Reply To: Body Checking in Youth Hockey

[Tom Molloy]

Dean, I have said it before and I will repeat it.

Good technique and safety go hand in hand. We need the sticks down for safety but also for effective defensive play. We need players to create good checking angles for the same two reasons.

"Body on body and stick on the puck", as Brad emphasized, is both good technique and safe. It is also easy to call as either the player has his stick on the ice and is attempting to play the puck at the same time as contact or the stick is in the air.

I don't like the warning track idea but instead limit U13 to one step checking and U10 to only stick on the puck and incidental contact (as in women's hockey).

We don't need radical changes but instead Good Checking Technique that is Easy for Refs to Call.

'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'