Hard clean hits and knuckle-busting fist fights between willing combatants have always been a fairly accepted part of hockey at the professional and Jr. levels.   But when young children begin mimicking their big-league heroes, vocal denouncements of on-ice violence begin to reverberate. 

And sometimes, as may be the case following a recent brawl involving rambunctious eight-year-olds, the long arm of the law may extend its formidable reach. 

Police in Guelph are considering laying criminal charges after a brawl between novice Triple A teams representing Duffield and Niagara Falls. Both teams were participating in the Guelph Power Play Tournament when several fights broke out on the ice.

According to Staff Sgt. Neal Young, both coaches then instructed the rest of the players to jump over the boards and join the escalating melee. 

There are also allegations that a member of the coaching staff on the Niagara team spit in the face of an opposition coach. 

Video footage of the incident exists and police are looking over the tape in an effort to discern if charges will be laid. 

And another brawl caught on tape has raised the ire of parents and officials.  This time the combatants were 9-year-old Atom players from the Toronto Marlies and Vaughan Kings.  Video shot by a spectator shows the scuffle being sparked by a body check.  Soon other players come in and the fists start flying. 

Both incidents have reignited debate over hitting in youth hockey. 

Ontario Hockey Association spokesperson Phil McKee says the league is reviewing the tapes. "We want to insure that our referees are doing a proper job and our coaches are sending the proper message. You know, that will come in the fallout of the material."

"You don't want to see the violence in sport or aggression overtaking the game and the enjoyment of the game, but at times, the game is about passion, and passion will come out, and I guess we just want to make sure it comes out in the proper way," he adds.

For the past 11 years, a pilot project has allowed 9 and 10-year-olds to body check in both Saskatchewan and Ontario . But now both provinces will be joining the rest of the country, where kids can't body check until they're 11.

"They'll be allowed to finish this season the way everything is now, but come the 2008/2009 season, body checking will not be introduced until the minor Pee Wee age group," said John Gardner of the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

Here's some more info from Hockey Canada about body checking.

Body checking rules