BODY CHECKING IN RECREATIONAL HOCKEY
Effective the 2011 - 2012 season the Ontario Hockey Federation [OHF] determined that Body Checking would be removed from all age divisions of House League and House League Select hockey.
At that time, it was clarified that the OHF ruling did not affect Local League hockey within the OMHA. The ruling applied to House League and Rostered Select only and did not impact regulations for Local League.
The decision to include body checking in Local League programming remained that of the Local League/member associations. Many Local Leagues made the decision to remove Body Checking from their programming.
At the OMHA Board of Directors meeting of February 22, 2015, a motion was approved that effective the 2015 - 2016 season, Body Checking will be removed from all OMHA recreational programming.
Effective with the 2015-2016 season, the OMHA will commence a two year pilot project removing Body Checking from recreational hockey.
This pilot will affect the Bantam, Midget and Juvenile divisions in those categories where Body Checking may remain, i.e. Local League (LL), and Minor Development (MD).
The OMHA seeks to provide programming to achieve objectives consistent with Hockey Canada’s Long Term Player Development (LTPD) model, and provide players with opportunities within the recreational stream of hockey best suited to their development.
Any questions pertaining to the Pilot should be directed to your OMHA Regional Executive Member.
Sincerely,
ONTARIO MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Richard Ropchan
Executive Director