Woodstock, Ontario’s own roller derby club, the Misfits, kicked off their season on March 9 with a double-header of derby action.
The day started with an open skate on the roller rink, designed to attract youngsters on March Break and get them interested in the sport. The competitive portion featured two bouts from the South Ontario Derby Association, with the Killer Queens taking on the Striking Vikings in A Division action, and the Bombshell Battalion battling the Rebel Affliction in the B North Division.
First popularized in the 1940s, the sport of roller derby consists of ‘jammers’ attempting to score points by passing members of the opposing team, who can defend with full-contact challenges. Like other roller derby clubs, the Misfits stage competitive games for skaters of all levels, from matches between local clubs to all-star bouts against representatives from other cities.
The SODA league was formed in 2018 to help grow the game outside the Greater Toronto Area, and ensure that clubs in the region have regularly-scheduled matches. The season typically consists of about ten games, and culminates in a champion being crowned.
The grassroots revival of roller derby is a combination of punk-rock attitude and hard-working community organizing. Local clubs use colourful poster printing and banner printing to attract both players and spectators. At the same time, the sport is known for being welcome to new players of all shapes, sizes, and ability levels.
