The checking vs. non-checking debate takes centre ice in Prince Edward Island. A few years ago, minor hockey officials in London, Ont., wisely made house league hockey non-checking in all age groups while keeping it in competitive hockey's older groups. It's a better system for many reasons, including safety and a sincere effort to keep more kids playing the game. Many kids enjoy hockey for the skating, speed and friendship but have no interest in hitting. Often in the early teens there's such a wide variety in body sizes that allowing hitting adds to the risk of injury. And house league level kids might not be nimble enough on their skates or be able to react quickly enough to avoid hits.
Good for PEI.
Checking and body contact are two different things. Body contact such as rubbing an opponent out along the boards should be fair game in house league. Big open ice hits and running players into the boards should be banned at all levels. Having kids playing at both levels I can say the stick work/hacking and cat calling is worse in house league.
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