GTHL and body checks

[woodenboater]

Not a huge hockey fan anymore but imo, this is a good first step to once again producing superior hockey talent in this country. Players need to develop open ice skills vs digging for pucks along the boards (where most hits and concussions occur I'm guessing) and getting hammered.

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/gthl-bans-body-checking-at-a-level-starting-next-season/article23351154/

[bow slayer]

I consider myself a knowledgeable hockey parent, I have a son who played AAA then onto jr B and C,I have a daughter who plays girls AA/A and a 14 year old now who plays AE I have also coached boys and girls hockey at the AAA and AA level . I agree there is no need for checking in lower levels of boys hockey at any age. A hockey is still considered a very competitive level ,for some boys from smaller centres it is the highest level available to them without travelling several hours to play on a zone team.I think it should be below A that no hitting starts.There is still plenty of hockey available for those who want to play non contact.

Edited March 8, 2015 by bowslayer

[misfish]

I call NANNY here. Sorry

 

There is non contact for those that wish to play the game and dance around and enjoy the game of hockey. If you want/allow your child to play rep, and he or she, wants to play rep, then let the game be played as it was meant to be.

 

I have seen my fair share of good hits and ugly hits. Lots of times the ugly hits are due to both teams not liking each other, not from knowing how to hit..

 

Contact is part of the game. If they allow this non contact, it,s going to be a problem. Players that think they can skate and free wheel with the puck, will get a rude awakening when they get their first good smack into the boards or in open ice.

 

I can see it now. Mother father are yelling in the stands,he tried to hurt my son/daughter.

 

 

 

LEAVE THE GAME ALONE.

 

This day and age sucks so bad.

 

Im just ranting here.

[porkpie]

I call NANNY here. Sorry

 

There is non contact for those that wish to play the game and dance around and enjoy the game of hockey. If you want/allow your child to play rep, and he or she, wants to play rep, then let the game be played as it was meant to be.

 

 

LEAVE THE GAME ALONE.

.

I'm with this guy!

[kickingfrog]

Why does checking need to be part of the game for kids?

 

We are, I fear, too far down the path of trying to turn kids into hockey pros. Ten year olds as a checking line specialist.

 

Teams, coaches and leagues focused too much on winning instead of skill development. Canada succeeds at hockey in spite of ourselves.

 

I've played hockey almost 40 years. Checking (which I loved and was really good at) was only part of it for about 7 years (13 years old to 20). Adult rec leagues don't have checking.

[bigugli]

Unless the Ontario hockey federation follows suit, the Toronto kids will fall far behind, nor will they get the opportunity to play travel/ rep hockey.

Not that Toronto is known for good hockey anymore. LOL

[kickingfrog]

AA and AAA will still have body checking.

[misfish]

 

Adult rec leagues don't have checking.

 

Yes,cuz we need to work the next day.

 

[woodenboater]

The way I see it is this. I used to LOVE watching hockey. Loved it but could never afford to play it as a kid, working parents etc,no money. Then the game changed and I dropped out. Pace was too slow (yeah reffing and neutral trap stuff, dump the puck and chase ad nauseum) but the constant checking and inevitable fights wore me down since I loved end to end play without whistles. I probably represent the casual viewer the NHL wants to turn around and bring back to the fold as a hardcore fan. As long as puck handling and open ice skills are secondary, and they are imo, then the game is lost to me, except for Olympic years.

Edited March 8, 2015 by woodenboater

[landry]

I personally agree with the GTHL's decision.

A is not a highly skilled level of competitive hockey. These kids will not likely be playing Junior "Anything". There is no reason to include body checking when stats have proven that there will be a marked increase in head injuries as a result. These kids are going to need their brains when they leave hockey to become doctors, electricians, mechanics. I know too many kids/friends who have lasting concussion symptoms. Our main goals for these kids are to have fun, improve their skills and have them still playing the game as an adult.

[Terry]

if they want to remove body checks so be it

maybe they could replace checks with a mandatory Salchow or triple lutz

[bow slayer]

I personally agree with the GTHL's decision.

A is not a highly skilled level of competitive hockey. These kids will not likely be playing Junior "Anything". There is no reason to include body checking when stats have proven that there will be a marked increase in head injuries as a result. These kids are going to need their brains when they leave hockey to become doctors, electricians, mechanics. I know too many kids/friends who have lasting concussion symptoms. Our main goals for these kids are to have fun, improve their skills and have them still playing the game as an adult.

problem being when gthl A teams travel to tournaments in say places like Windsor they will be forced to play contact because this is not province wide just gta. A is rep hockey and the top level in rural areas of ontario ,I can not see the OHF putting this in place for the rest of the province. Like lready mentioned there is other levels of hockey for kids to play without contact.

[ckrb2007]

As an active player in the MTHL growing up in Toronto, mostly in AA and AAA, I found that I became a better player when body checking WAS invloved. It taught me to keep my head up, to look for people to pass too more quickly and to be more aware. It's a part of the game. Yes, there will always be kids who are out to "head-hunt" but so be it. They will be the same kids doing it in a non-contact enviroment. You can't avoid the meat-heads out there. Same thing goes in non-contact adult leagues. I remember I played a few games in Oakville many many years ago against Mcsorleys brother. OMG....this guy was a complete maniac. I've since stopped watching NHL hockey because of the way they play. I'm a big fan of the hard nose, grinding style of play....not the "cycling in the corner" or "dump and chase" game they play now. God forbid you touch another player when they skate past you these days.........ugh...

