ICE HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 209, 5 September 1938, Page 10

ICE HOCKEY.

GROWTH OF SPORT

U.S. VISITOR'S COMMENT.

NEGOTIATIONS TOR TOUR.

The remarkable rine to world-wide |K>pularity of ice hockey, generally recognised, -as the fastest eport there is. was outlined this morning by Mr. H. O. Holmes, of Cleveland, Ohio, when he arrived from Sydney by the Aorangi. A through passenger, Mr. Holmes has been on a holiday visit to Australia, and lias been investigating the i>oseibilitiee

of teams from the United State* and Canada touring the Commonwealth. He is accompanied by Mrs. Holmes. Prospects of euch a tour Mr. Holmee considered were particularly bright, but he stated that first indications of future plane would have to come from Australia itself. Mr. Holmee is* manager of the devejland Arena, a huge eports centre. Attached to the arena is one professional club, and 22 amateur clubs also take part in ice hockey during the winter months in that city. The eeason lasts for about eight or nine months, and Mr. Holmes ie now going back for the etart of next eeason. Rise in United States. "Of course, ice hockey has been I Canada's national sport for many years now," he eaid, "but it ie only about 12 years eince the eport started on the up grade in the States. This ie mainly idue to the fact that now ice can be laid down and removed overnight to give place to some other sporting event." For example, at the Cleveland Arena a wide variety of eporting evente was catered for. Boxing, wrestling, eix-day ibicyele marathons, track meets and rodeo show 3 were provided in addition to ice hockey. Swimming carnivals could also be staged, a portable pool being need. "In the past five years the game hae gained a remarkable hold. Besides the States, England, Germany and France have taken it up," said Mr. Holme*. "Even at the moment no le*=« than three rinke are under construction 'in Scotland." Speaking of indoor trnek meets at the Cleveland Arena, Mr. Holmes mentioned that Cleveland, which claimed the world-famou* negro Olympiad winner, Jeeee Owens, looked like producing another world beater in 16-year-old Chester Thomas. He said this college lad ran 10e consistently for the lOOyde, *nd had been known to break that time. He had also covered 220yde in 225. "Things are a bit tough all right," commented Mr. Holmes in referring to American affaire. He thought that recession talk wae rife mostly because the American could not at present "make a, pile of money." "They want to pick dollars off trees," he Said. "Moet of them want the big money; a little bit ie no good: they want a whole lot." A« far as Mr. Holmes eould eee, people in Australia and New Zealand were "in the driver's seat," even though they might not make big money.