The governing body for organized hockey in Prince Edward Island is taking a tough stance on the issue of online harassment.
Hockey PEI has sent a letter to several minor leagues warning that any players who violate the organizationB次元官网网址檚 social media policy will be suspended for the rest of the season.
B次元官网网址淲e have seen repeated behaviour in violation of the social media policy B次元官网网址� threats, derogatory behaviour such as pictures, and that sort of thing,B次元官网网址� executive director Geoff Kowalski said in an interview.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e continuously warned members, and weB次元官网网址檝e warned teams. We want to get a harsher message across that this stuff is not acceptable. Hopefully our members will realize the impact that it has B次元官网网址� not only on them as individuals, but also the people around them.B次元官网网址�
Kowalski would not talk about any specific incidents, and said there have been no issues since the new penalty was announced last week.
He said the online activity has more to do with society than hockey, but itB次元官网网址檚 up to organizers to react to it.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so convenient for kids to communicate with each other now. In the past in hockey, you might see a player on a team every few weeks and you have time to let the feud stay on the ice. Now theyB次元官网网址檙e able to message each other the second theyB次元官网网址檙e off the ice,B次元官网网址� he said.
He said Hockey PEI will look to provide some education as a way to help prevent such harassment in the future.
The issue came up for discussion when hockey executives from Atlantic Canada met last week in St. JohnB次元官网网址檚, N.L.
Nic Jansen, executive director of Hockey New Brunswick, said incidents in his province are examined on a case-by-case basis, and punishments range from warnings to suspensions.
B次元官网网址淓ssentially every player B次元官网网址� has access to social media accounts, whether it be Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. IB次元官网网址檇 say the majority of the members are aware of the risks involved and act professionally and use proper judgement, and then there are a few that post things they shouldnB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� Jansen said.
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B次元官网网址淚 think the key is educating the membership of the risks involved of posting inappropriate things on social media,B次元官网网址� he said.
The Canadian Press
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