Why there's no checking in girls hockey....

[hockrun]

This may be part of the reason...
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articl ... ion=Sports
somebody gets hurt, and the police get involved! Really? Don't play the game if you don't want to get hurt. [/url]

[pondhockey]

This may be part of the reason...
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articl ... ion=Sports
somebody gets hurt, and the police get involved! Really? Don't play the game if you don't want to get hurt. [/url]

Nobody plays any sport to get hurt. There is a huge difference between checking and an assault. Punching someone is an assault and has nothing to do with why they don't allow checking in girls hockey. Thankfully it sounds like the player is recovering and hopefully will not have any long term repercussions from this. It still comes down to these are just kids playing a game and anything outside the rules that could cause an injury should not be tolerated.

[MNHockeyFan]

This may be part of the reason...
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articl ... ion=Sports
somebody gets hurt, and the police get involved! Really? Don't play the game if you don't want to get hurt. [/url]

What happened here really has nothing to do with allowing or not allowing checking in girls hockey. The Moose Lake player was injured during a "fracus" (fight), which as we all know is supposed to be a major penalty and game disqualification both in girls and boys hockey.

And to your last comment, nobody "wants" to get hurt while playing hockey or any other sport. Why would they? It's like saying don't drive a car if you don't want to get into a serious crash - makes no sense!

As long as players stay within the rules, girls hockey is a relatively safe sport, and everyone involved should try to keep it that way.

[hocktang]

This may be part of the reason...
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articl ... ion=Sports
somebody gets hurt, and the police get involved! Really? Don't play the game if you don't want to get hurt. [/url]

Also, even checking doesn't mean that someone is going to get hurt. In boys hockey, checking happens all the time and not many people get hurt on clean checks.

[hockrun]

I'm not saying that what happened was right, or that getting seriously injured is part of the game, I'm just saying that you always have that risk. I wasn't at the game, but I think that getting the police involved in something that happens on the ice is a little outrageous. Imagine if the police were arresting the players who fought during the Gophers-Sioux game last week... Neither team would have any players left.

[pondhockey]

I'm not saying that what happened was right, or that getting seriously injured is part of the game, I'm just saying that you always have that risk. I wasn't at the game, but I think that getting the police involved in something that happens on the ice is a little outrageous. Imagine if the police were arresting the players who fought during the Gophers-Sioux game last week... Neither team would have any players left.

I don't mean this as a personal attack on you as I do understand your point - but you probably would feel differently if it was your daughter, sister, best friend or youself. I'm sure no one really believes that what happened was with criminal intent. It is quite possible that the hospital was required to contact the police. I don't know the real circumstances, of course. It will ultimately be up to the county attorney if charges are pressed. It's highly unlikely that any would be. However, I have seen a few fights in hockey - girls and boys, and this should be an example that is discussed with all coaches, players and refs.

[MNHockeyFan]

I'm not saying that what happened was right, or that getting seriously injured is part of the game, I'm just saying that you always have that risk. I wasn't at the game, but I think that getting the police involved in something that happens on the ice is a little outrageous. Imagine if the police were arresting the players who fought during the Gophers-Sioux game last week... Neither team would have any players left.

There have been instances even in the NHL where the police have gotten involved in cases where there have been serious injuries resulting from a blantant intent to injure another player. This is probably not the case here, but since the refs apparently did nothing I have no problem with the police conducting an investigation and trying to determine exactly what happened. Just because you are on a hockey rink does not mean you are exempt from having to obey the law. If it does turn out to be a case of "assault" then the girl(s) responsible should pay some price for their actions, just like they would if it happened on the street.

[hockeya1a]

But just because you are playing in a sport, does not give you the right to intentionally injure someone.
There for you still need to be held accountable and I believe can be held accountable for any sort of assault that results in an injury. But this could be hard to prove. But it is not boxing where you hit and approve of being hit.
I have watched a many a games where the Refs just lets the game be played and that should not the intent. The game should be controlled from start to finish by the Refs.
If a rule states that using the stick for anything other than playing the puck should be called then by the rules it should be called and too often the refs just look the other way and that just opens the door for everything else.
And if I am not mistaken I think I have heard where someone did get charged for and on ice infraction a few years back out east.

