Hockey Canada Puts a Hit on Head Checking

June 5, 2011 12:57 am

Hockey Canada

The rules governing heads checks in local hockey leagues and organizations in Chatham-Kent have changed after the recent Hockey Canada Annual General Meeting. The Hockey Canada board of directors have passed a new zero tolerance policy for head contact and head checks in all leagues.

This change could directly impact the punishment given to local minor hockey players across Chatham-Kent from local girls hockey leagues, to the Cyclones ‘AAA’ organization, as well as local Junior C and Junior B loops, following a head check whether it is intentional or incidental.

The new policies state, directly from HockeyCanada.ca

in minor and female hockey, a minor penalty shall be assessed for all accidental hits to the head, while a double minor penalty, or a major and game misconduct at the discretion of the referee based on the degree of violence of impact, shall be assessed for any intentional contact to the head;
in junior (Junior A, B, C, D) and senior hockey, a minor and a misconduct or a major and a game misconduct shall be assessed for all checks to the head, at the discretion of the referee
a major penalty and a game misconduct, or match penalty, shall be assessed to any player who injures an opponent under this rule

Hockey Canada will also be offering education and prevention strategies to teams and leagues to help stop contact to the head in hockey.