No Hit Hockey

[undercoverbrother]

The son of a good friend is trying out for the Bantam AAA in Dead Rear. I was poking around their website looking for try out times and came across a poll they were running.

It was gauging interest on no hit hockey for Bantam and Midget.

I found the response interesting:

Would you be interested in a "No Hit League" in Bantam and Midget?
Yes for Bantam only (3%)
Yes for Midget only (27%)
Yes for both (40%)
No for Either (31%)

The majority of adult hockey is no hit, which makes me wonder why a no-hit league/option isn't offered for Bantam/Midget players. My recollection is that there is a "drop out problem" in Bantam and Midget. I would if this would help reverse that and keep more kids playing.

[troutman]

I think they should only have hitting at the elite level, for kids that might be going on to Junior hockey.

I gave up hockey at 12 because I was small and was getting creamed.

Why risk concussions for kids that are just playing for fun?

How many gifted players do we lose, because they are small for their age?

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think they should only have hitting at the elite level....

I guess that's why the oilers don't play physical hockey...

[Knut]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think they should only have hitting at the elite level, for kids that might be going on to Junior hockey.

I gave up hockey at 12 because I was small and was getting creamed.

Why risk concussions for kids that are just playing for fun?

How many gifted players do we lose, because they are small for their age?

Agreed. I played top level community and enjoyed the contact (was also extremely small), but by 15 (when i knew i was not going anywhere) I would have switched to non-contact to avoid injury.

[corporatejay]

I stopped playing in midget because house league is basically a goon show. Unless you are playing AA or AAA the bigger kids are out there just trying to tear people's heads off.

Oddly enough, I played contact hockey at UofC and UofA and didn't have a problem with it at all, just seems that the age of 16-20 were people are total idiots.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

just seems that the age of 16-20 were people are total idiots.

There are obviously many exceptions but this is very true, in general. Though people can be idiots at any age as is evidenced by the behaviour in my beer league.

[pylon]

I used to be in the "it isn't hockey without hitting ...rabble rabble... get of my lawn... rabble rabble" camp. But I agree that contact should only be allowed at the absolute elite level. It is pointless sending ankle skating house leaguers out to get their bell rung, when the have a less than zero percent chance of making it, and are just out to slap the puck around and have fun.

When I look at the damage I have to my body, and neck at my age, because of playing contact hockey in my teens, I really wish I could turn the clock back, and have given up hockey before pewee.

I have a knee and a shoulder that makes that of a 85 year old arthritic look good. And dislocating your neck at 16, leads to some very interesting head aches as an adult. All 3 were results of 'idiot' teenagers, trying to prove a senseless point. And all three were results of plays that ended with penalties.

[lanny9]

I was a smaller player as well and at age 13 I received my first major concussion by some guy who was about 700lbs heavier than I (checked from behind into the boards). Back then concussion protocols were unheard of and I was playing the next morning. After a major concussion it is very easy to get subsequent concussions and have had about 10 since, two that I woud consider major. All but two were from hockey, one car accident and one from something falling on me. Long story short, if no-hit hockey saves one kid from going through what I have had to deal with since, I would be all for it. To me it is not worth the memory loss, the constant headaches that never go away, the balance issues etc.

[Gaskal]

I think no-hitting should be in effect up until Midget level. It gives the kids freedom to develop their skating, puck skills and hockey sense. Once they grow into a body that can withstand hits better they can learn to play physically, but there's really no need for 12-year olds running around trying to hammer each other into the boards - adult hockey is one thing but kids really shouldn't be playing that way.

Hockey at this level should be all about showing off your skills and IQ, not how hard you can hit the other guy.

I know if I had a kid in hockey the first thing I'd be worried about is concussions, especially with the random growth spurts in that youth period that can give some kids an advantageous frame.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by heep223

There are obviously many exceptions but this is very true, in general. Though people can be idiots at any age as is evidenced by the behaviour in my beer league.

for some reasons there seem to be lots of idiots in hockey, I play multiple rec-level sports and hockey is the only one that seems to have issues with d-bags trash talking, starting fights, ect.

[foshizzle11]

There should at least be an option for kids under the age of 18.

