小蓝视频

ESTEVAN — Roller derby has been a part of Estevan's Cecilia McCaskill's, 16, life for about eight years.

Now she is shooting at becoming a part of 20 Team Canada athletes who will be travelling to Brisbane, Australia, to compete in the Junior Roller Derby World Cup in July 2025.

The first tryout was in Lethbridge, Alta., last May. McCaskill went there with two other skaters from Estevan and was a part of roughly 54 athletes attempting to make it to the next level, which she did. The following weekend, there was another tryout in Ontario with just 43 rollers showcasing their skills

"I found out on Canada Day I made the top 30," McCaskill said in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday. "There's only two people from Saskatchewan that made it, and it's just me from Estevan.

"I was super excited. Initially, they sent me an email on Canada Day saying that I made it, and then, an hour later, they sent me an email saying that I didn't make it. They mixed up emails. The email saying that I didn't make it was supposed to go to another kid. I was very confused. And then I emailed them back, and it was just a huge relief," she shared.

The next tryout is in early September in Chilliwack, B.C. Ten more athletes will get cut at that point, and the remaining 20 will become a part of Team Canada for 2025. Then there will be two more practices and a tournament in the U.S., McCaskill noted.

"I'm nervous, that's for sure, but it'll be fun," she said. "It's a good experience, whether I make the team or not, because the first day is an eight-hour practice, and the second day is a five-hour practice. So it's just a good experience, and it's definitely going to be very humbling."

To help cover the travel expenses, McCaskill started a bottle drive fundraiser in Estevan.

"I am doing a SARCan fundraiser to help pay for expenses to fly and hotel for this first trip, and more will follow if I make the team," McCaskill said.

"If you have any bottles or cans you would like to donate, please private message me and we can talk about how to get the cans. I would appreciate it so much," she said in her post on social media.

McCaskill asked people to reach out to her through her Facebook page to arrange for donation pick-up. People can also use the Estevan Roller Derby drop-and-go account at SARCAN in Estevan with the code "derby rocks".