o/t Hockey terms

Here in Mn. a high school hockey player was paralyzed during game when two other players "checked" him in the back. What does that mean? If it means hit him in the back, why don't they say "hit" him in the back? Happened a couple days ago. Had surgery yesterday to determine if he will ever regain movement from waist down. It was determined it is permanent. Bad news for a young guy and I really feel sorry for him and family.

Never liked hockey because of all the low blows and fighting. It is a shame about this young man being injured like that in a high school event.

flying belgian,

As the old saying goes, "I went to a fight and a hockey match broke out".

There are a lot of really ridiculous sports, including hockey.

Tom in TN

To be checked is to be hit. The offending players should receive a year suspension for sh!t like this. Ruin somebody's life/potential over a game. It's only high school hockey. Hardly going anywhere with it.

Unfortunate part of the game.Hitting from behind is a real bad thing.

Vito

If the puck is off knocked another players stick it is also called checking, to hit someone is called body checking.

I suppose in football it would be called a clip, which makes as much sense as calling it a check to the back.

Geographical differences I guess. I've never heard of that being called checking.

Well..I will give you my credentials and explain the term. I have been involved in hockey as a minor hockey coach and registered trainer for over 45 years. I am currently with the Exeter Hawks of the Ontario Hockey Association. I have seen everything in hockey.
A hit from behind is just exactly that crashing into a player from behind,he cannot see you coming, he cannot protect himself. Open ice hits from behind are dangerous but the hit from behind that takes a player into the boards is the most dangerous,especially if the player is hit four or five feet from the boards,putting you into the boards almost headfirst.
In CHA which is Canada's governing body for hockey a hit from behind is an infraction no matter where it occurs and carrys a two minute penalty and a game misconduct which puts the perpetrator out of the game,from there he can recieve further suspension,if it occurs with 10 minutes or less in the third period.Hits from behind are rare, but do occur. I personally know a young man in his 40's that was hit from behind in a midget game(15 and 16 yrs) when he was 16 years old. he has some use of his lower limbs, can walk with a walker,but spends a lot of his work day in a wheel chair as an accountant. I feel sorry for the young man you described. Hockey has been cleaned up in our country,most uniforms have a "stop" sign in red material sewn on the back of all uniforms..just to remind all players on the ice. Referees don't hesitate to call a "hit from behind" and you are out of the game. Our youth have been educated that hitting from behind is a "No No"

There are many types of checking in hockey, most of which are not penalties. However, there are some that will draw a penalty right away, especially if someone is facing the boards, near or on them and gets hit from behind by body check (crashing into the player), or cross check to the back using the stick like a bumper. A player getting pinched between two defenders can happen at the same time, especially if the puck is up against the boards and one defence man is coming from one direction while another is pursuing from the other, it happens.

Really sorry to hear about that. I hate to see anyone get hurt, and would hope that this accident was a fluke, not two kids taking another out. I sure hope things work out and the young man heals.

But in general, "checking" is not necessarily a bad thing. Hip checking, poke checking, body checking if not overdone, fore checking, lift checking, and many others that are harmless ways of letting a player know that he doesn't have free run. But, things like cross checking can be harmful and are guaranteed penalties.

Hawks are up 1 - 0 over the Flyers right now with 7:00 in the first period. Hockey, only sport in the world as far as I'm concerned.

Mark

If the player has both hands on his stick and uses it to hit the opposing player it is called a cross check and he will get a 2 minute penalty and is considered a dirty play. There are many types of checking in hockey.

I am well aware of what the different hockey terms mean. In general a check is referring to a hit of some sort. In this specific case, it's checking from behind or a hit from behind. Under Canadian rules a player receives a 5 minute major and a game misconduct or a 2 minute minor and a game misconduct. Usually in minor hockey the player receives the 5 minute major. If it was a really dirty hit he may be suspended for more than 1 game or could get a year suspension.
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