Estevan roller derby star selected for Team Canada

ESTEVAN - Estevan's Cecilia McCaskill is going to be part of Team Canada at the Junior Roller Derby World Cup in Brisbane, Australia, in July 2025.

McCaskill, a 17-year-old who skates under the name of Fireball, was one of 20 athletes selected after two tryouts. The first was in Lethbridge, Alta., just before the start of summer vacation, and the other was with 29 other hopefuls from across Canada in Chilliwack, B.C., in early September. She learned in mid-October that she had been selected, despite battling illness while in B.C.

She endured eight hours of auditions the first day while battling an undiagnosed case of bronchitis. And she had to sit out the second day due to food poisoning.

"I tried staying optimistic," said McCaskill in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday. "I was pretty positive about the whole thing, and I talked to the Team Canada coach … and she just said she'll take everything of what I did the Saturday. I was very confident with what I did and it worked out pretty good for me."

Coachability, skill and attitude were three attributes Team Canada was looking for. McCaskill has played all three positions – blocker, pivot and jammer – but lately has largely been a pivot. When skating for Team Saskatchewan, she has been a jammer more than any other role.

She has not been told which position she will play for Canada, but she believes her versatility contributed to her selection.

"It's a good part of being part of a small-town team, where you're not just stuck playing one position and you can't do anything else, so I think that helps out huge," she said.

The skaters will come together in Halifax in February and later in Ontario, giving them an opportunity to further both their skills and their teamwork.

"It will be three days of team stuff and just working on drills," she said.

McCaskill believes roller derby is a unique sport. Despite its physical nature and competitiveness, everybody is so welcoming and nice, she said, and if she gets injured, everybody is there to support her.

"As soon as the tryout was done, I had people messaging me, asking if I was okay and if I was feeling better. Throughout the week, all of them were checking up on me. It's just such a good, welcoming community. And it's a full-contact sport that doesn't involve running."

She entered roller derby after watching a close family friend play. McCaskill thought it was great and she wanted to try something different. But she had to wait a year until she was old enough, and she has now been playing for eight years. The local Junior Coaler Rollers program made a big difference in her development.

"All of the coaches that I've had have given different input and have really just shaped who I am as a player," said McCaskill. 

One of her coaches, Ella Gudmundson, also played for Team Canada, and Gudmundson pushed the athletes to be better and smarter skaters. The two have talked about what to expect from an international event.

"It's going to be so physically and mentally exhausting, but she said she had the time of her life, and it's one of the best experiences she's ever done. It's just going to be very exhausting, but worth it."

McCaskill held a bottle drive before going to B.C., enabling her to pay for the trip. She hopes to have a similar fundraiser, using the code TCDerby at SARCAN. A 50-50 draw is slated to occur in November. McCaskill is thankful for the support she has received from the community, her teachers and her employer as she continues to have great experiences in her sport.