The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-27
Popularity Of Ice |
Hockey Shows Big
Increase This Year
Approximately 500 Players Ard
Drawing Salaries Ranging
From IS, 900 to $4,000
BY VERNE DE GER


Ice hockey is a game that cannot
be explained easily on paper. Ono
must get first-hand introduction toI
appreciate It's fine points. The aver.
age American has to attend several
games TO really understand the sport
because the action is so fast and the
umpire's whistle or bell sounds So
frequently that 1t requires time toI
find out what 1t is all about.
But the increased attendance shows
Americans are learning and taking to-
ice hockey with much enthusiastic
This can be seen from the fact thatI
indoor ice palaces cannot be built fastl
enough to meet the demands Of in.l
creased patronage.
An idea Of the growth Of the baby
sport Is found in q survey of pro-
fessional hockey at the start of thel
l928-l929 season. One major leAgue|
circuit, embracing ten teams. was
ready for action. Five minor leagues
with total of % teams were also
set for play. Fourteen states, repre-
sented by % teams. had franchises
and half dozen other cities were
seeking franchises.
Similar 10 Baseball
The organization of these clubs
borders on that Of the professional
baseball leagues.
Frank Calred, q red-headed Eng
lishman who began life In Canada as
sports writer. is the Judge Lands"
Of organized professional hockey.
He holds the office Of president Of
the National Hockey League, tl1el
majors" Of puck-chasing, and also
serves as the commissioner of all
other minor organizations.
The major hockey league is divided
into two divisions-the International
group, with four Canadian clubs and
one American club, and the Ameri-
can group with five American clubs.
They play schedule of % games at
home and % games abroad. Nike
baseball, they can draft fellows from
the minor leagues.
The minor organizations are labeled
the American Association, the Amer.
lean League, the Pacific Coast League,
the California League and the Cana.
dian League.
The city farthcst south that has
a franchise in q league is Tulsa. Okla.
Ice hockey is played in Texas at
Houston. Dallas and Austin. and
many cities, like Cleveland, Balti-
more and Rochester, arc in the mar
ket for q franchise in some league.
500 Draw Salaries
Approximately 500 players are
drawing salaries for their services as
professional hockey stars this whittier. |
In the major circuit, the average SAIL
airy for four months work is around
$4,000. Outstanding performers get
as high as $4,000. These players are
bought and sold. as they are in base.
ball, and the price is going up stead
lily. The Montreal Canadiens refused
$4,000 for their star player, Howie
Moren: this year.
A franchise is worth $4,000. Some
have been sold for more. And some
clubs would cost hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars If a purchase could
be arranged.
Sport Is Growing
In 1921 there were only four arti.
ficial ice Kinks In Canada, and few
widely scattered ones In the United
States. These. In both countries, were
devoted mostly to ice skaters. To-day.
almost every city in Canada boasts Of
an artificial ice-making plant, except
In western Canada where winters are
sufficiently cold to permit natural ice
enclosures
Detroit spent two million dollars in
erecting its Olympia Arena, remark
able monument to the game of
hockey. It is used for other sports,
but It was built primarily for leo
hockey. Boston has q new arena that
seats $4,000 fans. and 1t has been
packed for almost every National
League game this season.
The growth Of this new sport has
been phenomenal. And 1t Is still in
its infancy.