The decision by Hockey Canada to eliminate bodychecking at the Atom level has some saying it had to be done while others wondering why it hasn’t always been part of the play.
Lynn Kellar, president of the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association, said he wasn’t surprised by the ruling, which came just one season after Hockey Canada gave the green light to bodychecking for Atoms (age nine-10).
“When [Hockey Canada] reviewed the studies and saw the actual amount of the increased injuries, they had to make the decision,” said Kellar, who agrees with bodychecking being initiated only at the PeeWee level (age 11-12).
“It’s better at that age [Atom] that the kids are focused on developing their skills,” and not on checking, he reasoned.
A backlash against the move by a quartet of major hockey associations, however, also has led to Hockey Canada creating a conditional situation where bodychecking will be allowed in the dissenting regions.
“Hockey Canada should have made it mandatory across the board,” Kellar said about the alteration to the ruling that will see the Ontario Hockey Federation, the Ottawa District Hockey Federation, Hockey Newfoundland/Labrador, and the Saskatchewan Hockey Association maintain bodychecking at the Atom level as part of a pilot project by Hockey Canada, which the organization says will be monitored closely by researchers.
“That’s the problem with minor hockey in Canada is that we haven’t been consistent,” Kellar stressed.
Bodychecking has not been allowed in Atom hockey locally, as mandated by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, which oversees minor hockey in this area.
But Larry Beck, who coached the Sunset Country Ford Atom ‘AA’ Mustangs last season, said he can’t understand why bodychecking at that age level isn’t a part of the landscape already.
“I would like to see it,” he said. “They could govern it to allow body contact without having guys running around and hitting each other. Let them learn to bump and bang a bit.
“It’s pretty hard to go in as a first-year PeeWee player and go up against second-year PeeWees who are 40-50 pounds heavier and know how to check,” added Beck.
“Some kid is going to get nailed and have his shoulder broken, and then maybe he won’t want to play hockey anymore. [Players] have got to get their heads up sooner or later.”
Beck foresees a severe injury risk for players who are not exposed to checking travelling out of province to play teams whose system allows for hitting, and vice-versa.
“It’ll be pretty tough to send a team that hasn’t been bodychecking all year, especially as late as in March, against kids that know what’s going on [in terms of hitting],” said Beck.
“No one in their right mind would join their team up with a tournament like that.”
Fort Frances referee-in-chief Trevor Scott said his experience in other regions with bodychecking being present at the higher levels of Atom hockey was nothing but positive.
“I went to an officiating course in southern Ontario and watched Atom ‘AA’ and ‘AAA’ teams used bodychecking, and it was fantastic hockey to watch,” raved Scott.
“It’s good at those levels as long as they’re taught properly how to do it.
“In ‘A’ division, I wouldn’t agree with it,” Scott added. “Those kids are playing the game more for fun. They’re ankle draggers.
“If you’re not a good skater, you shouldn’t be involved in bodychecking,” he stressed.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
