Body Checking vs Non-Body Checking
When signing up for for our general hockey program (not Female Hockey) in Peewee, Bantam or Midget divisions, please note that you will have to decide between Bodychecking and Non-Bodychecking (Contact).
To clarify: Hockey 1, 2, 3, 4 and Atom play Non-Bodychecking(Contact) hockey automatically. At the higher levels, you may have a choice between the two for the House leagues. Please be sure to make the RIGHT choice for your child.
As always, BMHA strives to provide options to our parents, however, we can only offer Non-bodychecking (referred to as Contact) teams as registration numbers allow.
Things to consider BEFORE registration
Hockey, by its nature, puts players at risk of severe injury. While the rules of the game attempt to make the game safe for all, incidents do happen. The intensity and shorter decision times associated with the body-checking game may put players at increased risk of injury, particularly those players who are smaller or less-skilled.
Burnaby Minor Hockey has implemented programs to assist players who choose to play body-checking. These include teaching coaches and players the proper technique to give and receive a body-check. The instruction that is offered has a limited scope and cannot be relied on to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury. Parents and players must also understand that even a “clean” check can do significant damage.
The BC Amateur Hockey Association has also instituted new penalties in an attempt to control the level of aggression on the ice. However, parents and players must understand that minor hockey games are not officiated by professionals and that the conduct of players can be controlled only to a limited extent by the officials.
While all registered players have insurance coverage offered through BCAHA, the amounts are limited and may not be sufficient to compensate parents and players in the event of injury.
Please keep in mind that Peewee players will only be 11 & 12 years old, Bantam players will be 13 and 14 and Midgets will be 15, 16 and 17. Due to the wide range of ages and sizes within the various divisions, Burnaby Minor Hockey Association’s executive urge all parents and players who are interested in body-checking hockey to take some time to consider the above information and to make their own inquiries so as to be fully informed on the subject of bodychecking before making a final decision as to which league the player registers in.