Hockey Canada has approved tough new rules against hits to the head in an effort to prevent concussions.
"It's zero tolerance so we really defined what zero tolerance was," Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said.
Under the new rules for minor and female hockey, there will be an automatic two-minute penalty for any contact, either by body or by stick, to the head, even if it's accidental.
In junior and senior hockey, checks to the head will head will be punished with a penalty, and either a misconduct or game misconduct, left to the referee's discretion.
A major penalty and a game misconduct will be given out for any player who injures an opponent under this rule.
The no hits to the head rule will be phased in over two years in junior hockey.
Delegates voted on the new rules at Hockey Canada's annual general meeting Saturday in Calgary.
The move comes as hits to the head have been under intense scrutiny, particularly because of a concussion suffered by Pittsburgh Penguins star centre Sidney Crosby earlier this year.
The NHL has adopted a no-blindside hits to the head rule, but has yet to ban them altogether.
