Local novice hockey players will no longer be playing games using the full ice. 

Hockey Canada has decided that the 2019-2020 season will be played using half ice Canada wide. 

As local hockey dad Mike O'Reilly explains, the idea is that they develop their skills more.  

"All the information they have given us and all the study's they have done so far indicate that its going to be a step forward in their development and they will become more well-rounded players. Apparently, they are going to be on the ice more and touch the puck more"

O' Reilly also says that he thinks the reason a lot of parents across Canada have not been approving of the new changes is that this is the first time this has been done. 

"We are experiencing a change in a game that we have known for so long and I think that's where a lot of people are getting their issues from. We have played on full ice forever and now they want to change the way we play hockey to the younger kids in Canada."

In the new game, novice teams will be sharing a bench and the players will be alerted when to switch by a buzzer. There will also no longer be icing, faceoffs or power plays. 

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