If someone isn't going to play in the NFL, should they be playing tackle football? That reasoning is ridiculous. Checking is a skill just like skating and stick handling.
After 3 rounds of playoffs Montreal isn't going to be able to take it. Carey isn't going to get them a cup. It's a war of attrition and they aren't setup to play that game.
Played house league (Kiwanis) from the age of 4 to 18. Contact started in Peewee and finished in Midget. There were non-contact leagues that were available for the kids that didn't want to play contact. It's never a bad thing to teach kids when they're young how to properly give and take a hit. It also (in my opinion) really helps their on ice awareness and just gives them better hockey smarts.
Oh no, some kid is on a table. IT'S AN EPIDEMIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But people will go into the malls, slide their hands down the handrails, then go eat lunch and think nothing of it, lol!