New-York tribune., 1918-01-28
Hockey World
Faces Renewal
OF Old War
Restoration of Wellington to
Amateur Standing Stirs
Up Rumpus

Signs are not wanting that the war
in hockey circles, that started and was
then stifled last year, is about to be re-
newed, and this time with more de-
termination than before. The gauntlet
has been thrown down by the American
Amateur Hockey League, backed up by
the various Canadian associations, and
the challenge will probably be accepted
by the international Skating Union,
which has been taking prominent part
in hockey this season.
The trouble that is about to have
another airing is over the amateur
question, and began last year, when
Alexander Wellington, now Of the Wan
dcrcrs Hockey Club, was declared a
professional by the Ontario Hockey
Association and the American Amateur
Hockey League. Raymie Skilton and
George Cav, of Boston, and the entire
Pittsburgh team we're also barred from
the amateur ranks.
All Get Whitcwashed
Just when the accusations we're fly
ing thick and fast, and it seemed as
though there would not be a single
amateur player left in this country or
Canada, the whole thing was called of
and everybody received a liberal coat
of whtewash.
Wellington, although n member OF
the Wanderers this season, has not
played with the team at the St. Mich
olas Rink this season, but is scheduled
to make his first appearance at the
local rink this evening, when the Wan
dcrers play the powerful Arena seven
from Boston. Until last week, Well
ington was debarred from competing as
an amateur because of charges regis
tered against him by the Ontario
Hockey Association.
On Thursday, however. Cornelius
Fellowes, president Of the International
Skating Union, announced that, as
result of trip he had made to Canada,
he had succeeded in having Wellington
restored to good standing and that here
after Duke" would play regularly with
the Wanderers.
No sooner had this announcement
been made than the Amateur Hockey
League injected itself into the situa-
ton. Last night an official of the
league announced that every team in
of which the Wanderers seven is
member, will be declared professionals.
and that the games for the famous
Art Ross Trophy, of Canada. will never
be played, for the very good reason
that the Canadian associations will not
recede from their position.
Two Others Ineligible
To complicate the situation J.
Frank Facey, of the registration COM
mittee of the New England associa
ton Of the A. A. u, stated last week
that Skilton and Cav we're ineligible
to play amateur hockey and warned
teams throughout New England that
they would be declared professionals
ii they competed against any team of
which Skilton ard Cav were members.
The present controversy finds the
Amateur Athletic Union in peculiar
position. Supposed to guard zealously
the sanctity Of amateur athletics, the
A. A. |. gave its sanction to the res
toration Of Wellington to amateur
! standing. and granted the International
Skating Union jurisdiction over anna
teur hockey. 1t looks like war to the
knife now. with the American Amateur
Hockey League and the Canadian
bodies standing with their backs to the
wall against the International Skating
i Union, and possibly the A. A. L.
The A. II. L. will hold a meeting
next week for the purpose of discuss
ing the entire situation, and at this
meeting will bar every player in the
country who has played against Well
lngton. Cav and Skilton. Startling de-
vclopments may be looked for in the
near FUTURE