Stratford, ON - On Wednesday, April 20th at the ALLIANCE Hockey Representative Council Meeting, a vote was passed to gradually eliminate body checking in MD hockey beginning in the 2016-17
season with the 2003 birth-year (Minor Bantam) participants.
For the 2017-18 season, the same 2003 birth-year participants (who will be playing in Major Bantam) will continue with no body checking in MD hockey. This process will continue until body checking at MD is eliminated (the 2003 birth-year participants will complete their final season of MD hockey in 2019-20).
The gradual elimination of body checking at the Minor Development level will provide ALLIANCE Hockey participants with a stream of non-body checking competitive hockey. Minor Bantam through to Midget AAA and AA/A will see no changes and continue to operate with body checking.
“This decision will allow skilled players an opportunity to participate at a level of competition above recreational house league and will still allow for body contact but will see the elimination of body checking", said Tony Martindale, Executive Director of ALLIANCE Hockey.