I can't remember when we started when I was playing.
I think peewee was when hitting started for division 1-3, and then I started hitting in bantam, because I was in a lower division.
In the lower division (5 or 6? I can't remember) hitting wasn't really used as a tool to play the game, but was instead used as an excuse for the bigger guys to just take runs at everyone.
I don't feel like they did a very good job teaching the responsible use of body contact.
Hockey wasn't as much fun in bantam, because it was less hockey, and more dodging 6'2" 13 year olds who've just discovered the damage their new body can do to smaller guys.
If anything, they should be introducing body contact earlier, but slowly. One year, introduce pinning along the boards and rubbing guys out, next year teach checking along the boards etc etc...
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