After watching, scouting and coaching a full season of USA Hockey bantam and midget hockey in 2021-22, there are plenty of aspects of our great game that need tinkering in order to improve the experience for youth hockey players.
From the very first game back on August 30 at the Canton Ice House to Monday’s 15 Only final in Plymouth, Mich., there were great team and individual performances and scintillating games that had you on the edge of your seat.
USA Hockey has done a lot of great things over the last few decades and it’s showing in results at the NHL draft, scoring charts, and international events. However, even good organizations need checks and balances and must be held accountable.
Here are five things I’d like to see changed for the betterment of youth hockey going forward:
Touch-up offsides, icing on penalty kill
Prior to the 2021-22 season, USA Hockey implemented a pair of rules that failed miserably. The organization nixed touch-up offsides in favor of it being automatically called when the puck goes in the offensive zone. It also prevented shorthanded teams from icing the puck while on the penalty kill.
Both killed the pace of games and resulted in players picking up bad habits that won’t work at the next level. Obviously, hockey is meant to be fun and enjoyable for players. Slowing the game down due to excessive whistles hampers that. More concerning, players didn’t learn power play breakouts and other intricacies of the game that were prevented due to icing being called while on the penalty kill. Due to the new offside rule, there were a lot of soft plays and turnovers in the neutral zone.
Hockey is a complicated sport. Many at USA Hockey overcomplicate it. Let’s get back to letting the kids play hockey and learning how it will be played at the next level.
Penalties ruin flow
The situation was exacerbated at nationals, but a troubling trend in USA Hockey sanctioned bantam and midget games is the constant parade to the penalty box.
USA Hockey absolutely should do everything in its power to protect youth players, but it needs to work with officials to avoid ticky tack calls and not whistle infractions on players whose hits are hard and clean.
There was a lack of flow at nationals because of all the constant specialty teams situations. It’s frustrating for players and coaches on the ice and bench and makes evaluating difficult for scouts and colleges in the stands watching.
Refs lacking accountability
The game winning goal that shouldn’t have been in the 14-U National Championship contest between Chicago Mission and Shattuck-St. Mary’s exemplified the need to hold referees accountable.
It was an egregious error. It’s understandable that referees and linesmen will miss calls. Human error is a part of life, especially as the game continues to evolve and become faster pace.
I can live with officials making mistakes. What needs to end is the unwillingness of many officials to come over and explain themselves to coaches and captains.
I do not condone abuse of officials, but at the same time, I frown upon those in stripes who deem themselves to be bigger than the game and make it more about them than the players competing.
Nets coming off the pegs
The nets come off way too easily at most youth rinks. Keeping in mind that expenses and safety concerns will prevent the deep pegs that are used for NHL and college games, there needs to be a middle ground. Something needs to be done so nets don’t come off as easily as they do now. It kills the flow and inadvertently allows goaltenders to kick the net off too easily when going post-to-post.
Less is more
‘AAA hockey’ as it’s called has become increasingly watered down over the past decade. I’m not sure what the solution is, but there needs to be some tinkering to benefit all players. There were far too many lopsided results that I witnessed this season. Blowouts don’t benefit either team on opposing sides of the scoreboard. As we continue to grow the game and try to get more kids involved, it is imperative we slot kids into the right talent and competition level each season. It will cut down on costs, allow for more competition and increase fun, which is a trifecta in creating more desire for kids to stay in hockey.
