The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-18
A Virginan Page for Each Member of the Family
CANADIAN WINTER SPORTS
by FREDERICK ). HAsKIN.

| Canada Is the home of winter sports
on this continent, and as soon as
Jack Frost makes his appearance the
people of the Dominion prepare to
make merry. The great number of
healthful, tnyigorating outdoor pas
times and sports makes 1t a gala sea-
son for ALL January and February
are the months when the sports are
probably at Their best, especially in
Montreal. as the Ice carnival Is held
there during that time. To the ma
tjority of Americans, who know little
or nothing of the Joys resulting from
months of snow, the thought of tobog-
coming, ski-running, skating and Ice
yachting suggests severe weather, The
truth of the matter Is that the Ca
madam climate is far superior to it's
reputation. The bracing effect Of
northern air Is shown In the rosy
checks of the women and the active,
robust types OF men that are encoun-
tered on every hand.
Hockey Is the great winter game OF
Canada, and the Dominion players are
the finest in the world. 1t Is played
upon the ice. and all participants, In
Guiding the referee, wear skates. The
contests occur both in Kinks and out
I
team, and all carry stout hickory
clubs with curved ends, something
/ like the old-fashioned Skinny sticks OF
ireland. At either end of the Ice field.
which must be at least fifty yards in
length, there is a goal consisting of a
net strung on a framework. A round,
fiat piece of solid rubber. called a
puck. is put in motion, and the con-
testing sides struggle to land this live
ly missile in the oppositions goal. A
hockey match Is pronounced by all
authorities to be one of the most ex-
citing games played In any country.
1t is exceedingly fast. and from the
spectators point of view uncommon
ly rough. 1t appears so on account
of the high rate of speed which the
players attain. They come together
In their scrimmages with momen-
Etum that shakes the onlooker's teeth.
No one without plenty of grit has any
business in a hockey match, because
there are always stars and sparks a.
plenty while the game is yet young.
Although the puck may he lifted
from one end of the field to the other
ION the fly" II Is generally advanced
on the ice by short, swift passes from
player to player, all maneuvering and
shifting with lightning-like rapidity
TOR position and advantage. While
clever stick handling Is, Of course. a
requisite, the main essential of an
expert hockey player is good skating.
and these matches AFFORD marvellous
exhibitions of the art. The astonish-
ing feature of the game. in the eyes
of the novice, is the force OF the col
lisions between the players and the
manner in which all seem TO invite
danger from this cause. A much
y; AP lea az tai
the contestants than Is possible in any
game played on foot, yet they come
together with no seeming regard for
the consequences. II Is quite remark
able that serious accidents are so few
in number. A hockey match is play
ed in two thirty minute halves. with
an intermission of ten minutes. 1t is
characteristic that almost all experts
at this game are small of stature.
Lacrosse Is not winter game. yet
It always must be mentioned in the
same breath with hockey, because the
principles OF the two are similar and
both are native TO Canada, Lacrosse
is the national sport OF the Dominion.
More people can be mustered for q
championship exhibition of this favor
tie game than possibly could be gotten
together ON any other occasion.
Whether 1t Is because there is a stick
to handle. or that 1t requires grit. II
Is conceded that lacrosse Is an Irish
mans game. The Shamrocks, of Mon
treal, have been the worlds cham
pions most Of the time during the past
fifteen years, and the list of players
during that period shows more Muir
phys than any other name.
Lacrosse was originally an Indian
game. 1t was played in the open
country with an unlimited number
of players upon each side. In the bis
games which were played on certain
occasions one entire tribe would be
pitted against another. Later. when