This paper documents the effects related to the introduction of body-checking in ice hockey for players of 12 and 13 years old (Pee-Wee Division). Four different studies were conducted on 49 teams of Pee-Wee hockey players: 28 teams played in a league allowing body-checking, and 21 teams played in a league banning body-checking. The topics studied were (1) the attitudes and beliefs of coaches, parents, and players about body-checking; (2) the morphological and biomechanical differences among Pee-Wee players; (3) the numbers and types of penalties within Pee-Wee leagues playing with and without body-checking; and (4) the injury rate within Pee-Wee leagues playing with and without body-checking. Among the most interesting results were the facts that, in that age category, some players were found to be twice as heavy and twice as strong as others. Larger players could exert an impact force 70% greater than those exerted by smaller players. Contrary to popular belief, playing without body-checking resulted in fewer “hostile aggression penalties.” Finally, the rate of fractures was twelve times greater for the league allowing body-checking. The results are discussed in the light of regulating actions taken in Quebec and the Canadian provinces toward body-checking in the Pee-Wee Division.

Studies on the behaviors of ice hockey players during a game have been done mostly by analyzing the game-sheet reports. This approach has provided information on the type and number of penalties and the number of goals and assists. In this study, the authors used this approach and also included data on the number of shots taken and body checks given. Eighty four games played at the Bantam level (14 to 15 years old) were analyzed from the videotapes and the game-sheet reports. The results indicated significant differences between the behaviors of forwards and defensemen on the number of shots on goal and the number of goals and assists obtained, but no significant differences on the total number of body checks given and the total number of penalties assessed. The results also showed that, in each team, nearly 46% of the aggressive penalties were accumulated by only 20% of the players on the team.

Numerous studies and reports have shown that ice hockey at the minor league level is often too violent and that modifications are required in how players behave during games (penalties taken) and in their use of body checking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an intervention strategy on three dependent variables: the frequency of legal body checks per game, the type and frequency of penalties, and the number of injuries. The intervention strategy, based on self-supervision, was provided to 28 coaches at the Bantam level (14–15 years old). Although the coaches expressed a high level of satisfaction with the content of the intervention strategy, and stated that they would use it in the future, no significant differences were noticed in any of the dependent variables. This study, however, does provide a template for researchers who wish to validate an intervention strategy for coaches working in a normal coaching environment.

The objective of this investigation was to determine the incidence, types, and circumstances of injuries that occurred during the 1987/1988 and 1988/1989 hockey seasons. Five hockey leagues, three in the Québec region and two in the Outaouais region, were studied, and over 300 games were observed. Phase 1 consisted of establishing anthropometric (height and weight) and biomechanical (force of impact and maximal skating speed) profiles for each player. Phase 2 consisted of recording the circumstances surrounding each injury. This was accomplished through observers at games as well as through interviews with players after games or, in case of injuries requiring medical intervention in hospitals, through follow-up telephone conversations with seriously injured players. In all cases, information regarding diagnosis, causes, and circumstances surrounding the injuries was recorded on a recording form. Important variations were found in the height and weight of players, with differences in range reaching 41 cm (16.4 in.) and 47.7 kg (105 lb), respectively. A 357% difference in the force of impact during body checking between the weakest and the strongest player was also observed. In terms of injuries, body checking caused 46.2% of all minor injuries, whereas the stick was responsible for 21%. Contusions were the most frequent type of injuries, whereas major injuries consisted of fractures and sprains. Body checking was identified as the cause of 75% of all major physical trauma recorded during both seasons. Coaches appeared not to be aware of most minor physical impairments of their players.

The purpose of this study was to verify if the behaviors of hockey coaches at the Bantam level (ages 14 to 15) change during different game score differentials. Sixty-five games were videotaped using a split-screen technique that allowed the coder to see and hear the behaviors of the coaches as well as the ongoing play on the ice. Each game was coded using an observation form developed to assess seven different coach behaviors. The results showed that when they were losing, coaches (n = 23) tended to disagree more with the referee than when they were winning. Also, when losing, the coaches exhibited conflicting behaviors such as encouraging their players to respect the rules while at the same time showing their disagreement with these rules. In general, although the coaches displayed few behaviors to encourage aggression directly during a game, their behavior could play a major role in influencing aggressive acts in their players when losing.