Stewart
Registered User
The letter by Tommy Robertson also gives some insight into the international league I've mentioned.
In 1934-35, clubs from England (Streatham, Richmond, both Wembley clubs), France (two clubs from Paris), Germany (Berlin, Riessersee), Italy (Milano) and Czechoslovakia (Prague) took part in two groups/pools. Attendances Richmond Hawks drew on their trip to the Continent according to Robertson: Paris 12,000 – Prague 9,000 – Berlin 10,000.
Here's some footage from the November 1934 international league game between Riessersee (Germany, playing at Munich here) and Stade Français (one of the two clubs from Paris):
In 1935-36, only the clubs from England and France returned to participate in the international league again. The other countries dropped out – perhaps because the LIHG (IIHF) had spoken out against it? The international federation, championing amateurism, was concerned about "professional tendencies" and it's not hard to see why when you think back of what Canadian players in England earned. How did the English league manage to keep its official amateur status? The clubs restored to "shamateurism" and created well-paid jobs the players were nominally hired for.
Which letter by Tommy Robertson?
Bunny Ahearne was at pains to ensure 'his players' were always designated as 'independents'. Don't ask me how although it's all in 'Lion in Winter'. Suffice to say here, he was a shrewd man, to put it politely.