New-York tribune., 1911-01-01
HOCKEY FEAST At HAND
Two Championship Series I'd
Begin This Week.
YOUNG PLAYERS DEvEL0PE
New York Athletic Club Seven
Shows Surprising Lack
of Form.

Tho opening games In the amateur learfe
and intercollegiate hockey championships
series will be played this week, and from
now until the end OF March the St Nicho,
las Rink will be filled with whirling sticks
and flying rubber disks
The playing strength Of the contendIna
teams is as yet a matter OF conjecture.
Not less than twenty players have been
utilized for practice by the various cluhS
and so much latent skill has been developed
among the young players who are trying
to make the line that some OF the team
captains are in a quandary regarding tho
final selection OF the men TO play for tbs
trophies.
The New York Athletic Club team. which
opens the season on Tuesday night with ths
team OF the Hockey Club Of New York.
failed to show 10 advantage the other night
In game with the st. Michael team from
Canada. For a team that has twice won
the amateur league championship, and %
conceded to be factor in the final dispo.i.
ton of the trophy. II showed surprising
lack Of ability in all the essentia, reduire-
ments OF good hockey. The players failed
even to approach a standard OF comparison
with the Canadian champions, and unless
material Improvement is made In the plays
ing strength of the team IL is far from
certain that the Mercury Foot will be Ia
the van when the season ends.
Mallon is one Of the new Csnadian plays
ers who has been tried in a game. and ale
though reputed to be a great stick wielder.
having played on several Of the strongest
teams across the border, he failed 10 show
any form here that would justify the pre-
diction that he was going to cut any very
wide swath in the local hockey field. Ma
gor. another Canadian, has shown TO better
advantage In practice. but his ability In an
actual championship game, which is the
only adequate test OF hockey players
skill. is yet TO be determined.
The team Of the Hockey Club Of New
York which is scheduled to open the season
with the New York A. c. on Tuesday night
may give the champions more determined
fght than hockey enthusiasts expect. Billy
Russell. who for many years coached and
captained the team, has retired from active
playing. and the captaincy OF II Is In the
hands Of Jimmy Britton, one or the most
reliable and capable of the younger genera
ton of players. He is handicapped, how
ever. by not having as many expert players
TO draw upon as his rivals. although IN
rast years the club has done surprisingly
well with the material 1t has had at rs
Disposal II is expected that before long
tho team will be strengthened by several
Of the former players Of the wanderers
team, notably Garon and Harmon. Bulger
las already Joined Britton's aggregation,
and is PLAYING in his old-time FORM. 81
The second game OF the series Will hs
piayed on Thursday night, with the ST
Nicholas and Crescent Athletic Club teams
facing the rubber. When the teams began
nractice a month ago II looked as II thu
ST. Nicks would be very much in the cham
p!onshp fight, as the lineup showed Iris.
souther. Chew, Kay Gordon and Brock
Putnam in their accustomed places. with
Fietner defending the cage and a new man
in Baker. the phenomenal playing captain
Of the IT. Paul team, which vanqulshed
Princeton in one OF tho sensational games
Of last season.
According to this lineup. no team in the
league could boast OF superior playing
strength or ability, but when the time came
for Captain Gordon to make iinal selec-
ton of the men 70 comprise the regular
team. Souther, Chew and Putnam declined
TO play, and It was learned that the faculty
had refused Baker permission 10 play on
any outside team. he now being a freshman
at Princeton and ineligible as member
OF this years varsity team by the inter-
collegiate one-year rule.
The Crescent Athletic Club team Is tho
one which is expected 10 tight the Mercury
Footers hardest for the championship
Both teams have now two legs on the cun
and victory this year will decide its final
possession. It IS needless, therefore. TO say
that the team from Brooklyn has been
strengthened I'm every position and Is fully
equal TO the one which captured the ohan-
pionship three years ago
Dufresne. the sturdy little player Tor
merly Of the Wanderers. is a real acquis'-
ton 10 the team. and Shirreh. who deserted
the Crescents 10 join the New York ATM
letic Club. and was a prominent factor in
the latter winning the cup two years IN
succession. has decided 10 reJoin his old
team mates. and will have his old position
as rover. The team is a we'll balanced one
and will be IN the struggle 10 the end. on
Saturday night Columbia and Princeton
will play the opening game IN the inter
collegiate championship series.