I don't think this is too far off right now. Isn't there some leagues without hitting in pee wee now? Or whatever is below midget.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I think no-hitting should be in effect up until Midget level. It gives the kids freedom to develop their skating, puck skills and hockey sense. Once they grow into a body that can withstand hits better they can learn to play physically, but there's really no need for 12-year olds running around trying to hammer each other into the boards - adult hockey is one thing but kids really shouldn't be playing that way.

Hockey at this level should be all about showing off your skills and IQ, not how hard you can hit the other guy.

I know if I had a kid in hockey the first thing I'd be worried about is concussions, especially with the random growth spurts in that youth period that can give some kids an advantageous frame.

That and a kid's brain at these ages is in full development mode and getting concussions at this age is the worst thing that can happen. It leads to too many issues down the line, kids can suffer from anger issues, memory loss, depression, anxiety, all from getting a concussion at this critical stage of brain development.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think they should only have hitting at the elite level, for kids that might be going on to Junior hockey.

I gave up hockey at 12 because I was small and was getting creamed.

Why risk concussions for kids that are just playing for fun?

How many gifted players do we lose, because they are small for their age?

Yup, I gave up around 13-14 for the same reason.
If you're below say div. 3, the focus often drifts from playing the game, to kids lining up each other for crushing hits.
When there's such a difference in size around the age hitting is introduced, it makes it pretty dangerous for the smaller guys.
Hitting should either be reserved for the top few division, or introduced much earlier, so that everyone is familiar with it and it's no longer a novelty by the time kids are hitting puberty.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by dino7c

for some reasons there seem to be lots of idiots in hockey, I play multiple rec-level sports and hockey is the only one that seems to have issues with d-bags trash talking, starting fights, ect.

Yeah, I gave up playing as an adult years ago, there seemed to be too many guys who played like they thought they could still make the show at 32 years old. I mean guys cross checking you to the neck and back for standing in front of the net, didn't need it.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

There should at least be an option for kids under the age of 18.

I don't think this is too far off right now. Isn't there some leagues without hitting in pee wee now? Or whatever is below midget.

Agreed, everything seems geared towards producing top level players these days...what happened to playing for the enjoyment of the game?

not sure about Calgary but in small towns they have indoor "pond hockey" leagues. No hitting, no travel, no tryouts, no summer camps ect. Just come for a skate and have some fun. Hockey shouldn't have to take a kids entire life

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by lanny9

Yeah, I gave up playing as an adult years ago, there seemed to be too many guys who played like they thought they could still make the show at 32 years old. I mean guys cross checking you to the neck and back for standing in front of the net, didn't need it.

Yeah I always get cross checked in the back...the ref is like "that's hockey, don't stand in front if you don't want to get hit"

its a whole culture thing...actually sorry its no hit beer league hockey with guys in their 30s but everyone things they are pros, "Paul Blart" refs included

[May 25, 1989]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Yeah I always get cross checked in the back...the ref is like "that's hockey, don't stand in front if you don't want to get hit"

its a whole culture thing...actually sorry its no hit beer league hockey with guys in their 30s but everyone things they are pros, "Paul Blart" refs included

As a goalie in rec hockey, just to let you know, that if you are the guy that needs to park himself in front of the net for screens/deflections then you are no different then the guys you are complaining about. In my experience if you are standing off to the side then none of that will happen. If you are trying to act like Thomas Holmstrom then unfortunately you will have to experience a little if that.
It can't work only one way.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by May 25, 1989

As a goalie in rec hockey, just to let you know, that if you are the guy that needs to park himself in front of the net for screens/deflections then you are no different then the guys you are complaining about. In my experience if you are standing off to the side then none of that will happen. If you are trying to act like Thomas Holmstrom then unfortunately you will have to experience a little if that.
It can't work only one way.

You can simply tie up the stick, as long as the guy isn't in the crease then there should be no cross checking, it is beer league, not pro. Deflection are part of the game, especially with size of goaltender equipment these days, cross checking is not imo.

[CliffFletcher]

You have to think Hockey Canada and various minor leagues around the country are going to have to go no-hitting as the default if they want to address declining enrollment. With what we know about concussions, a lot of parents today simply won't put their kids in contact hockey.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

You have to think Hockey Canada and various minor leagues around the country are going to have to go no-hitting as the default if they want to address declining enrollment. With what we know about concussions, a lot of parents today simply won't put their kids in contact hockey.

That and I imagine it is only a matter of time until class action lawsuits come to their front which in turn will make insurance too expensive for minor hockey leagues.