A new study shows bodychecking in Pee Wee hockey more than triples the risk of concussion and injury.
The study was done at the University of Calgary with the help of researchers at Laval University and McGill University.
It compared injury rates between Pee Wee leagues in Alberta –where body checking is allowed - and Quebec – where body checking is not allowed.
The study found Alberta players suffered 209 injuries compared to 70 injuries in Quebec players. The ratio was similar for other categories such as severe injury (73 – 20), concussion (73 – 20), and severe concussion (14 – 4).
"The two leagues provided an excellent opportunity to study the public health impact of concussion and injury associated with bodychecking, and the facts speak for themselves," says Carolyn Emery who is a sport epidemiologist, trained athletic therapist, coach, and hockey parent.
The study followed 74 Alberta teams and 76 Quebec teams for a season. A record was kept of when, and how, injuries occurred during a game.
"The public health impact is clear—if bodychecking were eliminated in Alberta Pee Wee, it is estimated that out of the 8,826 players registered, we could prevent over 1,000 game-related injuries per year and over 400 game-related concussions per year," says Emery.
Ash Kolstad is aware of the serious impact bodychecking can have. The 13-year-old was playing hockey in October when he took a big hit. "He hit me from behind and then I hit my head on the boards and then I hit it on the ice as well," says Kolstad. He ended up with a concussion that has ended his hockey career for good.
As for when bodychecking should be introduced into the hockey game, "Is it Pee Wee, is it Bantam, is it at a younger age? I'm not so sure what the right answer is," says Dan Carefoo, Kolstad's former coach.
Even Kolstad's mother still believes bodychecking is an important part of the game. "I like contact sports myself. So you just go out there, and see people getting rocked, and you hope you don't get hurt," says Rosalie Kolstad.
Both Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta say they will look at the research but so far neither government body has plans to make changes to bodychecking rules.
