14 year old Toledo HS player paralyzed after a hit from behind. All the players really need to realize the seriousness of a hit from behind.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081202/NEWS16/812020371

this is so tragic. Unfortunately we all see checking from behind virtually every time our kids take the ice. Coaches need to step in and teach the proper methods and refs need to have zero tolerance on this issue. There is simply no place in the great game of hockey for cowardly acts like hitting from behind.

How about a 10 game suspension for malicious check from behind and 5 for any other?

Fair given what is at stake for the player being hit.

I did not see any video of this but it is becoming more common these days to see these type of injuries occur.

USA Hockey needs to take a hard look at when checking should be introduced to the game and do a better job teaching coaches how to teach players how to check and receive a check.

Many players when they arrive at peewee are given a brief clinic on checking and off to the games......

All mites and squirts should be instructed on angling an opponent off and the right approach to go into the corner and how to avoid / defend a check.

The concept of checking is to remove the player from the puck. Everyone will have the big hit at some time but that is not the goal.

Hockey is a tough physical sport. There are always going to be injuries but with the right coaching and USA mandate from the groud up these type of catastrophic injuries can be prevented.

Now we need the governing bodies to step in and enforce the rules. this means USA Hockey, AHAI, IHOA and we need coaches to really step up with the proper teaching methods. the checking clinics that are required when kids become pee wees are fine as far as they go, but once those are done, what teaching is there regarding proper checking? perhaps there should be a required checking clinic each year to enforce the fundamentals of checking. we just do not need to hear about any more young players be injured from such a senseless act.

This is indeed a very sad and probably an isolated incident in hockey, so I am not certain what and how it can be prevented. My thoughts and prayers go out to the player and his family. However, in speaking with a number of friends, the common theme is that HS hockey tends to have more injuries than AAA. In the past 2 AAA Mm showcases I saw very limited physical contact, and a lot of highly skilled skating and stick handling. From what I've been told when discussing this incident with friends is that HS tends to be a bit more hack hockey which results in a greater number of injuries.

I agree with that. The less skill, the more hacking that goes on. But, hits from behind do happen at every level all the way up to the pros. Having a once a year refresher on checking and maybe something like an annual "no checking from behind" saftey awareness DAY would help keep the issue at the forefront of the players' minds. Top it off with multiple game suspensions for infractions.

Even one of these incidents is one too many.

I have a Bantam Major player at AAA. Since the mandatory Pee Wee checking clinic my son had to take, we have not had a coach spend any time on giving and receiving body checks in open ice, in front of the net and near the boards. Although the most important issue here is player safety, it is also a major part of the game, one that Michigan and Canadian teams seem to spend more time on. We practice stick handling, shooting, and skating hours on end but seem to overlook practicing proper and safe body play. Would like to see greater emphasis from coaches on this in Illinois Hockey!

the reality is that more kids play HS hockey than AAA hockey. thus the need for greater enforcement of the rules in HS hockey games. there are all different walks of hockey life playing HS hockey from skilled travel players to kids who may never have played travel to kids who may have not played higher than bronze or silver. the kids in HS are more focused on hitting than on hockey and they hit with hands high and the refs call nothing. refs at every level need to call the game as it should be called. players and coaches will moan and groan but its for the safety of the kids and that's the important thing.

You are right. High school hockey in Illinois is no where near near what it was 25 years ago. ( granted you probably have 5-8 teams that defy this )

AAA has players who know how to give and receive a check. Thry also have the speed and skill to put themselves in a position not to get killed.

I have a son who is a peewee who is pretty good....I'm not seeing an NHL draft pick here. From what I have seen this year at the few few high school games I have seen, my son will not be playing hockey unless he is on strong AA team or a AAA team at that age. It is a minor miracle that we do not see more bad occurences at the HS level.

The great high and mighty USA hockey should step up and start enforcing dangerous penalties. Even when a ref makes a boarding call it is still from behind.This should be an automatic game misconduct and at least two game suspension. The next infraction gone for the rest of the year. I guarantee these kids will think twice before doing it again especially when the parents are paying the $$ for them sitting. The NHL is already discussing about enforcing hits from behind. Bottom line is you don't do it.