Page:Hockey, Canada's Royal Winter Game.djvu/27

 Artificial rinks are being built in the principal cities of the union, and they afford to the young players even a greater advantage than we enjoy in Canada. They are opened long before ours, and remain open for skating for weeks later, besides, being comparatively warm, spectators are not kept away from them, however inclement the weather may be. A short time ago, almost any Canadian team could defeat, with comparative ease, the best seven that our friends could get together. But, last year, a different complexion colored the comparison between the clubs, because the senior New York teams had arrived at such a high degree of science in the game, that the excellence of their playing made them eligible to honorably compete with the peers of the game in Canada. Indeed, it seems that the day is not far distant when the holders of the highest honors in hockey matters will have to look to themselves if they wish to successfully defend their laurels against a worthy opponent.

3. Hockey was first played in Europe, by another Montrealer, Mr. Geo. A. Meagher, World's Champion Figure Skater, and author of "Lesson's in Skating."

In Paris, the first European team was formed, and the gay Parisiens took most enthusiastically to it. The Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, who was one time Governor General of