Photos by Christina Riley
Illustration by Ryan Mesheau

—has no venue to speak of and has staged no competitions,

but judging solely by a surge of media attention, the modern

day incarnation of roller derby has taken Ottawa by storm.

A bevy of stories about the Blackhearts has appeared in print

and online forums and has culminated in a documentary film

produced by students in Carleton University’s master of

journalism program (the film debuted on Thursday, November

29).

Who’s behind it all? Local enthusiast Kelly “Honey Bee”

McAlear noticed the game springing up in Montreal, Hamilton

and elsewhere. She pulled on a pair of fishnet stockings and

started recruiting robust young women for a local squad. The

response was immediate. Formed in May of this year, the

Blackhearts have a full complement of players and are

planning their first “bout” early in 2008.

Roller derby has existed in some form since the 1930s.

The latest brand is all-female and takes place on flat tracks,

not the banked versions popularized in the 1970s.

While Guerilla is typically reluctant to follow trends, we simply

could not resist the opportunity to weigh in on the game’s

 

Roller Derby Rules!

A game (or bout) consists of three 20-minute periods; each
period is composed of “jams” (during which points are scored)
which can last up to two minutes.

Two teams on the track, each with no more than five skaters:
one pivot, three blockers, and one jammer.

The jammer scores points by skating through the entire
pack, lapping the pack, and then passing individual opponents
(one point for each player passed).

o    Grabbing or use of hands
o    Blocking with forearms
o    Tripping, kicking, or blocking with feet/legs
o    Pushing, shoving, punching or holding
o    Swinging elbows
o    Blocking with the head