Cranford's Own 'Junkyard Jet' Rocks a Revived Sport

Mellisa Slavik leads what seems to be an ordinary life. By day she works as an investigator in the asset protection industry. She runs errands, cooks dinner, and feeds her Amazon parrot and calico cat. But three nights a week, this Cranford resident slathers on the makeup, straps on her roller skates and becomes Junkyard Jet.

After a 15-year ice hockey career that started with a stint in the Cranford High School boy’s ice hockey team, this 29-year-old Cranford native attended a roller derby “fresh meat” and greet for Newark’s IronBound Maidens in May 2008 and stuck with it.

“Roller derby was a breath of fresh air for me,” she said. “I was somewhat in a rut with my ice hockey. I wasn't pushing myself as hard as I used to and my overall excitement level was down. Roller derby brought me to a whole different level.”

Roller derby is played with teams of five consisting of a pivot, or pace setter, three blockers, and a jammer. Pivots and blockers form a pack and try to prevent the other team’s jammer from passing them, while simultaneously forming holes for their own jammer to sneak through.

Jammers earn points for their teams every time they pass a skater from the other team. Pivots and blockers may push or whip their jammer forward on the track. Blockers are also allowed to body check rival skaters to keep ahead.

“Every member of the team plays an incredibly valuable role,” Slavik said. “For example, let's say you have a jammer that is a fast skater, but doesn't see the holes in a pack very well. Then you have a blocker that may not be a fast skater, but plays well strategically and knows that you are coming up to the pack. They will know just the right time to make a move to make a hole for the jammer, resulting in a winning play for the team.”

Slavik, or Jet, usually skates as a jammer.

The sport has seen a large resurgence in recent years. Currently there are more than 350 leagues nationwide. Derby officials associate this increase in interest with the invention of flat track derby, which allows the game to be played anywhere there is a flat, skateable surface.

As part of the Garden State Rollergirls league, the Ironbound Maidens play their home games at the Branch Brook Park roller skating center in Newark. The Maidens and their league counterpart, the Brick City Bruisers, compete against teams from other states, including New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. They’ve also been known to play teams from Virginia, Delaware and Philadelphia.

The Rollergirls practice three times a week for one and a half to two hours at a time. Many of the derby girls have lives outside the rink, but that doesn’t mean they can slack off in their rink duties. Participants must be willing and able to commit time and energy to grueling practices, team bonding and game preparation.

“There isn't a practice or bout that goes by where my hair or clothing isn't completely soaking wet with sweat,” Slavik said. “But there is always a sense of accomplishment, and knowing that your team truly supports you and want to see you improve is a wonderful thing.”

Due to the high speed and ferocious nature of the sport, roller derby skaters often have to deal with bruises and other injuries. Slavik learned to never skate without first wrapping her feet in tape to ward off calluses.

“It's all that crossing over in the same direction constantly,” she said.

Garden State Rollergirls play under rules outlined by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, the sanctioning body for most roller derby leagues. The Rollergirls are considered an apprentice league, as they have not yet gained full membership. Once the league receives its full membership, the Ironbound Maidens will be able to participate in national tournaments and appear in national rankings.

“We have very professional and passionate leaders that lead by example and understand that people learn differently,” Slavik said. “No matter what, everyone is made to feel valued. Imagine if that were the case in all work, family and other social environments? The world would be a happier place.”

As for her roller derby name, Slavik blames her fascination with American muscle cars and big trucks.

From a list of 70 or so names, Slavik and her fiance came up with Junkyard Jet to represent their long hours spent rummaging for car parts in junkyards, as well as Slavik's almost-black hair.

"I kept loving then hating everything (like Cole-Slaughter)," she said. "Some names were funny the first and second time around, but I imagined they would become trite down the road. I felt comfortable enough to share [Junkyard Jet] with my coworkers as well as a variety of fans. It's simple, and sounds good when the announcers say it."

The Ironbound Maidens play Saturday against N.E.R.D. at the Boston Derby Dames Championship. Doors open at 8. Whistle at 9. Click here for more information.