Slocan Valley Vendettas knock off Salmo to register inaugural victory; Rossland/Trail too hot to handle for Castlegar Dam City
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Move over girls, there’s a new team on the horizon ready to take charge.
The Slocan Valley Vendettas pulled off the surprise of the night, knocking off league power Salmo’s Babes of Brutality 181-154 in West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby League action Saturday at the Selkirk College Gymnasium.
The win was the first of the season for the Vendettas.
“We are so excited to say that we won our first bout of the season against the Babes of Brutality and it is our first regular-season win to boot,” said a Vendetta spokesperson.
“We have been working so hard and it feels awesome to get a win.”
In the other game, the Rossland/Trail Roller Girls dumped host Castlegar Dam City Rollers 204-167.
The Nelson Killjoys, the other squad in the five-team league had the night off.
The story of the Slocan Valley win was penalties. And the Babes were whistled for most of the infractions.
“This is not a game of points, it is a game of penalties,” said one of the Babes skaters.
“Those with the most penalties lose the game.”
Starting the game with only nine skaters, the Babes saw that roster deplete very quickly as three players were lost during the first period.
The result saw a patchwork Babes squad no match for the Vendettas as the Slocan Valley squad skated to victory during the second half.
“We have been working so hard and it feels awesome to get a win,” the Slocan player said.
In the other contest, Rossland/Trail needed to come from behind to grab the victory.
Dam City Rollers jumped all over the Rossland/Trail, taking advantage of early jamming penalties to open a 40-point lead.
However, the penalties shifted over to the Dam City squad allowing Rossland/Trail to take over in the second half en route to the large victory.
The teams take a few weeks off before the all-star squad, Kootenay Kannibelles host Spokane Spokannibals Saturday, June 1 at Selkirk College.
The other game has Dam City Rollers playing Kamloops.
