Body checking debate continues in minor hockey

“If Hockey Canada at this meeting says, it’s going to bantam and everyone agrees, it will pass and that’s what it will be and they’re talking about making this happen for next season,” said Hubbs, adding if that’s the case, his focus will shift to education for young players.

A couple of years ago, Hockey Canada made it mandatory for at least one coach from each minor hockey team to take a bodychecking clinic, so they can educate their players on how to hit and how to defend themselves.

“The objective of bodychecking is not to remove the head from the shoulders, it’s to remove the body from the puck and if you don’t control the puck you don’t win the game and that’s what players should ultimately be after,” said Hubbs.

Delaying the implementation of bodychecking also changes young player’s attitudes.

“When the kids got to 12 and 13 years old, I noticed that the kids could hardly wait to get to the age where they can hit somebody and their focus was to hit somebody rather than the other skills of the game,” said Hubbs.

David Crowell has been coaching in Saskatoon for the past four years. He said the earlier the leagues introduce bodychecking, the better prepared players are when the game gets faster and their opponents get bigger.

“Often times I find that some of these injuries are occurring because the player hasn’t had experience with contact, they don’t know how to play defensively and they get themselves into a situation where they get hurt,” said Crowell.

Two years ago he went through the bodychecking clinic and he said coaches should coordinate and make the last month of atom a full-contact trial run.

“Kids have been playing all season, their skills are probably at their peak and that’s a good time to get involved in the contact aspect,” said Crowell.

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by François Biber

Body checking debate continues in minor hockey

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