Hockey Canada dropping 'midget,' other terms from divisions to be more inclusive

[doniceage]

TORONTO -- The term "midget" is being dropped from youth divisions in Canadian hockey because the governing body aims to be more inclusive.

Hockey Canada says it wanted to be sure it wasn't "putting up barriers to keep people away from the sport." The term "midget" has long been used in a variety of sports although it is considered derogatory by many.

The issue generated attention a year ago when the parent of a young son with dwarfism noticed the term on a banner at a mall.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...more-inclusive

[icefields]

Hockey Canada says it wanted to be sure it wasn't "putting up barriers to keep people away from the sport."


simply amazing, where we have come to

george orwell - 1984 Rookie of the year for his predictions on political correctiveness.

"sometimes i think its better to not say anything at all"

but then they would complain about the way you look at someone.

if we all were blind, then colour, physical features, style, things that make us different - none of that would matter

maybe we should all just sit back, light up a smile and listen to the music, man

[doniceage]

Very true about the blind statement. Had a few friends in college who definitely enlightened me on how they sensed things

Don

[creasecollector]

I am glad they are dropping it from the division names. I didn't see the point about naming a division after a term that little people may find offensive.

Besides, changing the division names to represent the players' age groups seems a lot more appropriate anyways. Good on Hockey Canada.

[icefields]

what about the term "bantam" for a youth hockey division as well.

arent bantams roosters and arent rooster all male.

so does that mean girls are excluded from "bantam" hockey leagues.

it is just sooo unnecessary. people need to understand that these arent offensive words. it is the tone and inclination of a word that makes it offensive, not the word itself.

and as a side note - what if i find the term "little people" offensive, because if midget is then so is little people -- to a certain few. when does it end?

also right now i am finding the term Maple Leafs pretty darn offensive too

[creasecollector]

what about the term "bantam" for a youth hockey division as well.

arent bantams roosters and arent rooster all male.

so does that mean girls are excluded from "bantam" hockey leagues.

it is just sooo unnecessary. people need to understand that these arent offensive words. it is the tone and inclination of a word that makes it offensive, not the word itself.

and as a side note - what if i find the term "little people" offensive, because if midget is then so is little people -- to a certain few. when does it end?

also right now i am finding the term Maple Leafs pretty darn offensive too

You may not find the term midget offensive, but a lot of other people do. That’s the point of changing the division names.

I personally don’t find the term offensive, as I am not a little person, so the term doesn’t rub me the wrong way in my own life, but I get why Hockey Canada changed it.

At the end of the day, these are the names of minor hockey division names. Hardly anything at all to be worked up about in my opinion. If they want to rename the divisions to the players’ age group, then that’s the way it’s gotta be. If they want to name them after something else tomorrow, then we need to accept that and move on from it.

[KAB-1993]

Why didn't they change it a long time ago to the same format Soccer, Basketball, etc uses (U-14, U-15, and on). Even after playing in the youth divisions I still have no idea what age group each represents.

Looks stupid for both sides that it hasn't changed up until now. Midget is not a peasant term to use for an age division of Hockey, have a heart people, I can picture the issues an insecurities people with dwarfism suffer and this only reminds them of it. Flip side of the coin, sad this fuels the PC culture that has become so prevalent today. Can't anyone take a lesson from Disney's Frozen and "Let it go"?

[sparty07]

Not growing up with organized hockey in Phoenix, I still get confused anytime guys with kids in hockey talk about what division they are in. I much prefer U8, U10, etc or 03/04, 05/06 birth years as its much less complex than the coded groups.