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PeeWee checking ban: Why Hockey Canada, USA Hockey are getting it right

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Last Updated on Thursday, 06 June 2013 18:08

By Chris Peters
untedstatesofhockey.com

Last weekend, Hockey Canada announced its board of directors voted to eliminate body-checking from the PeeWee level nationwide. USA Hockey is headed into its third season with no checking in PeeWee after making a similar decision in 2010, while local governing bodies in Quebec have had no body checking in PeeWee since 1986. Hockey Alberta and Hockey Nova Scotia had also planned for PeeWee checking bans just prior to Hockey Canada’s announcement.

Like USA Hockey, Hockey Canada will deal with a healthy amount of backlash, and already has. However, when armed with their mountain of medical and cognitive research, it’s the absolute right move and the game will be better because of it.

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Lack of feeder programs hurting Rochester hockey

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 June 2013 15:15

By Peter Knutson
Let’s Play Hockey

Where have all the youth teams in big cities gone? Currently, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester only have about five youth hockey associations as compared to well over 15 teams only 20 years ago. During the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s, Minneapolis and St. Paul teams like Washburn, Southwest, Johnson, Harding, Roosevelt, Edison, and South rivaled each other at the youth and varsity level.

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Can bodychecking be safe?

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Last Updated on Thursday, 06 June 2013 18:02

From an AAU Ice Hockey editorial

This may be the hockey question of our time. With more and more concerns about concussions and medical studies looking into the long-term effects of such injuries, many would say that we are about 20-plus years overdue in asking this question.

If not for the NHL and the few players who may someday advance to that level, then there would be little or no justification for checking to exist within youth hockey. However, as long as checking remains part of the NHL, then some will insist that it continue for youth hockey.

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This week's cover: April 16, 2013

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Last Updated on Thursday, 06 June 2013 18:17

Click the image above for a PDF of this week's cover of Let's Play Hockey