Lindros calls for stricter rules on checking in youth hockey
Body checking in youth hockey is an unnecessary risk depending on the age and level of play, says former NHLer Eric Lindros, whose own career ended after he suffered a number of concussions.
Unless athletes are playing the top-level “triple A” or track for a professional career, “why are we even hitting if you are playing single A or double A hockey and you are 16 or 17 years old?” he said at Queen’s Park on Tuesday after a press conference marking the first anniversary of Rowan’s Law, named in honour of an Ottawa-area teen who died as a result of concussion she suffered on the rugby field.
Hockey Canada banned bodycheck- ing under the age of 13 in 2013. Two years later, the Greater Toronto Hockey League — considered the largest youth hockey league in the world — banned it for all ages in its single A division.
“Everyone hits puberty at different times,” he said, recalling when he was younger and playing a year up and some of his teammates were already the size of grown men. “There’s a big difference in physical strength, and approach . . . if we could wait until everyone” got to that same level of maturity that could help avoid some serious injuries.
“I see that it’s gotten better … but maybe one more year” past 13 in the GTHL could be considered, he added.
Lindros was at the Ontario legislature along with former CFLer Tim Fleiszer, Rowan’s father Gordon Stringer and PC MPP Lisa MacLeod who introduced Rowan’s Law.
Fleiszer said when it comes to soccer, it’s time Canada banned heading for young kids.
“There has been progress there — Hockey Canada (raised) the age of body checking, and the initial reports are that it has been successful in reducing head injury,” said the fourtime Grey Cup champion who is now head of the Concussion Legacy Foun- dation in Montreal.
But in the U.S., a safe soccer campaign has eliminated headers for athletes under 12.
“I think I’d like to see that happen here in Canada — there just doesn’t seem to be any good reason to be hitting children under the age of 12 in the head at all. So that’s one area that I think we can continue to improve.”
Lindros and Gordon Stringer are part of a committee that will make recommendations to the Ontario government this fall to boost concussion protocol and prevention. MacLeod, who represents Nepean-Carleton and helps as a trainer for her young daughter’s hockey team, said it’s time other provinces and the federal government need to bring in similar legislation to “prevent treat and make sure that people are aware of the problems with concussions.”
On Monday, Manitoba introduced the Concussion in Youth Sport Act that would ensure better training and identification by coaches.
Lindros, who is part of a committee now making recommendations on how the Ontario government can move forward with Rowan’s Law,
said while he feels strong overall, “Do I get tired and irritable? Well yah, but I’ve got three kids under three,” he added. “So I don’t know what is truly associated and what’s not. Overall, I think I’m on the lucky side of things and very grateful that I had the representation that I did when I was playing and took the time that was needed — I think I’m ahead of the game.”