MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER

Tim Turk Named Voice of ORHL Contact and Checking Clinics

On behalf of the ORHL, we are proud to continue moving our league forward with purpose, preparation, and an unwavering commitment to development and safety.

As we introduce structured body contact at Novice U9 and body checking at Atom U11 and higher, we do so with leadership grounded in experience and accountability. Tim Turk brings a wealth of teaching experience at the highest levels of the game. His background, knowledge, and proven instructional approach provide our league with the expertise necessary to implement contact the right way — safely, progressively, and with technical precision.

Tim is fully committed to the development of ORHL athletes. His focus is not simply on physical play, but on teaching proper angling, body positioning, awareness, timing, and respect for opponents. Under his guidance, contact will be introduced in a controlled environment that prioritizes skill progression and athlete confidence.

Player safety is his priority — and it is ours. Every element of this transition is being built around education, certified coaching standards, and consistent rule enforcement. Dangerous or reckless play will not be tolerated. Proper technique and accountability will be non-negotiable.

To our club owners, parents, and players: this is about preparing athletes properly for the next level while protecting their well-being at every stage of development. With experienced leadership, structured implementation, and league-wide consistency, the ORHL continues to raise the standard.

We are excited about what lies ahead and confident that, with the right instruction and the right priorities, our athletes will thrive in a safe, competitive, and development-focused environment.

Stay tuned for upcoming insights from hockey legends...

The ORHL is partnered with insurance provider iPlayHockey for the upcoming season. Visit them at

https://iplayhockey.ca/hockey-insurance/

Tim Turk

is an NHL Shooting and Scoring coach, who specializes in hockey shooting, passing and puck preparation & control, while also teaching the technical aspects and strategies of body contact and puck protection.

Tim has worked with 5 NHL organizations (Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth and Calgary Flames), and many National Programs overseas.

Tim continues to work with NHL players, but also works with many organizations, minor hockey teams, coaches and players of all ages and levels.



From a growing need and an extensive amount of experience, Tim has created his own Hockey Development Company knows as ‘Tim Turk Hockey’ and has also recently developed an online training website along with other services enabling players to access his training from anywhere in the world.

Regards,

Kevin McKinnon

President/Commissioner

Ontario Rep Hockey League

kevin@orhl.net

www.orhl.net

Cell 416-791-8750

Thoughts on Body Checking

1 of 4)

An important read from a family friend with his perspective on body checking. A must read!

-Bruce Cassidy-

Drafted by Chicago Blackhawks

Round #1, #18 overall

Current Head Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights - Stanley Cup Champion

Assistant Coach 2026 Canadian Men’s Olympic Team

2019/20 Jack Adams Award – NHL Coach of the Year

Body checking is an extremely valuable skill in the game of hockey. Players at all levels are so skilled with the puck that checking well to regain possession is paramount in today’s game. Stick checking, angling, working over top of potential pass receivers and ultimately body checking are necessary skills required to be considered a ‘solid 200 foot player’ which every winning team covets.

Body contact is inevitable in hockey today, especially as you age up and transition into the professional game. Learning proper body checking techniques will increase your ability to separate the puck from an attacking opposition player as well reduce chances of sustaining injuries from poor body control. On the other side of the puck, learning how to absorb contact to maintain possession or ‘take a hit’ to make a play will make you a more dangerous offensive player.

Increasing your body checking skills by learning proper technique will undoubtably make you a better all-around athlete and player as well as minimizing risk of injury.

Bruce Cassidy

Head Coach - Vegas Golden Knights

Thoughts on Body Checking

2 of 4)

Another important read from a family friend with his perspective on body checking!

-Brad Shaw-

Drafted #86 overall in 1982 by the Detroit Red Wings

377 NHL games played

Current Assistant Coach New Jersey Devils

Body checking is essential to sustainable success. With the overwhelming emphasis on individual puck skill with today's young players, the ability to check has become a secondary skill set. Body checking is big part of that.

I have coached 26 years of professional hockey and 21 of those at the NHL level. Playing without the puck has taken a backseat to playing with it, but never more so than now.

