Fredericton’s roller derby team is training on a weeknight for their next home game. Everyone knows their role: the players skate, the coaches develop strategies and the referees review the rules.
The Daisy Cutters, the local team, prepares and practices. So do the derby widows.
“The derby widows is a pretty exclusive club,” said Carlos LaBillois, derby widow of player and team captain BlackEye Candy.
Derby widows is the nickname given to the partners of roller derby players. Their membership card arrives as soon as their significant other joins the Capital City Rollers.
LaBillois and other loyal widowers will be at the ringside of the Daisy Cutters‘ next home game on Oct. 12 at Fredericton’s Exhibition Centre.
“We’re a group of guys who all have wives or girlfriends that are playing the sport. We tend to hang out together since, most of the time the wives aren’t with us, but we’re proud and we support them.”
Fredericton’s widows come from every walk of life, from college students to members of the military. They wear the team’s jersey to every game, participating in the regional derby culture often with the entire household.
“We’re a family with kids,” said Colin Fowlie, derby widow of Kill‘Her Watts. “When she’s doing derby things, I tend to be at home with our two daughters, but some other derby widows get involved in the league as referees or non-skating officials. I think it’s awesome.”
Roller derby has existed in Fredericton since 2010. While it doesn’t draw the same attention as hockey or baseball, the widows are devoted to their local team.
“It’s a full sport,” said LaBillois. “There’s rules, referees, penalties, commentators and lots of energy. I love watching, cheering and commentating it.”
The Daisy Cutters have emerged as one of the most competitive group of players in the Maritimes. The girls are committed to their sport with the dedication of professional athletes, but this requires a new perspective on managing a balanced family life.
“It keeps us both involved in our own things,” said Fowlie, who uses this time to play music. “We’ve had to adjust since we’re each going in our own directions a little bit more, but it gives me time to spend with our daughters.”
At bouts, veteran widows meet rookies in the bleachers to talk about the last game and predict the final score. Carlos LaBillois says he’s an “armchair professional” of roller derby, whether he’s in front of his television or sitting behind the players’ bench.
“When I go watch a game in person, I always start with a beer and then I find a couple of friends to sit with. We watch it intently and we love to talk about the game. We even do our own play-by-plays.”
The widows are the lost tribe of the roller derby culture. Their dedication showcases the evolution of the sport’s credibility.
“I like that it’s driven by women, for women,” said Fowlie. “They look after everything and they run the league on their own terms, but they’re also serious athletes.”
On Oct. 12, the Daisy Cutters will play Moncton’s Reines of Terror, a force within the East Coast derby universe. Labillois hopes Fredericton will join the widows to support the hometown heroes.
“I’ve been to games everywhere in the Maritimes. The crowd in Fredericton is quite lively and rambunctious. This city really seems to love derby.”
