Ice Polo
Ice polo teams were formed in the 1880's outdoors on ponds and evolved from roller polo. Frank Barron, an accomplished ice polo player, formulated the first set of rules. Six players formed a team with the following positions: goal, cover point, cover goal, first rush, second rush, and center. Later seven players formed a team. On-side play was not enforced creating a wide open game with the players being continually separated and the tries-for-goal from unlimited directions. A ball was used and a much heavier and stouter stick was employed than ice hockey. Several amateur clubs starting forming in the 1890's often looking for challenges on ponds throughout the state by advertising in the newspaper. Brown University played Ice Polo before ice hockey in 1896 and 1897 before their memorable game with Harvard in 1898. Ice polo was played from 1899-1902 in the RI Interscholastic League prior to ice hockey on ponds throughout the state. Hope High School won the first Interscholastic championship in 1899. In 1913 the Providence Amateur Ice Polo League was formed with 12 teams followed by the Interurban Ice Polo League. Amateur ice polo was as popular as ice hockey from the 1900's through the 1920's in Rhode Island. The Elmwood Independents were the leading team in Rhode Island formed in 1912. Manager Al Selzer team would go undefeated in 130 starts and go on to win 15 consecutive Ice Polo league championships of the state. They won the New England Ice Polo title in 1921. Once the R.I. Auditorium opened in 1926 Ice Polo was soon indoors. In 1928 the Providence Ice Polo League's opening game featured the East Sides beating Mt. Carmel 6-1 on Auditorium ice. Many Independents and players from the East Side Ice Polo team would continue as amateur ice hockey stars as the sport became less popular in the late 1920s. The game of ice hockey had gradually become the preferred sport and interest in Ice Polo began to decline.
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Rhode Island Ice Polo Teams
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