Bodychecking Vote at the AGM

By now most may have heard that the motion to remove body checking from the NYHL for the coming season was voted down by the Member Clubs by a margin of 62% to 38%. This means that there will be body checking in the NYHL from Minor PeeWee through the under 21 age divisions. Due to the low incidence of injury in the NYHL the status quo should not set off any alarm bells for either players or parents. The Referee Development Program which includes clinics, frequent supervision and mentoring is paying dividends in the calibre and motivation of the Officials the NYHL is putting on the ice. Those programs will be continued as the League recognizes that the officials are the key factor in ensuring the safety of players in game situations.

Going forward, it must be recognized that while the majority is significant and sufficient to enable the continuance of body checking, the minority opposed to body checking is significant and growing. The league and board of directors wishes to assure those who voted with the minority on this issue, that their concerns and desires have been heard loud and clear. It may be that these two concepts of the game are not mutually exclusive. The question the league needs to investigate now is whether it is possible to satisfy both those who are interested in maintaining body checking in the game, and those who are looking for a competitive non-body checking alternative. To that end, the NYHL board has authorized the league office to put together a committee, with representation from member clubs,  to look into any and all future options that might benefit the league and those who participate in it.