Quote:
Originally Posted by Derek Sutton
I know that this is the biggest argument from the "pro hitting" crowd. Should these kids even really be trying out for AAA hockey? If they can't handle try outs they will not be able to handle a full year of it, but that is a call the parents sneed to make. It's the same kid getting smoked at bantam try outs or pee wee evaluations, experts say that 11-12 yr olds are more susceptible to injury and concussions then a 13-14 yr old. But like I said earlier, it is all moot as there will be no contact in minor hockey within 10 years.
I also want to say that down here in Lethbridge, there are 9 first year bantams on the AAA team,of course none of them played contact last year. Smart hockey players who know to keep there heads up, some of them are pretty small to, but they are doing just fine against all the older, bigger teams.
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Those first year bantams from Lethbridge are not a fair example for no hitting. Entering this season each of them would've played at least 100+ games of contact hockey. That group were fully prepared for contact at the bantam level and have been trained for contact and physical play since atom.
I'm familiar with that 01 group and their coaching. They have all played spring hockey since early novice age and their development is the byproduct of a good spring hockey program.