The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-21
Only 30 Years Old, Born in Can
ada. Has a Great
EVOLVED FROM SKINNY
GAME OF OUR GRAND-DADS
Arena Gives Detroit a Chance
at the Survival of
Sport
By RALPH L. yoNKER.

auONe the uln OF OdShclbdll, NHc iONi
or bowling, and the sizzling OF the hot
stove baseball league all over tho
northern part of the country.
Hockey is a Canadian game. pure
and simple. IL WIS born there, rear
Il there, but will never die there, say
the Maple Leafs.
II first began 10 take shape as q
scientific game. evolving from shinny
some thirty years ago 1t was CRUDE
then. There were only two or three
ules besides that raucous Shiny
on your own side" which every play
|kur demanded Shiny on your own
ide" was the full extent OF the play
trs' demands once, for that was the
only rule OF the ancient game.
Shiny, Il must be understood, was
the highly scientific sport INDUCED In
by our grandfathers, who were for
tainate enough TO live IN the north,
sghen they played hockey from school.
A battered tin can, q block OF wood
or a piece OF rubber, sticks with
harply curved ends or knot, and
hardy young fellows on skates were
the sinews OF war The object OF the
came was to bat the projectile into
a goal. one side trying for the goal
at one end of a half a square or Ice,
T and another for the one at the other.
From this crude game, which no
country has the nerve TO claim as us
own, hockey originated. II prosper
| I'd first in Canada In 1SS74it was
introduced in it's half organized state
into Quebec, the first big city TO rec
ognize its possibilities.
That same year the Amateur Hook
ey Association OF Canada was organ
lied. In 1890, the Ontario Hockey
association, now powerful factor
in Canada, was completed.
Canadian students attending Brown.
CorneJl. Harvard and Yale introduced
he sport into their colleges and II
became very popular. Then 1t died
down, but was again revived recently.
II was very popular IN northern
Michigan few years ago. There
gere professional teams al Houghton,
,alumet. and the 500" which, with
pittsburgh, formed professional
Jockey league. II was just as absorb
ng as baseball Special wires from
each' rink to other towns in the league
ept fans informed OF the progress OF
he big games, play by play.
Professionalism gave rise 10
frutality and brutality brought the
ame into disrepute. something that
bnly several years Of amateur hockey
as eradicated.
The demands OF the players who
we're secured from Canada for the
Jockey league became so enormous
hat the salary burden began TO be
more than the capacity OF the rinks
ould stand. The heyday was ex.
ensive, but 1t was great sport while
lasted.
II was only after the completion OF
he Arena. Detroit's artificial ice rink,
hat Ddtroiters could have taste of
he game. They got their bite last
ear and Manager Brown was SO en-
outraged by the way they swallowed
hat and begged for more that he has
made provisions for better hockey
or more people this winter.
Hockey as seen outdoors or in cold
arns OF rinks is not hockey ss seen
IN artificial Ice from comfortable re-
erved seats with warmth and re-
reshment on hand In fact these
omforts might be dfsdained by the
Id time fans, as knee protection is
lstained by the kiltied Scots, but the
ew generation, accustomed I'd the
ters or halls In which to be amused
not at all backward in taking ad-
antage OF the comforts OF the mod.
rn rink
II Is unnecessary to explain that
ockey is played by seven men on u
ide. all OF whom are on skates, that
Dur OF the men, called forwards have
their duties the advancement of
he puck, or rubber disk, into the
nemies' territory where IL can be
hot into cage or goal on the Ice,
md that three OF the men, on de
nse, spend their efforts In attempts
prevent the opposing forwards
Eom shooting the goals.
Sticks are used to propel the rub
er disk. The skill OF an experienced
layer I'm handling his stick and his
tates is q revelation to those who
lore fast work. To the strategiau
be team work anil tricks OF n good
even are eye-opening. To the lover
tHHaaHlteFatea excitement hockey
t.
The Arena seven opens its season
a week, playing games hero Nov
and 30 with Cley eland, their rivals
last year. Six men have been prac
cally picked for the seven II il
Ither amusing to old-tlme fans Il
ear that the seventh rosition, left
ing, is still In doubt because a man
no can shoot from tile left side
hsn,t been found. All the old-timers
build shoot from either side or back
ards II need be.
Professionalism is what the Arena
Management Is guarding against
rutality Is what Il must eliminate
together II the sport is TO continue
grow In the future as II has in ths
,st. Thus far there has been nc
casion 70 kick. Officials must see
at this state Of things is preserved