Laken Dodd of DuBois makes Junior Roller Derby Association U.S. World Cup team
Let’s cheer on senior Laken Dodd as she prepares to compete in the 2025 Junior Roller Derby World Cup games this July in Australia! Only 40 were chosen in the United States. Her whole family participates in hockey and roller derby, including her parents and three sisters.
The following article was written by Brianne Fleming at The Progress.
February 26, 2025
At the age of 17, Laken Dodd of DuBois has made the Junior Roller Derby Association U.S. World Cup team, a goal that started out as just a dream for a girl who grew up on roller skates.
Laken, who started skating when she was 4 years old, is the youngest of four sisters, joining Lauren, Morgan and Erika as they began going to the rink regularly in spring 2013. The Dodd sisters joined the junior hockey team at the Reynoldsville Rollerdrome in 2014, said Laken, which they very much enjoyed, taking part in two seasons before they were introduced to the sport of roller derby at Edgewood Family Fun Center in late 2015.
“Our team was called Edgewood’s Little Bruisers,” she said, noting her derby name is “Lakenator #5.”
Laken has played on the Pittsburgh Derby Brats team since February 2022. The team practices in DuBois, she said, and also travels to Neville Roller Drome in Allegheny County twice per month for practices. On the Brats team, Laken said they have traveled to Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, South Carolina and Canada, and as far as Lincoln, Nebraska. She noted that she was also invited to play with the Beastside Roller Derby team in Lincoln, Nebraska in July of last year in the 2024 United States Amateur Roller Sports (USARS) National Championship at Lincoln Stadium.
“The team got to bring home silver medals in the open division, and silver medals in the women’s division,” said Laken.
She also plays roller hockey with the Xtreme Hockey League (XHL) at the Reynoldsville Rollerdrome for fall and winter leagues, and with the Summer Roller Hockey League in Brockway.
There have been several benefits for the Dodd girls when it comes to roller derby, including socialization, teamwork, discipline, sharpening their skating skills and enjoying the sport as a family.
“One main thing I love about derby is that it’s not just a sport, it’s one big family, and everyone works together. Also, hitting your friends for fun is a big plus, too,” Laken jokes.
To make the Junior Roller Derby Association U.S. World Cup team, a player must be “a level three skater,” know how to play the game and have “a strong will to play together as a team,” said Laken, noting that strength, skill and stamina are also important. She tried out for the team twice last year – once in Chicago, Illinois, in July 2024, and again in Philadelphia in September 2024.
Receiving the exciting email was “definitely a relief” for Laken, she said, knowing she made the U.S. World Cup open division team.
“It is such an exciting experience to get to play with such a high level of players – only 40 were chosen from across the country,” she said.
The 2025 Junior Roller Derby World Cup games will be held July 24-28 of this year in Brisbane, Australia.
“Lakenator #5” will be attending two practices with the USA team, most likely in Philadelphia in May and Fort Collins, Colorado in July, before the big team practice in Brisbane, Australia, on July 25.
Laken’s parents, Tony and Katie Dodd – who also participate in the family affair of roller derby – said they are “extremely proud” and excited for their daughter to have this opportunity.
Laken’s ambition doesn’t end there. She will be playing with the Pittsburgh Derby Brats – which includes trips to Columbia, South Carolina, and Indianapolis, Indiana, – as they hope to make the JRDA Championship as a team and travel to Loveland, Colorado, on July 12-13.
In addition, local agencies have stepped up to support Laken’s roller derby venture to Australia. North Point Volunteer Fire Co., Hickory Grange and Duttry’s Tree Service will host a benefit spaghetti dinner from noon-6 p.m. on April 26 at Hickory Grange, 836 Mountain Run Road, DuBois.
She noted that the XHL Hockey League is also in the works of planning an “iron man tournament” in the next couple of months.
For more information on the 2025 Junior Roller Derby World Cup, visit www.juniorrollerderby.org/2025worldcup and the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JRDAUSWorldCupTeams/.
