New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-16
HOCKEY LOVERS
ALL STIRRED UP
OVER THE RULES
Fifty-seven Varieties OF IDEAS
Offered for the Proposed
Six-Man Game.
HOW ONE RULE WOULD WORi<
Reasons Why Free Substitution or
Players Could Be Made a
Menace to the Sport.

Proposed changes in the playing code
row form the principal topic Of conVersa-
ton in the hockey world. Wherever en-
thusiasts gather rules are discussed ana
the committee which is drawing up the
laws for the siX-man game has almost as
many suggestions as there are sands on
the seashore. 1t is interesting to delve
into some OF the proposed changes and
see why certain clubs are SO strenuous In
advocating various measures.
The followers OF one of the clubs are
enthusiastic over n proposed change that
would permit the reconstruction Of play
ers. In the ranks Of this organization are
several veterans who are getting pretty
old to stand the strain OF hard hockey
game.
With a rule that would permit the re-
substitution OF players II would be pos
sible for these men to play until they are
tired. drop out OF the game, rest and then
return TO the fray.
Another ORGANIZATIONS with hardly
enough men to get out a fun team. is
anxious TO limit the substitutes to two
men. unless injury compels additional
men "a take the ice Probably the most
astonishing rule regarding substitutes that
has been advanced relates 10 the subsu-
tuition Of players when men are ruled out
OF the game for foul play.
According TO those who have advanced
the rule. the idea comes from the Mont
real city League. which this year has
adopted the siX-man game. The purpose
Of the rule is always to keep siA men on
each side. Those who advocate the rule
contend that the regular team starts at
the beginning OF the game ana when a
man is ruled out and a substitute is al
lowed 10 take the ice the team suffers
through the loss OF its regular player.
one player said yesterday.
How the Canadians ever passed Such
q rule is mystery. a. IL opens the way
for about az raw work as could POSSIBLY
be pulled IN a game % hockey. say t""
teams are to PLAY and one side has an
exceptionally good man. All that the
other team need DO IL 10 send In poor
but rough player with orders 10 get
the good man out Of the game. even
though he IL ruled of in tho attempt
the poor player has accomplished his
purpose and one team loses It's star Will"
the other only loses a poor player ana
substitutes it, regular man Certainly
such a rule never should be- passed In the
Amateur flookey League
The question Of playing three periods
OF fifteen minutes each instead Of two
periods of twenty minutes each Is not
meeting with the approval Of several OF
the clubs.
The local rink management does not
Ike the !lca. az II viii lengthen the game
BY about a half hour II also IS con
tended that the six -man game * not gong
10 be 50 strenuous a. generally mag
iucd. and that there Is no need OF any
change I'm the playing periods.
The special committee on rules is made
W Of James O'Brien. lrlsh-American
Athletic club. Richard Condor. Wan
dercrs Hockey club. and William Dolby.
Crescent Athletic club.
These men have been in communication
with the various leagues in Canada and
have gathered considerable data. How
over. the ideas are so much at odds with
what Is considered good hockey I'm New
York that there is strong probability
there will be no changes advocated.
The first game of the season will he
played on Thursday night at the 81.
Nicholas Rink II will bring together
Princeton and St Paurs School. OF Con-
cord, y ". II f. one Of the big fixtures
OF the hockey season and always packs
the rink with crowd that would look
at home on a first night OF the opera
ST. Pauls School has an excellent team
and orc that often defeats the college
men. The game. therefore. is bound Co be-
keen and interesting.