Border City Brawlers Search for Original Derby Skaters from 40s/50s

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The Border City Brawlers have often heard “back in the day” stories from others that played roller derby, but now the league hopes to actual find and connect with seniors who played roller derby in its heyday.

“Roller derby is seeing a rise in popularity now but there was a time when it was huge in North America,” says Nicole Dupuis, head of public relations for The Border City Brawlers.

While the league would like to reach players from the 70s, their main focus is players from the 40s and 50s who would have played a game that’s very similar to today’s version of the sport.

“A lot of the 70s derby was scripted…almost like wrestling, but back in the 40s, it was a very competitive and athletic sport,” adds Dupuis. The main difference between derby then and derby now is the amount of safety equipment that players are required to wear.

The Border City Brawlers hope to conduct a series of interviews with players and document the stories for a future project.  Anyone with leads should contact Nicole Dupuis at (519) 817-8875 or email [email protected].