By paNOW Staff

Hockey Canada bans peewee-level body checking

May 25, 2013 | 3:47 PM

Hockey Canada’s board of directors has voted to eliminate body checking from leagues with players below 13 years of age.

The country-wide ban comes after some provinces—namely Alberta and Nova Scotia—imposed bans of their own after a study released from the University of Calgary highlighted that body checking in peewee leagues more than triples the risk of concussions and injury.

Shortly after the decision was announced via Twitter, Regina Hockey’s executive director Brian Watson said in a phone interview that the Saskatchewan Hockey Association has always been against the ban, and has even heard calls to lower the body checking age. He said hockey parents and players in Regina have not showed interest in non-contact leagues to date; with roughly 475 peewee hockey players last year, none enrolled in non-contact leagues.

“Do I agree with it? No. Are we going to have to live by it? Yes,” he said.

“There are no options around that.”

Health

Saskatchewan warned of helium supply cut because of Middle East war

Apr 04, 2026

Fire

PAFD investigating morning house fire

Apr 04, 2026

Out of this World

WATCH: Canadian Space Agency's first space to Earth video call with Jeremy Hansen

Apr 04, 2026

Watson said that Hockey Canada failed to look at body checking as a “skill” that needs to be taught to young players.

“There’s inherent risk in anything,” said Watson.

“If they want to sign up and take part in the non-contact (leagues), that option is available. But the last few years, we’ve had minimal uptake on the non-contact option in hockey. So that tells us that the membership really doesn’t want that or looks at that as an option.”

According to reports, of all members on the board of directors, only Saskatchewan voted against the ban.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow