North Dakota checks policy on checking
January 16, 2012 at 6:15 pm in Grand Forks Herald
In wake of paralyzed Minn. player, N.D. group mulls changesNorth Dakota High School Activities Association officials are examining whether they should follow Minnesota in implementing tougher penalties for illegal checks during hockey games. Continue Reading
I’ve never understood things like this. I understand that what happened to the kid was a tragedy but is it really necessary to change stuff because of a fluke injury? This happens not only with stuff in sports but so much more. Something bad happens and everybody is up in arms demanding change. It was an unfortunate event that took place and my condolences go to the family, I just don’t think we have to change something every time something bad happens.
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Anyone want to talk about how Rugby players in the UK have significantly reduced incidents of concussion even though they don’t wear pads or helmets? Its called restraint and proper technique. As above, this is truly unfortunate, but banning a facet of the game to prevent a fluke injury doesn’t do anybody any good. Fact is there is already a sure fire way to prevent injury while playing hockey…don’t play hockey! Or football or any other game who’s core purpose involves high speed contact with other players.
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The only part of the game they are talking about banning is already illegal: Checking from Behind, Boarding, and Contact to the head. There is a reference to the new Pee Wee Checking rules but that just delays the introduction of checking until Bantam age. If restraint and respect for your opponent were in greater abundance on the ice, as well as teaching and coaching proper technique, we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion. I support the new rules and urge North Dakota to follow Minnesota’s lead, don’t wait until a North Dakota player, boy or girl, ends up in a halo, re-emphasis the this illegal type of play now with the tougher rule. Be proactive, prevent potential injuries instead of being enacting so called “knee-jerk” reactionary measures after a catastrophic injury.
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If checking from behind and boarding are converted to 5 minute majors with game DQs, the refs will be reluctant to make those calls. They have that discretion now, for checking from behind, to call as either a minor, a minor with a major misconduct, or as a major. They have similar discretion on boarding calls.
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As long as you have kids imitating the pro/college brutality you will have to overcompensate with better enforcement of dangerous plays in HS.
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BTW, the head of the MSHSL that passed the new rule, Craig Perry, a Canadian, was the director of GF youth hockey. To argue the way posters here do, minimizing the issue of illegal checking is myopic at best.
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