New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-18
&:.<,&> -@..2Au41
ROUGH PLAY THREATENS ITS POPU.
LARITY
THEY HAVE BEEN-THE GAME A GREAT
FAVORITE HERE


THEY HAVE BEEN-THE GAME GREAT
FAvoRITE HERE
Ice hockey IL far too fine a sport 10 lose Ito
good name so early in its American career II
was imported from Canada only few years
ago, and in the last two winters has sprung
into wonderful favor. but it is now threatened
by a neW--Or. rather old-danger, and those VINO
have the best interests OF the game at hear'
should spend every effort to prevent the threat
ened blight AS in football lacrosse and other
games where the physical contact OF the players
is so frequent. the chances for rough play ana
foul tactics are constantly occurring in fass
hockey match From the very 'face-on or 'he
muck 10 the last try for goal just before the
whistle blows the players are always so ciose
to one another that tripping, charging and even
striking with the sticks is possible IN the hea'
Of the struggle.
Last winter the championship matches Of the
Amateur Hockey League were seriously marreo
by the constant charges OF roughness that were
made against a number OF the players. Wheh
they couldn't stop an opponent By fair means
they tried foul and when they coulo not get
the puck from him they managed 10 bring nm
down nv tripping Some OF this rough play leo
~ blows and in several games hockeys were
used for other purposes than advancing the
puck. All Of this disguised the spectators, and
al the same time the players who beheVeo IN
honest play. II 1t is not stopped TINS winter
the better element among the lovers OF the game
may give it UP in disgust.
WHERE THE DANGER LIES
II will be remembered that lacrosse was ser1-
ouelv hurt by the roughness imported by the
Indians and professionals from Canada and the
game has never fully recovered from the black
eve IL got when these brutal matches sickeneo
the onlookers Football has been threatened py
a similar curse. and efforts were MADE IN sew
eral States to prohibit the game by law De
cause OF brutality Of play. Reform was touhd
necessary in the rules and strictness OF en-
forcing them in both lacrosse and FOOTBALL ana
now the same danger has come TO Ice hockey.
and It is our turn to keep UP the good name OF
American sport by stopping roughness on the
ice before II is too late.
As IN the case Of lacrosse. which was also I'M
ported from the Canadians. the first rough play
in the American hockey matches was largely
attributed to two or three newly imported play
ers But all the roughness was not confned 10
the Canadians. for there were several NOME
bred PLAYERS who were quite as urfair In their
play. In one exciting match the players OF the
visiting team went 10 the extent OF lying down
on the ice before their goal posts, IN order 10
prevent the other side from scoring. Shouioer.
ing tripping and charging from behind were Oh
frequent occurrence by members or TINS team;
That the very best hockey. however, is tne
cleanest hockey was shown last winter by the
crack Victoria team that played TWO eaN'es u.
the St Nicholas Pink. They came uoWh i.oIi
Montreal with the reputation OF being the pest
team in the Dominion. and their play fuliy Jusll-
fed their reputation. But what was most hotice.
able about the games in when tney LOOK pats
was the entire absence of anything ike roush
play Their men depended upon fast ska,ins,
quick lodging and clever passing ana s no Ing
OF the puck to score for them. ana II ala the
work every time. Those VINO saw these cana
dams were convinced that rough pay was Only
a poor substitute for good play, ana that II was -
most often adopted 10 cover up the weakness or
a moor PLAYER II he couldn't stop an opponent
re charged against him. and II he couidn get
the puck away from him he tripped MN
These abuses are not the fault or the rules.
for they prohibit all forms OF rough play, ana
distinctly specify tripping. striking ana charg-
ing from behind 1t Is n1t Per' ha snouIdsr
vel this rule was constantly broken last winter
in the matches without warning or ulsqualhca-
ton by the referees Few aduluohs 10 'ne
rules that cover unfair play. perhaps, or niue
more precise wording here and there may make
the duties of the referee more PLAIN put. on ths
whole the fault does not rest with the rules.
THE REMEDY FOR ROUGH PLAY.
The referees were to blame for 1t last year.
They had discretionary power 10 disqualify
n,aver for the slightest sign Of unfair play, but
they did not use IT, In few cases the or
tenders were ruled off the ice for few minutes
or for the rest Of the game. but these penalties
were far too few when the number OF offences
Is considered: and the impunity with which the
rules were broken is what encouraged the few
unscrupuous players to continue their rough
play and foul methods
What we need In hockey is a fearless man TO
do the work that Paul Dashiel has done Tor
football-a man who has the moral courage to
disouality an offender In this line at the hrst
break: not one who will yarn and warn again.
and then turn his back so as not 10 see the next
offence but one who will instanty rule on the
ice the first offender We need umpires who
will frown down on the slightest evidences OF
rough play and who have the moral courage OF
their convictions to enforce the laws To the let'
ter The rules give them the power TO penanzs
a team that shows rough tactics by disquaniy'
ing its players and all that Is needed Is the men
to enforce them. ,
II is a lack OF competent, fearless umpires
that threatens the popularity OF the sport, TOT
only when the spirit as we'll as the letter OF the
laws ia enforced rigidy against unlawful rough.
ness will the game thrive and keep It's presses
nigh nosition among the lovers or winter spoeN
we must have cleaner play this winter ana u
rules must be enforced.
Mc,e~ Appes,s-