Roller Games staged several successful trial events in Montreal in 1971–72, leading to the creation of the Canadian National Roller League (CNRL), a joint venture with Roller Derby financed by businessman Norman Olson. The Detroit Devils were rebranded as the Quebec Fleur de Lys or Ontario Monarchs, depending on the venue. Led by Coach Paul Rupert, Larry Smith, jammer Frankie Macedo, and women’s captain Diane Syverson—supported by Canadian Francine Cochu—the squad featured a strong mix of talent, including Buddy Atkinson Jr., Gwen Miller, Donna Fox, and others.

By 1973, the Fleur de Lys faced the visiting L.A. Thunderbirds, who returned after a Jolters series, drawing crowds of 6,000 on weekends and around 2,000 midweek in smaller arenas. Games were held in Montreal and Toronto’s 10,000-seat venues, with tours stretching from Vancouver to Halifax. While television coverage expanded to more than 30 Canadian stations, broadcasts in smaller cities were inconsistent. Players endured heavy travel, sometimes by bus, and morale remained high, though finances suffered from travel costs and Canada’s deep loyalty to hockey.

Team Canada launched in 1974 with Ken Monte as GM, Rupert as coach, and Syverson as captain, backed by skaters like Cochu, Macedo, Larry Smith, Gwen Miller, and Donna Fox. Yet problems mounted: Monte quit in Philadelphia early in the season, and financial instability persisted. The team—known variously as the Fleur de Lys, Canadian All-Stars, Team Canada, and Canadian Braves—continued skating through December 1974 before the CNRL folded, shortly before the demise of the International Skating Conference.