Hitting taken out of the game for players under 13
It's official - The Hockey Canada Board of Directors voted to remove body-checking from Peewee hockey.
A modification to playing rule 6.2b was approved, removing body-checking from Peewee levels and below within leagues governed by Hockey Canada.Yes, that includes Woolwich!
The changes will take effect in the upcoming 2013-14 hockey season, which begins in September.
In addition to this rule change, a work group has been directed to build a mandatory national checking and instructional resource program to support the progressive implementation of checking skills at the Novice to Peewee levels to better prepare players for body-checking at the Bantam and Midget level.
For more information, see these sources: