DANGEROUS?

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 9

DANGEROUS?

Women’s Ice Hockey Club PLAY AT 30 M.P.H. ! The first women’s ice hockey club in I country has been formed at Hove I (says an English writer). I saw some of the members at practice (writes a correspondent), skating at breakneck speed round the ice rink, crashing into one another and—laughing merrily about it. If this was a practice game, 1 wondered what a real match would be like! As a mere man. I trembled at the temerity of the goalkeeper as she faced a forward who came skidding along | the ice at 30 miles an hour. But I : might have saved my fears. The keeper—a slim, pretty girl of IS—stood up to the charge without flinching. “Is it not dangerous?” I asked during one of theintervals. There was a chorus of laughter from these schoolgirls and business girls. “Of coui’se it is,” said the captain. Miss Hermione Hoare, with a laugh. ; “At least, all our mothers seem to ‘ think so. They keep prophesying | broken bones and goodness knows ; what. You would be surprised at the ; number of girls who want to join tlie j club and their mothers will not let ! them. “We have our tumbles and we have our bruises, but we get over them. No one has been badly hurt. . Besides, if men can play ice hockey why should not women? We are just as able to take care of ourselves as they are!” I admired the smart pleated skirts of navy blue, and tlie white blouses worn by the players. “I am glad you like them,” said Miss Hoare. “That was the greatest problem—what to wear. We thought of trousers at first, but nobody liked ; that idea. 1 think these short skirts are really much better. “I shall be sorry for any team of men that challenges them.” an attendant said. “They will have to play men. because there are no other women’s teams besides this one—and . won’t those men get the shock of their | lives!”