New Britain herald., 1929-03-30
QUESTION JEAN'S CLAIM ID GROWN
Many Polo Fans Put Tom C0tter
 On Same Level

When Hugh Rorty, veteran ref cree of roller hockey. referred to Fed Jean as the geatest player ot all time" at Stanley Arena We'd nesday night. he added another spark to the seemingly unquench- able flame of dispute between lovers of the indoor game as to whether the big Frenchman actually was Or
 was not the king of the pellet driv- CTS. Nothing that Rorty or anyone else might say on one side or an- other of the question could dis suade the fans who admire Jean from their belief that he was the king, while the same can be said with truth about those who think otherwise.
 Few fans of the present genera ton remember Tom Cotter. He was at the zenith of his game when
 Jean was breaking in and there was no room for argument when his name was mentioned. He could hit. pass skate and block. but his forte Was his driving power. From any part of the rink he could smash q tall with terrific force and his control was something to be ad-
 mired. Few players of his time had the courage to block his hits. They preferred to stand off to one side and leave the goal tender to his fate. More often than not. when Cotter got an open shot. the ball swished the curtains" and when missed, the bang of the ball against the wooden banks sounded like T dozen rifle shots hitting the sam" target together.
 of the stars in roller hockey who
 have come to the front in the past ten years. none has the driving pow CT of Arthur Kid" Williams. anI few players who ever Wielded the curved stick were better floor work CTS than Steve Pierce, but whether
 this pair deserves to be placed in the class with Jean or lined up close b. hind him is a moot question. Fans
 who are mindful of the value Of tn.
 fine points of play aver that Will Hams. few years after he brok ! in, was quicker than Jean ever was
 and during the past season, which was not by any means ore of his best, he brought the crowds to their feet in every city in the American League circuit by the rapidly with which he set himself to slug for the cage. Time after time, New Brit ain crowds say him with Molly"
 Morrison, Albany halfback, con-
 pletcly covering ninl, yet he sNitch- cd from right to q left handed stance and made the goal.
 Jean being q center. was not call ed upon 10 work the ball towards the opponents cage as often as the rushcrs and so he was not required to be the floor worker that Pierer is, yet his long reach and his cicr- erness enabled him 70 keep away attackers and help his forward men
 by bringing the ball to them. He al
 ways had wicked wallop. and. like totter, he could hit from any posi- ton. Pierce, who probably has ne,- CT met q defense man who could stop him consistently with the cX- ctptioll Ul barney I'OIltItN senCr- ally had his hands full with Jean,
 for the big fellow Was a tower Of strength on the defense and noth- ing aroused his fighting spirit any quicker than to have a nifty rusher try to play rings around him.
 One of the cieNereSt ball handlers in the game p years ago was Fer die Harkins, who is still giving he youngsters a battle but who has lost considerable of his stamina with the passing of the years. Harkins
 was always a fast skater and his style of play bothered the best de- fcnse men in the game. He had the lnack Of taking a shot at the goal tenders pads. knowing the ball would make rebound. and as il came off on the first hop, he rush ed in and cagcd it. Other players whose icods thrilled packed houses for years were kid" Duggan. "Dickie' Pierce. "SoNy" Lyons and a legion of crack-;l jacks. ''Dckie
 Piercc's sons, Steve and Earl, hay"
 just completed q successful season
 with Albany, SteN.'S help being
 largely responsible for l,arl's good showing.