But you know if the game is played the way it is suppose to be played you would never have a problem.

[RockHard]

I'm not saying that what happened was right, or that getting seriously injured is part of the game, I'm just saying that you always have that risk. I wasn't at the game, but I think that getting the police involved in something that happens on the ice is a little outrageous. Imagine if the police were arresting the players who fought during the Gophers-Sioux game last week... Neither team would have any players left.

So if you kill or maim someone on the ice it's ok? Where do you draw the line? Throwing punches and creating a dangerous enviroment where a young woman gets paralyzed is serious stuff. Play the "game"...if you want to fight...try martial arts. No one is going to prison.

[Media]

If indeed someone is vicious and malicious in their attempt to injure then the physical aspects of hockey have been superceeded. The line has been crossed so to speak. Physical play in hockey or any other sport has a purpose and intent. ie to stop a play, to gain possesion,etc. In football it is to block, or tackle, to do more is to be out of control, either physically or mentally. The largest problem today as I see it is that players play out of control alot. No one intends for injury to occur, But further they dont understand the potentials for them to occur. If they did Checking from behind wouldnot be a problem. Increased strength, and development of players has increased the potential for injury like this, unfortunatly the accountability peanalties if you will, have lagged behind. Missing a game or two is sorely unacceptable for terminating the career or season of any player. yet unless proven as intent to injure this is the most that happens.
The game must remain physical and tough but imo players need to play in control both mentally and physically

[RockHard]

If indeed someone is vicious and malicious in their attempt to injure then the physical aspects of hockey have been superceeded. The line has been crossed so to speak. Physical play in hockey or any other sport has a purpose and intent. ie to stop a play, to gain possesion,etc. In football it is to block, or tackle, to do more is to be out of control, either physically or mentally. The largest problem today as I see it is that players play out of control alot. No one intends for injury to occur, But further they dont understand the potentials for them to occur. If they did Checking from behind wouldnot be a problem. Increased strength, and development of players has increased the potential for injury like this, unfortunatly the accountability peanalties if you will, have lagged behind. Missing a game or two is sorely unacceptable for terminating the career or season of any player. yet unless proven as intent to injure this is the most that happens.
The game must remain physical and tough but imo players need to play in control both mentally and physically

I agree totally. Skill is what makes hockey fun to watch...not brute force. Accidental hits are one thing...hitting with intent to injure or "hurt" is just plain wrong.

[RockHard]

If indeed someone is vicious and malicious in their attempt to injure then the physical aspects of hockey have been superceeded. The line has been crossed so to speak. Physical play in hockey or any other sport has a purpose and intent. ie to stop a play, to gain possesion,etc. In football it is to block, or tackle, to do more is to be out of control, either physically or mentally. The largest problem today as I see it is that players play out of control alot. No one intends for injury to occur, But further they dont understand the potentials for them to occur. If they did Checking from behind wouldnot be a problem. Increased strength, and development of players has increased the potential for injury like this, unfortunatly the accountability peanalties if you will, have lagged behind. Missing a game or two is sorely unacceptable for terminating the career or season of any player. yet unless proven as intent to injure this is the most that happens.
The game must remain physical and tough but imo players need to play in control both mentally and physically

I agree totally. Skill is what makes hockey fun to watch...not brute force. Accidental hits are one thing...hitting with intent to injure or "hurt" is just plain wrong.

[Puck Bag]

I thought it was interesting that they had already determined that the game was not video taped. By anyone? I know our parents shoot tape almost every game (usually not an entire game but bits and pieces).

Once when I was the Richfield Girl's Director I had to attend a hearing in TC District on an intent to injure charge. It was interesting because USA Hockey does not allow video tape evidence even though the player and coach had it for her defense. You couldn't even mention that you had it to the board.

I'm going to assume that this is going no where fast and that the player recovers in time to play - which will probably mean her team winning a couple of games without her.

(edit - can't type!)

