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It doesn’t matter one little bit what the scientists have to say on the matter -â€" December 24th is far and away the longest night of the year. Ask any six or seven year old what his opinion is and December 24th is just four times and seven hours longer than any of the re- maining three hundred and sixty-four days. Christmas is a_ magical time for many people. Old grudges and feuds are temporarily forgotten or for- given and scowling faces wear a happy smile albeit a little weak. It’s a pity that the Spirit of Christmas can’t carry over through all the year. It would certainly be a vastly different world. During years of war and strife, when Christianvna- tions fought bitterly, one against the other, the Christ- mas season was usually a time when hostilities, although not completely halted, seemed to be a little less of a war of attrition and a lull was definitely noticeable. . During the past few weeks, news of a new war, that promises no cessation of hostilities, nor even any lull, is with us. On every sports page of every newspaper in the country are found leads that read -- “SCORES WINNING GOAL, _UP IN HOS_P‘IT1§L” That caption was the result of a game of hockey played in an Eastern Ontario town. The goal scored was the lone goal of the game and feelings ran somewhat high. Four minutes before the game ended, the boy who scored the winning goal was carved up around the head as someone used a hockey stick more like an axe than anything else. The injury was so bad and the bleeding so profuse that the player had to be hospitalized. Think back, you hockey fans, to games that you have seen this year and you’ll recall at least one instance of slashing or spearing that was attempted, if not successful. It isn’t a nice story at all. The terrifying part about it is the fact that this is NOT an isolated case of hooli- ganism but just one incident in a trend that seems to demand sheer downright brutality on the part of hockey players in any league or age group. Recently, on a nation-Wide hockey telecast, view- ers, and many of them children, were treated to the sight of two lustrous names in the NHL. jousting‘ at each other with hockey sticks. What great enter- tainment! As HOCKEY players these boys are better than most. As FENCERS they don’t even begin to be entertaining nor are they very skilful.’ Despite rumours to the contrary, most people go to see hockey played and they are not entertained by such stupid behaviour from players that definitely do know better, or should. At the end of the second period of the game men- tioned above, “Punch” Imlach of the Leafs was inter- viewed and was asked his opinion of the charges of brutality levelled by Andy Bathgate. Mr. Imlach said he would have been hurt if his team had not been a target for Bathgate’s charges and as far as he was concerned he wasn’t interested in having a Lady Byng trophy winner on his club! His statements seem to be an endorsement of Mr. Bathgate’s charges and one would almost gather that hockey club executives like players who have a talent for clobbering the opposition illegally but neatly enough to go undetected, at least most of the time. “Frank Boucher, centerman of the famed Cook, Boucher, Cook line of the New York Rangers won the Lady Byng seven times and was finally awarded perm- anent possession of the trophy. The trophy awarded now is a replica of the original. Mr. Boucher not'only played clean, sportsmanlike hockey, he also became the star centerman of all time. Take a look in the records of the Hall of Fame, and Frank Boucher’s name is very prominent. . It is a lucky thing that he came on the scene before Punch Imach and that someone on the New York Ran- ger executive didn’t have Imlach’s outlook. Who would have heard of Frank Boucher? And what would the Cook boys have done for a living? Let’s not kid ourselves. The style of play from Glace Bay to Heckangone is set by what profeessional hockey club executives think the public want to see. They seem to think that the finer points of play are not anoreciated and that to sell the game a little dirt is necessary. Somewhat like producing Shakespeare with a chorus line added. In neither case is anything en- hanced. rather the production loses a great deal of its original intent. Out on the unenlightened west coast, hockey attend- ance had sazzed very badly. Hockey executives were down to their last roll of tape when they decided on a very novel approach, they were going to present HOCKEY. International