STATEMENT: LOSING PLAYERS
"Some small centres may end up losing players as they will have too many players for 1 team, but not enough for 2 teams. "
In the urban areas there is the possibility of renewing the Minor Midget division for 15 years old players.

STATEMENT: SMALL CENTRES
"Will hurt smaller centres" In rural areas we already have 15, 16 and 17 years old players participating in the same division without undue problems. In rural Canada to ice hockey teams there is a need to use players with a three-year age spread on the same team.

STATEMENT: PHYSICAL DISPARITY
"The physical disparity between a boy, still 14 years old and a lad of 171/2 years. This leads to the potential for injuries."

AND

EMOTIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL DISPARITY
"In addition, I am also concerned that we are going to create an environment where the younger boys are put in an 'advanced' emotional and psychological situation that may not be healthy as far as alcohol, drugs and sex."

AND

CHANGE ROOM POLITICS
"Putting the younger boy in the same change room as the older one could bring about an unfavourable development in the younger child due to lack of true understanding of issues."

AND

15 YEAR AGE
"Should the age change happen, it is probable that a larger number than usual of the 15 year old group will leave competitive hockey. "

In the urban areas there is the possibility of renewing the Minor Midget division for 15 years old players. In rural areas we already have 15, 16 and 17 years old players participating in the same division without undue problems. In rural Canada to ice hockey teams there is a need to use players with a three-year age spread on the same team.

STATEMENT: THREE YEARS
"Three years is too many in the Midget age group. Age 15 is an important year to develop the player's abilities for Junior. Many would be left competing for spots with kids 2 years older and fully-grown (in smaller communities). "

The Age Committee is recommending that Bantam age (with Provincial approval) be 13, 14 and 14.5. This will give a 2.5-year age grouping for both Bantam and Midget Divisions. This will be on a Pilot project basis to determine the efficacy of such groupings.

STATEMENT: SIZE
"The problem with hockey today is that 'Size Does Matter' and males especially do not reach full height until 17 and 18 years of age."

We have players age 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 in Junior hockey. There are minimal problems with the younger players in Junior leagues.

What this does do though, is take players from the Midget division and makes forming of Midget age teams more difficult. The three-year age division should help support the forming of more Midget teams. And remember that the more skilled and physically mature Midget age players are often playing on Junior teams. This lessens the physical and psychological development disparity in a three-year grouping.