The way minor hockey will be played on the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Mainland will be changing in a big way come next season.
At a meeting of the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association (PCAHA) on Sunday, Jan. 22, delegates from the 42 member associations, including the Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association (SCMHA) voted 123-39 in favour of eliminating body checking at 'C' level hockey, effective the 2012/13 season, which starts in August/September.
Delegates also voted to support a resolution at BC Hockey's June annual meeting eliminating body checking at the pee wee 'A' level.
Hockey Canada prohibits body checking below pee wee age level (11 to 12 years old) and in female hockey. Various provincial and local jurisdictions further restrict body checking at other age or competitive levels.
Concerns about hockey injuries, in particular head injuries and concussions, have led to discussions at the national, provincial and regional levels about the appropriate age to introduce body checking skills and whether body checking is a necessary component at recreational or 'C' levels.
Up to this point, PCAHA has attempted to offer both checking and non-checking leagues at recreational levels (pee wee 'C', bantam 'C', midget 'C' and juvenile 'C').
In October 2011, PCAHA association presidents requested a review of issues related to body checking, including injury rates. A committee undertook this task and prepared a summary report, which was circulated in early December.
"I was impressed with how our member associations dealt with this matter and the seriousness and concern shown by the associations delegates," said PCAHA president Vanna Achtem. "They reviewed the committee report, consulted with their members and focused on player safety and injury reduction."
Sean Gray, president of the SCMHA said the association's vote was 75 for and 19 against when they voted on the matter, and their vote was based on the response by Coast hockey parents.
"Our vote reflected fairly consistently with the overall vote throughout the PCAHA associations," Gray said. "I would assume that our membership as a whole is pleased with the decision, but there will be some who are not, of course. It is a safety issue for sure, and in my opinion, I think that more players will return and remain playing hockey because of this decision."