rules were adopted and the public was so overcome at seeing hockey played as it was meant to be played that attendance rose and rose (and rose. Boy! let me tell you these fellows out on the coastwill ,iustAnever learn â€" will they? Stratee'v in the N.H.L. today seems to be compar- atively simnle. If the other team has a GREAT hockey p‘aver. send a not-quite-so-good player out against him. Let the nlayer be as cute as a button and tie the good player up by any means, fair or foul. A mediocre player can make a superâ€"star 100k ordinary when he is draped Over his back most of the evening with a little strategic cluth and orrab thrown in. This whole piece started out about Christmas and Christmas leads, most naturanv. to kids. Ever watched the younger set play hockey? They are out there emu- lating the hero of the moment and if Pat Smith hits a guga bit dirty to stop ’im, so’ll I. If you think this is any exaggeration. watch the minor games and see how the younger set behaves. The best example to be found today is Mr. Roger Cote of the Marlboros. This kid doesn’t play hockey so much as steam rollers into or over anyone who is unfortunate enough to be on the ice with him. Someday, sometime. someone will be hurt seriously by one of Cote’s wild rushes. The sad part is that Roger can be a great hockey player if only his bosses straighten him out in time. Let’s give everyone a big Christmas present by cleaning up the game of hockey. Everybody would be a big winner, players, coaches, directors and hockey club presidents â€" but the biggest wi'nners of all would be the young hockey players in your family and mine. There is an old saying that as the twig is bent. so grows the tree. Young twigs these days are having a good part of their characters moulded by what they see of hockey on the television screen, and the mould is not a, good one. Hockey is the greatest game on earth and the fast- est. Injuries can be come by quite accidentally by the sheer speed of the game alone without adding to the hazard by employing illegal tactics. o SPORT SPOTS + A_ very Merry Chfistinas to youAapd yofirs and may by Ron Craine To be poised and relaxed at the same time verges on the paradoxical yet it is true that most champions, wh tever the sport, can abhieve t is sublime combination of tense inward concentration and outer muscul- ar composure. Curling is no ex- ception and any rock-tosser who wants to be effective must ac- quire the ability to sag his mus- cles without relaxing his mental intenseness while in the hack. (By KEN WATSON) Distributed by Toronto Telegram News Service (Canada's “Mr. Curling”, Ken Watson of Winnipeg. is covering the Canadian curling scene for “The Libera ”. This is another in a series of 20 articles.) The pert. young gentleman posing in the accompanying illusa tration as a model for all cur- lers to emulate, is the Number 3 man of the current Canadian and International Champions, Asnold Richardson 0L Regina. This youthful vice-skip prac- tises a balanced stance, delivery and follow-through that is beauti- ful to behold. He eptomizes the perfect form of poised relaxation in the hack that every curler im- agines himself practising until some sadistic friend takes a snapshot and reveals the hor- rible truth. Take another look at Canada's best third man in 1959 and pic- ture your profile in the back against his style. How do you thrust out easily to the side Ken Watson On Curling Jimmy Wilson went on the rampage for the Cubs as his pro- duction for the game was three goals and an assist. Dave Duffy scored a nice goal while the other goal came off the stick of Jim Gordon assisted by Ken Chapman. Paris Electric Tiger Cubs 5 Don. Thurston Tee Pees l The big feature of the game for the Teepees was the fine goal scared by Midge Hiley on a nice solo effort. . Mills and Hadwin Biltmores 4 Rumbles Transport Petgs 0_ Harvey Gordon was the sharp- shooter for the Bilts as he scored three goals and assisted Dave Brodrick on the team's fourth goal. Ron Leddy worked hard for Petes while Petes goalie Gary Methe played very well despite the score. Victoria Orange Lodge Flyen 1 Consumers Gas Marlboros 0 Goal keeper Alex Bain proved to be unbeatable in the Flyer net as team mate Peter Bird notched the winning counter. Gary Parsons went well for Marl- boros. but was unable to beat Mr. Baln. Loren Gordon Barons 2 Quality Utilities Beds? 1 Doug Acomb scored one goal for the Barons and was also giv- en an assist on the goal scored by Dave Smith. Billy Strugnell scored the lone goal for the