Local minor hockey associations are filled with mixed emotions over Hockey Alberta's decision to eliminate body contact at the peewee level.
“I know with all of the injuries that go on with kids that age and the size difference, I wasn't overly surprised at all,” said Bonnyville Minor Hockey Association (BMHA) President Dean Anderson.
“I didn't feel that peewee was a bad level to introduce (body contact), but with all of the concussions and everything that is going on now, maybe it was time to move it up to bantam.”
On May 8, Hockey Alberta announced that it would get rid of body checking for 11-and-12 year-old players at the peewee level, effective for the upcoming 2013-14 season.
“As an executive for Cold Lake Minor Hockey (CLMH) we support anything that Hockey Alberta passes,” said CLMH peewee coordinator Jacki Cook. “But as a parent of a kid going into second year Peewee he was kind of upset. The kids look forward to (checking), but with all the research done you have to think they are doing it for the betterment of the kids.”
In 2012, Hockey Alberta's board of directors developed a Body Checking Review Committee that reviewed scientific research, member feedback, information from a recent survey and considered decisions from sources other Hockey Canada branches regarding options for body checking, according to a press release.
The board of directors felt the information they gathered was enough to justify making the change right away.
“Our players' safety is the foundation in making this decision,” said Hockey Alberta's chair of the board, Rob Virgil. “There is overwhelming evidence that body checking is the single most consistent risk factor for injuries and concussions in youth ice hockey.”
Anderson feels that with checking removed the registration numbers in the peewee age group may increase. He also thinks it really shouldn't matter much to towns like Bonnyville.
“I actually don't mind the move,” said Anderson. “For towns like Bonnyville, we're out to try and teach and to have fun with the kids. To have somebody hurt is no fun. It's such a short season with 19 games on the schedule, if you have got a kid that is hurt for any length of time he is missing half the season.”
Hockey Alberta wasn't alone in making the move. A few days later Hockey Nova Scotia also announced the ban of body checking from the peewee division. Other provinces have started making adjustments but haven't implemented total bans. B.C. doesn't allow body checking in recreational leagues, Ontario has removed it from house league hockey, and Quebec has checking restrictions.
“It will take some getting used to,” said Cook. “As long as it starts to go across the board then it won't be so bad, but if other provinces don't take it on then I feel our kids will eventually be at a disadvantaged if they are trying out for Jr. A. or Jr. B. or trying to get a scholarship.”
Of course with any decision there are people on both sides of the debate. Cook has received mixed comments from the people she has talked to.
“I have talked to people who think it is wonderful and I have talked to people who are very upset about it. There are people who think that they are going to start petitions and get Hockey Alberta to change their minds. That isn't going to happen, they didn't just do this one day, they researched it for a few years.”
