New research into concussions in peewee hockey has renewed the debate over whether body-checking should be allowed for young players.

A study from the University of Calgary has found that 11 and 12-year-olds are three times as likely to get injured in leagues that allow hitting.

"This suggests a greater level of aggression in leagues where body-checking is allowed," researcher Carolyn Emery said.

The research team looked at 2,000 peewee players over a full season. Half played in Alberta, where checking is permitted, and the rest are from Quebec, where hitting is prohibited until ages 13 and 14.

At the end of the year, 78 Alberta players had suffered concussions compared to 23 in Quebec.

Some coaches believe the real problem is coaching, and think players aren't learning the proper skills.

"A lot of coaches will even say on the bench, ‘Hit to hurt, hit to hurt,'" peewee coach Len Krahn told CTV News.

"Kids don't know how to receive a hit. They don't know where to be on the ice. When they're near the boards, a lot of kids get caught in the three-foot section away from the boards, which is very dangerous."

Krahn believes that checking should be taught at a younger age, when players aren't as quick on their skates and don't have as much weight behind their hits.

Doctors say that getting a concussion can lead to lifelong problems.

"Persistent headaches, persistent memory difficulties, difficulties with concentration, difficulties with appetite, certainly impaired school performance, and impaired sports performance," are just a few of the repercussions, according to Dr. Ash Singhal, a neurosurgeon at BC Children's Hospital.

He believes children should be a little older than peewee age before they begin body-checking.

Meanwhile, Hockey Canada is reviewing the study.

"Is it as simple as saying, ‘Stop body-checking and all that goes away?' I don't think so," said Hockey Canada's Paul Carson.

"I think the responsibility is to look at that information and say, ‘What are we doing well? What can we do better?'"

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Michele Brunoro