title: Hitting in amateur ice hockey: not worth the risk.
abstract: The "big hit" is glorified in professional ice hockey. But body checking is unnecessary for the quality of the game and demonstrably dangerous for most amateur players at the youth, high school, and college levels.
authors.affiliation: MinnHealth SportsCare, White Bear Lake, MN, USA.
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Roberts