Moose Jaw Minor Hockey Moving to No-Hit League for Bantam and Midget B

The MJMHA reviewed this topic-based on Hockey Regina and Saskatoon Minor Hockey implementing the same initiative for the 2019-20 season.

The decision to move to a no-hit league is based on the success of similar changes made by other neighboring minor hockey associations in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton. These associations removed body checking from a minimum of 50 per cent of their bantam and midget hockey in 2015 and 2016 and have seen the following trends:

• Less drop outs from hockey and better retention rates;
• Less post-whistle scrums;
• Less animosity amongst the fans watching the games;
• More games completed on time without being required to be cut down in time;
• Far less aggressive penalties, making the game safer;
• Less penalties being called has meant more time on the ice for all players;
• The opportunity for kids to have fun playing the game with less fear of injury; and
• At the levels where body checking has been removed, players are unlikely to require body checking for any hockey beyond minor hockey.

The main reason for removing body checking from the B levels of Bantam and Midget is to keep kids in the game of hockey and prevent injuries. The tier system is not impacted by this change and will remain full contact with body checking.