I felt compelled to speak up in defence of ice hockey.- - - it can be a thing of real grace and beauty

I quite agree. I used to watch it played at Wembley Ice rink, and occasionally at Richmond when I were a lad, always wishing that I could skate as well and as fast as that.

As I could only afford a second hand pair of figure skates, that was not likely to ever happen, but I still loved the speed and accuracy - and the spills as well, of course.