Reds. As the score would indi- cate this was a close, hard check- ing game. Superior Sand & Gravel Canad- iens 3 Deciantis 5; Rice Bisons 2 Canadiens squeaked out a win over the Bisons on goals by A1- bert Windrum and Larry Davis. Windrum scored twice and Davis once with Billy Promaine get- ting an assist. Danny Shadoff and David Buckley were the Bi- son scorers with an assist going to Hamid Briden. Young‘s Service Station St. Mikes Als Cycle 8: Sport Bears 3 This was a well played game with the two teams perfectly matched and was one of the bet- ter games of the season to date. Howard Cazaly, Mike Engler and Rich Ringer were the St. Mike scorers while Bob Stephens. George Anderson and Bob Pat- field assisted by Ian McAllister did the honours for the bears. Halliday .Fuels Leafs 5 Griffin Construction Maroons 0 hJIm fififiupé showed the way for the Americans as he scored thnge goals aflg'pgcked up an A__.I n-..- Don Gibson scored two goals as Doug Carter scored one and picked up tWo assists. Singletons were scored by Phil Bury and Bob Boulden as Johnnie Higgins and Jim Fleming picked up as- sists. Brian Hiskon worked hard for Maroons in a losing cause. Town 8; Country Americans 5 firefighters Cangdieng q Arnold Richardson shows balanced stance needed for delivery. Sag Your Muscles When Tossing Rock with the broom straw pointed slightly up and away from your body? Does your right arm reach lazily forward at full length to the handle of the stone? Are the fingers of your right hand resting lightly on the handle instead of frantically clutching it in a vice-like grip? Are you sitting on your right heel com- fortably . or are you stretching forward with your haunches high in the air like Disney's Pluto put- ting on the brakes? The stance is a take-off - not a landing. Arn- old Richardson demonstrates the position of a curler in the hack ready to commence his back- swing. Every part of his anatomy faces the skip's broom squarely - his feet, his knees, his shoulders, his hips and most important of all - his eyes. Take a quick look at yourself next visit to the hack. Put on your own quiz show but be honest to avoid special in- vestigation. Here is another tip ‘to help you relax your muscles. After you have dusted off your rock and taken your stance, inhale strongly, then exhale slowly just before you begin the backswing. A silent prayer may _help, too, NEX‘EJWATCH YOUR FEET?’ Hughes scored one each, while assists went to Bill Hughes and Mike Milsom. Ed Dennis skated miles for Canadians but was unable to stem the tide. Rotary Club Ranger: 3 Dynes Jewellers Black Hawks_3 This was another hard fought close game with both teams play- ing heads up hockey. Ranger goals were scored by Doug Dan- ter, Robbie Townsend and Carl Bridges with assists by Dave Pollock. Guy Markle and Gary Everatt, Bernie Jenkins, Barry Mashinter and Bill Stone scored for Hawks assisted by Ken Wain- man and Danny Walsh. James MIcKay Red Wings 3 Butler & Baird Bruins 2 Steve Sanders had a big night as he scored four big goals. Paul Rainer notched a goal and two assists with a well deserved goal going to Don Davies. Wayne Haviland scored both Bruin goals as the Bruins lost their first game in eight starts. STANDINGS JR. CIA” Team Biltmores Tiger Cubs Tee Pees Petes Marlboros Flyers Team Barons Bears St. Mikes Canadiens Reds Bisons Team Red Wings Leafs Bruins Americans Hawks Canadiem Rangers Maroons World's Champion Defends His Title Quebec City, December 11. R0- ger Vallee recognized as the world's middleweight wrestling champion in most of the pro- vinces and the eastern U. S. A., successftu defended his title against Jacques La Rose of Mon- treal, a former champion. A re- cord crowd of 5000 fans jammed La Tour to Witness the event. After the match Vallee an- nounced he will embark on a two month tour of Canada. USA and Mexico. Alex “Tiger” Jensen defeated Joe White of Montreal in the semi windnp of the Championship card. North Yonge Bowling Palace on Yonge Stiwmqwggle will be NORTH YONG! BOWLING e5 u The Central Canadian wrest-i ling Association is presenting ai fine wrestling card for this com- ing Tuesday. December 29, at the Thomhill Market. There will be no feature event. rather a series of bouts that will eventu- ally decide a winner with the said winner to pick up a bonus of $100.00. Ten wrestlers will be on the card, eight of them being in an elimination for the grand prize. A one fall match will start out the entertainment, with Ed- die Garner of Langstaff testing the skill of shifty little Kenny