[landry]

I agree that tourneys will be awkward to organize...

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course. That was just mine. My kid plays Lacrosse and loves to hit. He is 12. He would rather have contact. I can see that he will not be an elite player so I would rather he didn't.

I put him into lacrosse to toughen him up and it is rough. Lol. He loves it. However, hockey is far more potentially dangerous when it comes to head and spinal injuries. The game is just plain faster Than it was when We played. There is far less room on the ice.

On a side note, I would not like to see higher levels or pro hockey changed in any significant way other than I would like to see a bigger ice surface so that the super skilled players can work their magic a bit more. When I watch the Classic games, I can't believe how much more room and how much slower it was.

[woodenboater]

yup, NHL shoulda decreed that ALL new arenas be Olympic size, but alas...GB didn't do that...

[FloatnFly]

It all boils down to awareness, kids these days are not aware of their surroundings. look at the kids walking to school, most of them have their eyes focused on a cell phone or ipod, more self awareness means a safer product on the ice,

 

yes, you can have a successful product without checking ie Womens hockey, but checking belongs in the game

[msp]

I'm on the fence about this topic.

What about this theory.........

Teach them at a young age to hit properly and to take a hit properly ( similar to lacrosse )

By the time they are 10-13 years old they already know how to avoid the contact by keeping their head up and moving the puck.

Introducing contact at an age like 13 and 14 when they are full of piss and vinegar might not be the right time.

[kickingfrog]

I'm on the fence about this topic.

What about this theory.........

Teach them at a young age to hit properly and to take a hit properly ( similar to lacrosse )

 

 

They did that already and it didn't "work". I think there are too many more moving parts to learning hockey compared to most other team sports. Football and lacrosse are 2 collision sports but the skill of skating, and the large increase in speed, are games changers.

[bigugli]

This idea that non-contact will stop the fighting is ludicrous. Bullies will be bullies. Short of expelling players from a league the fights won't stop. Half of the brawling mentality is learnt at home. Not on the ice

I believe a league in BC was contemplating imposing sanctions upon a group of parents after a brawl in the stands. Heck, my kid brother was banned from a provincial softball tournament for being a complete jerk at his son's game. Those who are fans of the Philly goon squad will continue to push their kids into that style of hockey. Look at the intermission commentary. We scorecard teams and players on the number of hits delivered. That never used to be a meaningful stat. And that style of hockey will remain popular as long as coaches in big league hockey keep the goon squad in their game plan

[woodenboater]

 

They did that already and it didn't "work". I think there are too many more moving parts to learning hockey compared to most other team sports. Football and lacrosse are 2 collision sports but the skill of skating, and the large increase in speed, are games changers.

 

While lacrosse is a pretty rough sport, players can only go as fast as their feet allow. skates allow players to hit others like runaway freight trains. big difference and less control. regardless, the majority of parents chose this route and I wouldn't be surpassed to see other leagues follow suit. I would bet that if GTHL teams don't travel as much because of the checking issue, then other leagues will have to scramble to find other teams to fill the void. It's only a matter of time imo.

 

there will always be checking in the game, that's a given. but let young kids develop their stick and skating skills so they can then learn how to throw elbows like Gordie Howe

[woodenboater]

This idea that non-contact will stop the fighting is ludicrous. Bullies will be bullies. Short of expelling players from a league the fights won't stop. Half of the brawling mentality is learnt at home. Not on the ice

I believe a league in BC was contemplating imposing sanctions upon a group of parents after a brawl in the stands. Heck, my kid brother was banned from a provincial softball tournament for being a complete jerk at his son's game. Those who are fans of the Philly goon squad will continue to push their kids into that style of hockey. Look at the intermission commentary. We scorecard teams and players on the number of hits delivered. That never used to be a meaningful stat. And that style of hockey will remain popular as long as coaches in big league hockey keep the goon squad in their game plan

 

exactly and why some are turning away from the NHL. Look, we all love a rough game but if the best hockey is played without fighting, then maybe the brain trusts in NY would get a clue...

[bigugli]

exactly and why some are turning away from the NHL. Look, we all love a rough game but if the best hockey is played without fighting, then maybe the brain trusts in NY would get a clue...

One bigger reason for people turning away from the NHL is the cult of entitlement that the NHLPA has created for their membership. A bunch of overpaid prima donnas.

[Paudash]

what most of you do not realize is the GTHL A hockey is the house league of 20 years ago. None of these kids will ever play hockey for anything other than fun. Many kids quit at this age because of the contact. Also they are still allowing contact just no hitting

[kickingfrog]

Rogers just had a coach on national television say: "You don't have the luxury of working on skills during a hockey practice."

 

Just let that sink in.

 

 

Skill development is a luxury.... in practice.

 

I don't want to rip on the coach (or coaches). They're volunteers and so many do so much good but they and the parents are too wrapped up in winning instead of developing ability.

Edited March 9, 2015 by kickingfrog

[bigugli]

Rogers just had a coach on national television say: "You don't have the luxury of working on skills during a hockey practice."

 

Just let that sink in.

 

 

Skill development is a luxury.... in practice.

 

I don't want to rip on the coach (or coaches). They're volunteers and so many do so much good but they and the parents are too wrapped up in winning instead of developing ability.

 

It's still about the prima donna mentality. Nobody likes a loser, and every one wants to back a winner. A good coach would take the view that "you can learn a hell of a lot from losing, and a lot less from winning".