Minor hockey players to be required to wear base garment while changing in locker rooms

According to CBC News, minor hockey players who are part of the Hockey Canada system will be required to always be wearing at least an under garment while changing. The new rules have been put in place to promote inclusion in the sport and hopefully prevent any more abuse from taking place in these locker rooms.

If the players don’t want to wear a base garment, they will have to change in a private stall. Coaches and staff members are in charge of making sure their players abide by these rules, starting this season.

“All participants have the right to utilize the dressing room or appropriate and equivalent dressing environment based on their gender identity, religious beliefs, body image concerns, and/or other reasons related to their individual needs,” Hockey Canada spokesperson Esther Madziya said in a statement emailed to CBC News.

Minor and pro hockey players alike have been changing in public for as long as the sport has been around and it will take some time for everyone involved to get used to the rule change.

“It really doesn’t take very long to jump into a washroom stall and do a quick change to get your base layer on underneath,” said Craig Robinson, president of Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey. “Also these are pretty thin pieces of clothing and can quite often fit under a jacket or shirt anyway.”

It is unlikely that this rule will ever be applied to professional players but the fact that Hockey Canada is taking these issues seriously and taking steps to prevent any further abuses is a good sign for the sport. The organisation still has work to do with regard to improving their public image. The investigation into the 2018 Canadian World Juniors team is still ongoing and must come to a conclusion at some point in the future.