Monckton. not too popular but a real toughie. Elimination Bouts Feature Wrestling The wrestlers in the $100.00 elimination are as follows: Gori Mangotich, Joe “Scissors” Green- field, Len Hewitt, Karl Mueller, newcomer Don Woods, Al Pekoe, Grant Wylder and last but by no means least. Jack Diamond the lighter half of the Hamilton Hoods. There will be four one fall matches one fall or 20 minâ€" utes in the event that there are no falls scored they will have a five minute overtime round, with the judges voting for the winner. Then the four winners will be paired off again in one fall or 20 minutes matches, which will leave two winners. The two win- ners will go at it in the final, with the winner getting the hon- us of $100.00. This will be very nice to take home, at least that is what Gori Mangotich had to say. He will be a prime favorite to cop the prize but with opposition like Al Pekoe, Jack Diamond and the tough Tueton Karl Meuller as well as the other top flight boys, he will have to be good. For the benefit of many of the fans who have been complaining about the sleeper hold that Mangotich has been using, we have this to say. The Quebec Athletic Association has banned the hold at the Pal- ais des Sports in Montreal where Mangotioh is a frequent per- former, and the Canadian Feder- ation, Roy MacMahon, chairman, will most likely have a_ 1111ng on the bola béfore next Tues: day’s eliminations. SEE OUR HUGE SELECTION OF WALL PANELLING FOR YOUR HOME . . . BUY WHAT MATERIALS YOU NEED â€" ON BUDGET TERMS. RICHVALE on Yonge St. AV. 5-4921 WILLOWDALE, on Yonge St., BA. 1-9316 Drive In - Free Parking 0 urn tum-in. u- Blueliners 13, King City 2 The last time that King City played the Richmond Hill Blue- liners the score was 6 to 5 for the Blueliners and the Hill boys had only eight of their players out. The situation was just re. versed last Thursday and King had only eight players out, due to the high school exams. But we feel that even with their full team out, the Blueliners would have beaten them. The King City boys played hard all the time and even if they were short on players and ability they made up for it in effort, They never stopped try- ing at any time and even with a lop-sided score like 12 to 0 they managed to sneak by two goals and they surely earned them. The Richmond Hill club looked very inept at times even against a weak team, and if they play ag- ainst Newmarket as they did ag- ainst King City, they will sure- ly get beaten. Goals for the Blue- ‘ liners were scored by: Rod Keir son 1, Paul Reynolds 2, Ritchie Elliott 1. Bruce Walker 2. John Grieves 2, Jim Briden 2, Dennis Richardson 3. Newmarket 9. Blueliners 2 Newmarket Midgets clubber- ed the highly rated Richmond Hill Blueliners last Friday at the Newmarket Arena and looked like an NHL. team, The Blue- liners held them for one period and then the fun began. they skated the Hill boys right into the ice. their paws were perfect, their checking superlative. They handcuffed "Fireball" Bruce Wal- ker and showered goalie Don Laurie With rubber. Laurie inci- dentally played much better than the score would indicate. He played headsâ€"up hockey and made some sensational stops especially in the second period when New- market went wild with five goals. Let us hope that the Blueliners got a bad one out of their system, better now than in the playofis, Jim Briden played well for the Richmond Hill club and scored the first goal as did Denny Rich- ardson who got the other tally. THORNHILL MARKET Tuesday, Dec. 29 - 8:30 5100-00 BONUS NIGHT vs Garner Monckton EIGHT TOUGH BOYS IN AN ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT, WITH ' TWO JUDGES AND A REFEREE TO ENSURE FAIR PLAY FOR ALL WRESTLERS DON’T FORGET First Bout at 8.30 p.111. Free Exhibition Parking Don “Power Boy‘ Woods EDDIE Gori Mangotich Aurora Joe “Scissors” Newmarket Karl Mueller Grant Wylder Jack Diamond Tonawanda, N.Y. Ryding Len Hewitt Mimico uvv Riéhmond Hjllil Tumxxxxxxxxxxx3:xxmooonnoommnunmomit)!“a Al Pekoe Edmonton Kitchener Hamilton THE LBERAL, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Thursday, December 24, 1959 18 plus ‘cored KEN LUMBER - LATHS - TRIM - SHINGLES - GYPROC ROOFING MATERIALS 71 Centre Street East TU. 4-1361 Sheppard and Gill lumber Co., Ltd. IIIIIIIII o JAS. GRAINGER For that mm m colour a0 Chrlflmas ltma or perhaps as a gift, coma and take your pick from our varied «Indian of pan“! mums - direct from the growar I. you â€" seledian limit“! maka your: soon. 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