Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1913-11-15
CHANGE HOCKEY RULER
Opposition to Plan Calling Tor
Dropping of Rover.
Secretary Won Bernuth Of Amateur
League, Brushes Aside All Arsu-
ments Advanced by Shirreff,
Russell and Other Stars.

Opposition to the plan of eliminating
the rover from hockey teams has de-
veloped since the strong plea of Jimmy
Shirreff and President Russell of the
Hockey association. The first com
plant comes from H. c. Won Bernuth.
secretary of the Amateur Hockey
league. He brushes aside all of the ar
guments advanced by Shirreff. Russell
Dolby and other stars with the theory
that the plea for change is only local
Il am unalterably opposed" he says
ito the dropping OF the rover from the
forward line on our hockey teams and
l shall fight any such move when ii
comes up. | nave carefully read the
reasons for the suggested change and
/ have certainly been impressed with
the list of well known players who ia
vor the shift. To my mind, however, it
would be a mistake, for several rea.
sons. First, those arguing for the
change apparently believe in it only
because of the size, or lack of size, of
most Kinks. 1t is certain that with
larger rink there would be no talk of
any change. The second sound reason
advanced is that the crowded rink has
fOstered shinneying. That fault. | be
lieve, is due more to lax officiating than
TO the presence of four men on the
forward line. A strict penalizing for
cross checking and tripping would
eliminate lot OF that shinneying.
Nov, as to the origin for this want
ed change. Much has been said about
the big professional league of Canada
having adopted the six man team. The
real reason for the dropping OF one
man in that league was economy. As
it has been stated they pay great big
salaries and 1T meant the saving Of one
stipend. Then. again, many of the
stars of that league were drawn off
10 the Pacific coast league of hockey
players, and it left them in a fix to find
enough stars who could play the same
speedy game
1T is not right to my mind to change
the rules here just because New York
cannot boast OF a big rink Now, in
Boston. where the rink is go feet long
and amply broad. you could easily play
five men in the forward line. The
same logic holds good in Syracuse
Cleveland. Yale and Chicago Kinks
where the size is ample for open
hockey. Surprising for the sake Of ar
gument, we were to drop the rover
There would be difficulty every time
we were to play a Boston, Chicago.
Cleveland or college team Further
more, the New York league is looked
upon as the authority in this country.
why should we be the only ones to
have six men TO team? if the pro
ject should eventually go through ia
Canada and. by that mean the anna
teur ranks, it would be time enough
for US to adopt it, So far as / can see
it is purely a matter of a local rink
Rather let US get TO the seat of the
trouble, and that is the rink itself. DO
you suppose that the colleges will
adopt any such change? I don't. Fur
thermore, | am not at all sure that the
plan will ever be adopted by the anna
teIr teams of Canada.
Il am aware that many of the play
ers look forward to the change. but in
several cases it is because they think
it win aid them to get in some spec
tacular work that is almost impossible
now. I shall certainly oppose any
change, even if / am the only one to
voice that opinion"