Hockey Alberta eliminates body checking in peewee division

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Rob Litwinski, executive director of Hockey Alberta, talks about eliminating body checking in all categories of peewee hockey starting next season, in Edmonton, Alberta on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

EDMONTON – Hockey Alberta is eliminating body checking in all categories of peewee hockey starting next season.

Penalties will be assessed to any players who continue to body check.

Board chairman Rob Virgil says there is overwhelming evidence that body checking is the most consistent risk factor for injuries and concussions in kids playing hockey.

Peewees are 11 and 12 years old.

Hockey Alberta’s board of directors set up a committee last year to review research on body checking and collect feedback from other Hockey Canada branches.

The committee recommended that a player safety strategy be developed that focuses on reducing serous injuries at all levels.

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