Traditional youth hockey age group names B次元官网网址� novice, peewee, atom, bantam and, most notably, midget B次元官网网址� could soon be revised as at least one provincial hockey organization has kickstarted the process that could eventually create a countrywide adjustment in the sport.

At a meeting this week, BC HockeyB次元官网网址檚 board of directors discussed the topic of division names used by its minor hockey association members. The subject was raised in part due to other sport organizations moving to eliminate the term B次元官网网址榤idget,B次元官网网址� but also because a potential shift to age-specific categories (U15, U17, etc.) may prove to be an easier classification system, an association spokesman said.

B次元官网网址淭he BC Hockey board has directed staff to make recommendations for new names to be implemented within the BC Hockey membership (British Columbia and the Yukon),B次元官网网址� BC Hockey CEO Barry Petrachenko said in an email to The Canadian Press. B次元官网网址淭hese recommendations will also be brought forward for consideration to the Hockey Canada membership for implementation nationally.

B次元官网网址淲ork has begun on developing these recommendations and a decision by the BC Hockey board regarding this topic is expected in the new year.B次元官网网址�

Athletics Canada recently said it would pursue dropping the term B次元官网网址渕idgetB次元官网网址� as an age category descriptor, a move that came a few days after the Ontario Basketball Association stated its plans to do the same. The term has been used for decades in a variety of sports but many consider it to be a derogatory slur.

Allan Redford, the director of the Dwarf Athletic Association of Canada, applauded the recent developments and hopes others may follow suit.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 actually wonderfully encouraged that theyB次元官网网址檙e taking this approach and that itB次元官网网址檚 getting this much traction,B次元官网网址� Redford said Wednesday. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very, very pleased.B次元官网网址�

Hockey Canada, the sportB次元官网网址檚 national governing body, has 13 members B次元官网网址� essentially provincial/territorial or regional organizations B次元官网网址� across the country. On a national level, any adjustments to age categories or divisions require a regulation change brought forward by a member or the Hockey Canada board.

That could happen at the next scheduled membersB次元官网网址� meeting in May or at Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 annual congress next fall.

B次元官网网址淲hat I would perceive based on the publicity associated with the terminology as weB次元官网网址檙e currently using, is that that would be an entirely likely situation, that it would come before our members and therefore our board,B次元官网网址� said Hockey Canada senior vice-president Glen McCurdie, who helps oversee safety and regulations.

In email replies, Hockey PEI and Hockey Quebec said they would be reviewing their category setups with their respective memberships. The Saskatchewan Hockey Association and Hockey Manitoba, meanwhile, said they do not have plans to put anything forward to Hockey Canada.

There was no immediate response from the other hockey organizations contacted via email by The Canadian Press.

The International Ice Hockey Federation currently uses age designators as does USA Hockey, which dropped the use of traditional terms for the 2016-17 season.

Hockey Canada classifies the midget category as players who are under 18 as of Dec. 31 of the current season. Bantam is for athletes under 15, with peewee, atom and novice used as classifications for younger players. Some organizations use descriptors like minor midget and major midget as well.

The midget category is also used by some youth football organizations across Canada. While age descriptors are used at that sportB次元官网网址檚 national level, Football Canada executive director Shannon Donovan said the organization would be reviewing the subject with its board and provincial members.

Regina Scott of Guelph, Ont., who has a two-year-old son with dwarfism, helped make a change at her local youth basketball association after noticing the term on a banner at a mall earlier this month.

The association quickly took steps to make changes and the OBA got on board. Basketball Canada, which already uses age category descriptors, supported the moves.

Redford, whoB次元官网网址檚 also president of the Little People of Ontario, said the wordB次元官网网址檚 use as a slur originates from the oppression and exploitation of people with dwarfism in B次元官网网址渇reak showsB次元官网网址� in the mid-1800s.

B次元官网网址淭he line is that itB次元官网网址檚 not about sensitivity, itB次元官网网址檚 not about being a snowflake, itB次元官网网址檚 about awareness, acceptance and respect,B次元官网网址� Redford said. B次元官网网址淚t comes right back to taking control over being and the right of self-identification.B次元官网网址�

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

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