24

Friday, February 1, 1985

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

The Almost All-Jewish Hockey League
will never vie in Stanley Cup
competition, but the players have as
much enthusiasm as the professionals.

BY HEIDI PRESS

Local News Editor

Dr. Bob "Killer" Farber awaits his turn on the ice.

were skates and sticks. Pieces of wood
Wayne Gretzky has nothing to
served for goals.
worry about. No one on the Almost
As the group grew, the game
All-Jewish Hockey League is about to
moved to a lake, but the cold finally
steal a scoring record from anyone.
forced the men to look for an indoor
Playing at the Detroit Skating
rink. They played one year at the
Club every Sunday morning from
Lakeland Arena in Waterford and for
early October through mid-March,
the past two years have met at the
about 25 professional men in their late
Bloomfield Hills site.
30s and early 40s suit up and pad up
To cover expenses, Shapiro
for a grueling two-period game of what
needed more players.
some may call hockey.
"I called other frustrated athletes .
The huffing and puffing not-
like myself. I called old fraternity
withstanding, as they leave the ice,
brothers, friends of friendS." Pretty
these dentists, attorneys, surgeons,
soon there was so much interest that
podiatrists and others are deadly seri-
people started calling Shapiro.
ous about their Sunday morning ma-
The men make up their own rules.
neuvers.
No slap shots are allowed and body
One player is so serious that once
checking is verboten. This year the
or twice. a month he comes in from
league instituted penalties — two
Saginaw just to play in the league.
_minutes for tripping, holding and
According to "Commissioner" Dr.
hooking.
Bob Shapiro, who earned the appella-
What is even more unique about
tion as organizer of the league, it was
the group is that it has a woman ref-
started for kicks,-"for the love of hock-
eree. Jan Moran, sister of league
__ ey, to fulfill some fantasies."
member Bob Moran, calls the shots.
Dr. Shapiro, who calls himself a
Once a member of the Michigan Wings
frustrated hockey player, had virtu-
women's hockey team, Jan has played
ally no hockey experience prior to
hockey for about eight years. In- her
starting the group. As a child he used
first year "reffing" the men, Jan says
to fake it in the basement of his par-
she likes the job.
ents' home, where he emulated his
"All the men are real nice. They
idol, hockey great Gordie Howe, by
made me feel welcome when I came."
hitting a tennis ball with a kitchen
Asked if she was offended by the foul
broom into a cardboard box while his
language when the game gets hot or
brothei tended "goal."
when there is opposition to a call, she
Because the league was formed for
said it doesn't bother her. Do the men
fun and not for copping any prizes, one
ever argue a call? "Once in a while,"
of the requirements is limited hockey
she admits.
experience. A player must be over age
Shapiro said he had no complaints
35 and there is a fee of $200 per year
about hiring a woman referee. "She's
per player to pay the rental charge at
one of the best skaters on the ice. She
the skating club and the referee's fee.
can get out of the way of anything, and
Currently, there are about 25 players
she's real nice."
— all but three are Jewish --IL and there
Dr. Arnie Tracht, a pediatric den-
is a waiting list of subs.
. tist who coordinates the games with
Since most of the men have little
Shaprio, also looks favorably on hav-
or no hockey experience, and accord-
ing a woman ref. "It doesn't matter as
- ing to Shapiro, most can't skate back-
long as she does the job."
ward, they aren't looking for outside
Car salesman Bob Moran said his
competition. Instead, they enjoy the
sister "does a good job. She's very com-
camaraderie and sport.
petent, very fair." Moran said he came
"We enjoy the friendship and to the league "by association" — many
closeness within our own group. We
of the players have bought cars from
don't want to be competitive with him.
strangers. They're out there to win,
Moran is about the only player in
not to have a good time," he said.
the league who has hockey experience.
He added that the group was
He played hockey at Villanova Uni-
asked to play against a men's over-30
versity in Philadelphia. Since then he
league, but refused. The men also re-
played three times a week for a while
fused to play against a women's team.
and then limited his hockey outings to
Categorizing the abilities of the
once a week.
Married, Moran said his wife is
team, Shapiro recalled an embarras-
supportive of his hockey activity.
sing incident. Two subs were once
Tracht said his wife is "fully suppor-
brought into a game. They were so
tive" and will even take ,messages and
good, Shapiro said, that "they never
calls "and suggests who we should
heard from us again."
switch on teams." He said she won't let
Watching the Almost All-Jewish
him stay out late on Saturday nights,
Hockey League decked out in the
so that he will be prepared for Sunday
latest protective garb helmets and
morning hockey.
face guards and padding for arms and
• Shapiro said most of the wives are
legs — one would hardly guess that
supportive.
"The only objection they
this was once a group of ten or 12 guys
have
is
that
it's
at 10 a.m. on Sundays
who slapped around a sponge puck on a
when the husbands should be driving
pond in someone's backyard. The only
for Sunday school."
equipment then, besides the puck,