We have a lot of players showing up at our development camps and/or training camps with an elite level of puck skill but a very low level of proficiency in how to actually play the game. Hockey is a collision sport. This contact is inevitable and necessary.

Defensive skills are all important... 'Stick on Puck', Angling, Body Position, Communication, Situational Awareness, Body Checking. They all have to be a part of any player's skill repertoire so that the appropriate solution can be applied to the specific situation that is presented to the player. Body checking is one of these skills and maybe one of the most important ones.

When the games really matter in the playoffs, there is an intensity and a physicality necessary to prevail. Body checking involves a lot of self awareness, balance, timing and edge control. Being comfortable with physical play and body checking only comes from the trial and error process of actually doing it. The process of learning how to absorb and/or evade a hit as well as delivering body contact at the appropriate time is a skill. Like all skills, the more spent on them the more efficient and effective the athlete becomes.

Brad Shaw

Assistant Coach - New Jersey Devils

VMF CUP TOURNAMENT

FEB. 27 - MAR. 1, 2026

London, Ontario

This event is for all divisions.

Click the buttons below to view all VMF Cup Tournament games, results (once the event has commenced), and standings for our event in London, Ontario.



MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER

BREAKING NEWS: The Ontario Rep Hockey League (ORHL) in conjunction with its member organizations has made the decision to introduce body checking at all age groups from *U9 to U18 for the 2026-2027 hockey season. 

*Novice U9 – Introduction of proper body contact in preparation for body checking at Atom U11

Why the ORHL Will Allow Full Body Checking:

The ORHL, after conducting extensive research, has decided to permit full body checking because it is a critical part of properly preparing players for the next level of hockey — while doing so safely, responsibly, and with strong coaching support.

1. Proper Development, Not Avoidance
Body checking is a critical part of competitive hockey as players move to higher levels. Avoiding checking doesn’t remove it from the game — it simply delays it until a time when it’s too late for players to learn how to give and receive a check properly. The ORHL believes teaching body checking early in a structured, safe environment allows players to learn correct technique before speed and size increase, thus reducing injuries. 

2. Player Safety Through Education
Players who are taught how to give and receive body checks properly are safer than those who are exposed later without training. Emphasis will be placed on angling, balance, positioning, and respect for opponents — not reckless hitting.  Every ORHL player will be required to participate in 2-4 hours of body checking clinics prior to the start of the 2026-2027 ORHL season and an additional 3-5 hours of body checking instruction before November 1st and 2-4 hours throughout the season. 

Body checking will be taught as an essential tactic to separate your opponent from the puck and not as a method of hurting or injuring your opponent. 

3. Confidence & Hockey Awareness
Learning body checking builds confidence in traffic, improves decision-making under pressure, and helps players protect themselves along the boards and in open ice.

4. Preparation for the Next Level
AAA, Junior, collegiate, and higher levels of hockey all include body checking. Our responsibility is to ensure every player graduating from the ORHL is physically, mentally, and technically prepared when they reach those stages.

After Canada was defeated by Czechia at the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championships many pundits commented that Canadian players have lost the physical edge that they once enjoyed. The ORHL believes this is a direct result of body checking being introduced too late in a players development path by Hockey Canada and that this needs to change. 

5. Strong Coaching & Clear Standards
Full body checking will be taught and reinforced with:

• Strict adherence to rules and player safety standards
• Zero tolerance for dangerous or unnecessary contact
• Ongoing skill instruction and accountability

Our priority is not to promote hitting — it is to develop complete, confident hockey players who understand how to compete safely and effectively.

This decision is consistent with the ORHL’s mandate to prioritize the long-term development of all our members.

We are proud to announce an insurance provider partnership with iPlayHockey for the upcoming season. Visit them at

https://iplayhockey.ca/hockey-insurance/

Regards,

Kevin McKinnon

President/Commissioner

Ontario Rep Hockey League

kevin@orhl.net

www.orhl.net

Cell 416-791-8750