[Just4Fun]

I agree totally. Skill is what makes hockey fun to watch...not brute force. Accidental hits are one thing...hitting with intent to injure or "hurt" is just plain wrong.

Then shouldn't the refs or the league address hits that are not "accidental."
I've seen some so many hits that the purpose is to take out (not to injure I hope) a player from a legit scoring chance. The hit is delivered, the ref hopefully makes a call. The player recieving the hit picks herself off the ice, hopefully not injured. And the offending player gets a measly two minutes for body checking. The offending player has her head looking at the attackers body, stick is nowhere near the puck, if on the ice at all. Sounds like intent to me. But she just gets two minutes. Not a major or a double minor (if you can hand those out). And NO is not "Part of the Game". So now the girl gets dumped 3-4 times during that game. You think she might get pissed and take a swing. Sure she shouldn't, but we all know it happens. Make the players and coaches responsbile for the poor play. No that takes guts. It is easier to give out two minutes. Again and again.

[gopher16]

I recently heard of another injury as the result of a "check" in a girls game. Does anyone know the condition of the jv player injured in the Lakeville vs. Farmington game on 1/31? From what I've been told, the injured player was more "sandwiched" into the boards, and not thrust head-first. She skated off under her own power, but collapsed on the bench. She apparently lost feeling below the neck.

[tomASS]

why is there no checking in girls hockey........because they use their parent's charge card!

[INDUS]

hockey is a physical sport, you will have situations in everygame that could be criminal. the article in the paper doesn't say anything about the Moose Lake girls kicking, maybe the police should get involved, because that is worst then punching someone

[RockHard]

hockey is a physical sport, you will have situations in everygame that could be criminal. the article in the paper doesn't say anything about the Moose Lake girls kicking, maybe the police should get involved, because that is worst then punching someone

If this is true..that is unexcuseable.

[chickendance]

You have got to be kidding me. The article was not about a check. The girls got in a fight...by the way that is not legal in boys hockey either. In the other example its called being cheap not checking. Cheap shots are bad no matter who does them and should be dealt with accordingly by refs, coaches, and PARENTS.

[hockeyrube7]

I thought it was interesting that they had already determined that the game was not video taped. By anyone? I know our parents shoot tape almost every game (usually not an entire game but bits and pieces).

Once when I was the Richfield Girl's Director I had to attend a hearing in TC District on an intent to injure charge. It was interesting because USA Hockey does not allow video tape evidence even though the player and coach had it for her defense. You couldn't even mention that you had it to the board.

I'm going to assume that this is going no where fast and that the player recovers in time to play - which will probably mean her team winning a couple of games without her.

(edit - can't type!)

This is interesting, but they had this story on Fox news just last night, and they showed clips from what seemed to be the game in question, and they showed the girl getting tripped from behind, hitting the goal post with her head, and the girl doing the tripping following through, but that was where it cut off. Could be wrong but I thought that was the incedent they were showing?

[10runrule]

It looked to me like the Fox 9 clip was a "dramatization" or "re-creation" of the event- not the real thing. It doesn't help to have the media dramatizing the sport to make it look bad.

[hockeyrube7]

It looked to me like the Fox 9 clip was a "dramatization" or "re-creation" of the event- not the real thing. It doesn't help to have the media dramatizing the sport to make it look bad.

Could be. And couldn't agree more!

[hockey fan 01]

I believe girls should be able to check. It is girl vs. girl, what is the problem?! It is not like there are boys out there and it is an unfair match up in size and weight! I know many girls that have played boys hockey and could take a check from boys. Like they said, if you don't want to get hurt, don't play a CONTACT sport.

[hipcheck]

There sould be checking.

It would force the players to move the puck quicker.

It would be an advantage to good skating teams.(Can't hit what you can't catch)

It would create an even more interesting aspect to girls hockey.

The equipment is very protective, so why not?

[xwildfan]

One of the dangerous aspects of the girls no-check game is that many players get hurt because they assume that they won't get checked. I have seen quite a few players get injured (fortunately not seriously) as a result of going into the corners staight on thniking they are not going to get hit. The girls have to be coached to always assume they are going to get hit, so they can protect themselves in case they do get checked.