kyira Franklin, 16, and Jasper Davis, 17, will represent Canada in the open division.

Whereas Abigail Reimer, 16, earned a roster spot on both teams.

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As for Davis, Franklin and Reimer, it’s their second time playing for Team Canada, but will be their first appearance at the World Cup.

Davis explained, “Playing with Canada’s best skaters and travelling to France to face off against the best teams in the world will be an experience of a lifetime.”

Davis went on, “Even though this is my second time qualifying for Team Canada, there was no World Cup last time (due to the pandemic), so I’m very thankful that I’ll still be able to play.”

The youths will face off against teams from the United States, Australia, France, England, New Zealand, Sweden and Denmark.

Coach Reimer explained that skaters from across the country who made the national league will be required to train and practice with their home leagues.

“We hosted tryouts in Alberta and Ontario and over 70 skaters attended as well as accepting video applications. It was amazing to see the representation from across Canada,” Reimer said. “It was important to us (the Canadian coaching staff) that the process was fair and everyone had an equal opportunity to show what they could do on the track.”

Reimer, along with coaches Jenna McLean from Calgary, Raina Owen from Saskatoon and Christine Manders from Kitchener, also plan to host virtual team-building events so skaters can get to know each other.

Two Team Canada practices are scheduled leading up to the July 2023 event and one practice will be in France, prior to the World Cup tournament.

Reimer added, “Roller derby requires trust and communication with all teammates. We’re going to do our best to develop that when we can’t physically be together on the track.”

Roller derby is a full-contact sport played on a flat, oval track, where teams earn and protect points by blocking opposing skaters with their bodies.

Learn more about the Lethbridge Roller Derby Guild on their website.

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