Greater Toronto Hockey League bans body-checking for Bantam As

The Greater Toronto Hockey League has voted to eliminate body-checking for all players under 18 in the less-competitivesingle ''A level."

The 326-195 vote took place Saturday afternoon at Toronto's Humber College and followed an effort by one mother to ban body-checking after her son suffered a concussion.

"There was lots of good statistics presented about the injury rates and penalties and the number of games players are missing becauseofsuspendablepenaltiesthat are connected tobody-checking," GTHL executive directorScott Oakman said.

The new rule will be phased in over four years, starting next season with the 12- and 13-year-olds in minor Bantam A. The ban will eventually extend to Bantam and Midget A, including players up to age 17.

TheGTHLis the largest minor hockey league in the world.

• Hockey Canada votes to ban body-checking in peewee hockey

Proponents of the bansaid they don't like body-checking for players who likely won't make it to the big leagues.

"We certainly encourage the [Ontario Hockey Federation] and Hockey Canada to follow suit and take this issue to the next level," said Frank Carbone, president of the DuffieldDevils.

Others say getting a little roughis a big part of the game.

"My concern iswhen kidsif they go from A-hockey to AA-hockey the kids are bigger and there's a safety concern," said Rick Crumpton, general manager of the Toronto CityBlues. "The kids are bigger and there's a concern about being exposed to body-checking for the first time at age 14 or 15."

Body-checking was banned at the peewee level, where players are under 13,in 2013 by Hockey Canadafollowing similar moves by Hockey Alberta and Hockey Nova Scotia.