Boston Roller Derby
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| Metro area | Boston, MA |
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| Country | United States |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Teams | Boston Massacre (All-Stars) Boston B Party (Interleague) Train Wrecks (Interleague Rec) Arkham Horrors Cosmonaughties Nutcrackers Wicked Pissahs |
| Track type(s) | Flat |
| Venue | Aleppo Shriners Auditorium, Simoni Ice Rink |
| Affiliations | WFTDA |
| Website | www |
Boston Roller Derby, (BRD), is a flat-track roller derby league based in Boston, Massachusetts. The league was founded in May 2005[1] as "Boston Derby Dames",[2] and was also a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[3] The league's All-Stars, the "Boston Massacre", have been one of the top 25 WFTDA Division 1 teams in the world since the divisional ranking system was introduced in early 2013, and as of October 26, 2015 the Massacre is ranked at 20.[4]
Like most WFTDA leagues, the program is skater-owned and -operated, sporting more than 70 full-time skaters who both skate and work as part of their duties.[5] BRD currently plays at Aleppo Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington for all home team games and Simoni Ice Rink in Cambridge for its all-star matchups against rival teams from around the world.
In late October 2015, Boston Roller Derby announced its new name via press release, as part of a rebrand "to better reflect the diversity of our community".[2]
Contents
Early history[edit]
Boston Roller Derby was founded by Sarah Doom and Ivana Clobber in 2005 after Doom helped found Providence Roller Derby.[6] The league began with three home teams: The Cosmonaughties, Nutcrackers, and Wicked Pissahs. The Boston Massacre, Boston's all-star travel team, began competing the following year. In 2011, Boston added the Boston "B Party", to allow home team skaters to play against neighboring leagues without having to be at the all-star level; in 2012, the B Party became the Massacre's official farm team and B-level interleague representatives.[7]
Boston Roller Derby's Training and Recreation program was also founded in 2012.[8] The program offers newer skaters a place to learn and grow on the league, and allows transfer skaters from other leagues to become acclimated to Boston's skating style and requirements before being placed on a home team.
Teams[edit]
Boston Roller Derby is composed of four home teams, The Arkham Horrors, The Cosmonaughties, The Nutcrackers, and The Wicked Pissahs; an All-Star travel team, The Boston Massacre; an interleague B-team, The Boston B Party; and an interleague training team, the Train Wrecks.[9]
In addition, Boston offers a Training and Recreation program called TRT, for new and transferring skaters who wish to learn how to play roller derby.[10] It is divided up into two levels—non-contact and contact—each named after a line of Boston's MBTA service. Once skaters graduate from the TRT program, they're eligible to be drafted to a home team and to skate with the Train Wrecks. The TRT program accepts new trainees and transfers on a three-month cycle;[11] the application period is approximately one month before the cycle begins.
Boston also provides a training program for those looking to become roller derby officials;[12] current Boston officials have traveled the world[13] representing BRD and the WFTDA.
WFTDA competitive history[edit]
2009[edit]
The Boston Massacre finished third in the 2009 WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament, qualifying them to compete in the 2009 National Tournament.[14]
At the 2009 WFTDA National Championships, Boston defeated the Mad Rollin' Dolls (Madison) in their first-round bout, 104-98.[15] In the second round, quarter finals, Boston was defeated by the Texas Rollergirls (Austin) 111-72, eliminating them from the tournament.[16]
2010-2012[edit]
After losing many founding Massacre skaters to retirement, Boston spent several years rebuilding its roster;[17] the team did not qualify for nationals in 2010, 2011, or 2012, seeing a regional rankings drop from 3rd in the East Region to 7th.
2013[edit]
In 2013, WFTDA abolished the regional ranking system and switched to an international rankings system. As the end of 2013, Boston was ranked 16th in the WFTDA.[18]
Rankings[edit]
| Season | Final ranking[4] | Playoffs | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 13 E[19] | — | N/A |
| 2007 | 14 E[20] | R1 E[21] | DNQ |
| 2008 | 3 E | 7 E[22] | DNQ |
| 2009 | 3 E | 3 E[23] | R2[24] |
| 2010 | 4 E | 4 E[25] | DNQ |
| 2011 | 7 E | 7 E[26] | DNQ |
| 2012 | 7 E | 7 E[27] | DNQ |
| 2013 | 16 WFTDA[18] | 7 D1[28] | DNQ |
| 2014 | 25 WFTDA[29] | 7 D1[30] | DNQ |
References[edit]
- ^ "About". Boston Derby Dames. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ^ a b "Boston Roller Derby Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary with Gender-Neutral Rebranding". Boston Roller Derby. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ Boston Derby Dames (WFTDA)
- ^ a b "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ About the Dames
- ^ February 2010: Massacre vs Providence
- ^ Boston B Party
- ^ The Training and Recreation Program
- ^ "Teams". Boston Derby Dames. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Training and Recreation Team". Boston Derby Dames. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- ^ Join the Boston Derby Dames
- ^ Boston Derby Dames Officials
- ^ Featured Skater: Intejill
- ^ Feelgood, Justice (2009-09-16). "Boston Upsets Charm City To Qualify For Nationals, 156-142". Derby News Network. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ^ Feelgood, Justice (2009-11-22). "2009 Nationals: Capsule Recaps". Derby News Network. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ^ Feelgood, Justice (2009-11-22). "2009 Nationals: Capsule Recaps". Derby News Network. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ^ Boston Massacre Rosters
- ^ a b "2013 Rankings". WFTDA. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "12/8/2006 WFTDA National Rankings", WFTDA [version of 23 February 2007]
- ^ "Current WFTDA Rankings", Derby News Network, October 2007
- ^ "Heartland Havoc", Ohio Rollergirls
- ^ "Derby in Dairyland", Flat Track Stats
- ^ "Wicked Wheels of the East 2009 Eastern Regionals", WFTDA
- ^ "Declaration of Derby", WFTDA
- ^ "Derby in the Burbs 2010 East Region Playoffs", WFTDA
- ^ Nightmare on 95
- ^ WFTDA 2012 East Region 7th Place Game
- ^ "D1 Playoffs: Salem", WFTDA
- ^ "2014 Rankings". WFTDA. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "Rose City Wins WFTDA Playoffs in Charleston". WFTDA. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
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