Page:Hockey, Canada's Royal Winter Game.djvu/73

 is in a good position to catch his adversary "on the hip," especially when the latter is "on the wing," as it were, and can thus often put a short-stop to a dangerous run. The effect of a body-check is not so "striking" when the object of it steadies himself in as low a position as possible, while the man who is using the play attains his end better by catching his opponent, as stated above, in the centre of his weight, or higher, when the latter is not steadily placed. This practice of body-checking is permissible, and, to a certain degree, scientific, but it is questionable whether it be not a less noble way of overcoming a dangerous opponent, than by expert stick handling, or by some gentler means. It cannot be said to be directly in accordance with the strictest, the highest sense of polished, fair, scientific play. It certainly is a feat, difficult of accomplishment, to stop a man who is rushing towards you with the speed of an express train, and upset him without the slightest injury to yourself, but is this the fairest way of defending your flags? It savors too much of roughness, and can be the cause of a serious accident, because a fall on the ice, at any time is usually painful and dangerous enough, without any additional impetus from without. If it is allowable, it is most unfair to "body" a man into the side of the rink.