L.A. Derby Dolls vs. L.A. Fire Department- Jan. 14 Charity Event

Come out and support your L.A. Derby Dolls when they take on the L.A. Fire Department in a charity broomball event in downtown!

DOWNTOWN ON ICE AT PERSHING SQUARE HOSTS CHARITY BROOMBALL CHALLENGE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF L.A. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND L.A. DERBY DOLLS

LOS ANGELES -- Testosterone verses estrogen, bring it on... No guarantee of a sweeping victory for either team in the Los Angeles Fire Department verses L.A. Derby Dolls Broomball Challenge game Thursday, January 14 at Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square. Members of the LAFD face off against Southern California’s premiere women’s banked track roller derby league at 9:00am in a seriously fun game that promises to be a thrill to watch, despite the ruling of no “checking, blocking or hitting.” Armed with only athletic shoes, helmets, brooms and a winning game plan, the action promises to be a spirited showcase of thrills and spills between the sexes.

Attendance is free but donations are appreciated to benefit the LAFD Widows, Orphan and Disabled Fireman’s Fund. The team’s members from Fire Station #9 downtown and other outlying stations have been hard at work developing their game.

“We stay in shape with our jobs and training is a part of our lifestyle, so we’re confident that we will be able to run them up and down the ice for the full hour,” says Fire Captain Justin Bactat who also captains the team. But, according to L.A. Derby Doll Tae Kwon Ho, “The LA Firefighters are true heroes so it’s a real shame that we’ll have to kick their butts!”

The Broomball Challenge is a part of the community outreach programs from the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks that hosts the annual winter holiday rink at Pershing Square in the heart of the city at 532 South Olive. The 12^th Annual Downtown on Ice outdoor skating rink debuted November 19, 2009 and will remain open everyday through Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2010. The last day features a free afternoon concert performance by Urban Dread. As the largest outdoor holiday skating rink in Los Angeles with the lowest admission price, a session is just $6 and skate rentals $2. Underground discount parking is available with validation. For more info and a detailed session schedule go to www.laparks.org and click to Pershing Square or call 213/ 847-4970.

For more info on The Derby Dolls, who have their next bout January 23, 2010 when the Sirens take on the Varsity Brawlers, visit www.derbydolls.com/la