Hockey Nova Scotia excited to see mandate by Hockey Canada

By Connor Fraser

HALIFAX – Hockey Canada is introducing a mandate for the 2017-18 season that won’t allow it’s member organizations to have five and six-year-olds in introductory programs playing full-ice.

The move announced Monday is being welcomed by Hockey Nova Scotia who have already implemented this for at least the last ten years.

“Our current programs don’t allow full-ice games,” said director of Hockey Nova Scotia Darren Cossar. “And they’ve all been cross-ice of half-ice games leading up to this, but there had still been pockets across the country that were still playing full ice at this age level. So were excited to see this mandated by Hockey Canada across the country.”

Hockey Canada has been suggesting divided-ice play for its initiation programs for five and six-year-olds for over three decades but some jurisdictions have continued the practice.

Hockey Canada’s vice-president of membership development Paul Carson said the games on full-ice often result in too many breakaways from the best players on either side.

“People are in a hurry to replicate the game at an adult level,” said Carson. “They see the game as having offsides, icings, referees, and a score clock. We just feel that at a five or six-year-old age level that diminishes the developmental opportunities of every youngster.”

Cossar said that rules during full-ice play such as offside can be easily learned later down the road.

“Offside can be taught basically on a whiteboard with the kids and then reviewed in a practice or two,” said Cossar.

Cossar also said that shrinking down the game makes the game better for the children.

“It’s basically been identified that the small area games, taking the game and shrinking it down to the kids participating makes it more enjoyable for them,” said Cossar.

“They’re able to see the game and function and there is a lot of research that backs that.”

Carson echoed that sentiment.

“We know statistically that when your’re in a smaller playing area it increases the number of puck touches, it increases the number of battles for pucks, and it increases the number of shots on goal,” said Carson.

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