Ottawa's new all-female roller derby team is upset that it's losing its practice space just months after it formed, and is calling on municipal officials to help the '60s glamour sport make a comeback.

The Bytown Blackhearts were ousted from Brewer Arena less than two weeks ago when the arena was flooded to form an ice surface for the city's hockey players.

"It's kind of frustrating," said team founder Kelly McAlear, whose "skate name" is Honey Bee. "I don't really understand why the city's not jumping on this."

McAlear said roller derby has become a "big deal" in Montreal, where rock bands and burlesque performers entertain fans between bouts of rough-and-tumble roller racing by women clad in kneepads, miniskirts and trademark fishnet stockings.

She envisions a similar scene developing in Ottawa, with some support.

She added that lots of other groups could benefit from the type of practice space needed by her team, which was formed in May.

"There's also the roller bladers that want to have somewhere to skate in the wintertime," she said. "I think it's important to have a facility for the youth. There's not a lot to do in this city."

For now, the Blackhearts' 20 skaters have been practicing their high-speed racing, jumps, whips and cross-overs on outdoor parking lots, but they're seeking an indoor space for the winter.

Team member Lila Younis, also known as "Lulu," said the group needs a large warehouse without any pillars or obstructions.

"We are skating pretty fast and bumping into each other," she said. "And the last thing we want to do is smash into something solid and get injured."

She said it's unlikely the team will find another hockey rink to use at this time of year.

"I'm sad about it quite honestly and I'm really really hoping that we can find [another] space."

Roller derby, which was popular in the '60s, involves one player racing around a track on roller skates and passing players on the opposing team to score points, while teammates block opponents from scoring.