Junior A
Leagues Launch Unprecedented Pilot Project to Reduce
Violence and Bullying
August 19th,
2010 –
A group of five
Member Leagues within the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL)
are proud to announce an unprecedented joint effort to
eliminate violence and bullying from Junior A hockey.
This initiative
has developed from a partnership between the British
Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Alberta Junior Hockey League
(AJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Manitoba
Junior Hockey League (MJHL), and Maritime Junior Hockey
League (MHL), who have formed together to create the
Junior A Supplement, which will be launched as a pilot
project in the 2010-2011 CJHL Season.
The Junior A
Supplement has been created to protect junior-aged
hockey players by addressing actions such as Blows to the
Head, Dangerous Hits, Accumulated Major Penalties,
Accumulated Misconducts, Instigating and Unnecessary
Fighting. The supplement increases team, coach and player
accountability through the tracking of repeat offenders,
increased suspensions and significant financial penalties.
It builds on the progressive regulations undertaken over the
past decade by the participating Leagues and Branches to
reduce bullying and violence from Junior A Hockey in
Canada.
The pilot
project was developed as a response to the implementation of
Hockey Canada Regulation 6.7, which calls for an
automatic game misconduct whenever a major penalty for
fighting is assessed. The participating Member Leagues have
gone one step further by targeting the types of dangerous
plays that often result in fights and other types of
violence. The Leagues within the pilot project will not be
subject to Hockey Canada Regulation 6.7, which will
be implemented across the remainder of the Leagues in CJHL.
“The five
Member Leagues involved in the creation of the Junior A
Supplement have taken a tremendous step in the effort to
reduce and eliminate violence and bullying in Junior A
hockey,” said AJHL President Craig T. Cripps. “Our League
and its teams, coaches and players are committed to
providing a safe environment for every player while also
maintaining an exciting, physical brand of hockey on the
ice.”
The Junior A
Supplement has been developed in cooperation with the
provincial branches of BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, the
Saskatchewan Hockey Association, Hockey Manitoba, Hockey
North, Hockey Nova Scotia, Hockey P.E.I. and Hockey New
Brunswick.
The two-year
pilot project will compare data from the participating
leagues using the Junior A Supplement and a control
group using Hockey Canada Playing Rule 6.7. The data
will determine whether fighting is reduced in the Junior A
game by ejecting a player for his first fighting major and
the effect on other aggressive and violent behavior.
For more
information on the Junior A Supplement:
Alberta Junior
Hockey League:
President: Craig T. Cripps
Tel: 403-607-4858
Email:
president@ajhl.ca