Hockey Canada says officials whistling more penalties for on-ice discrimination

By The Canadian Press on December 18, 2024.

CALGARY – Hockey officials are whistling more penalties for discriminatory taunts, insults and intimidation on the ice, according to a Hockey Canada report.

The national governing body of hockey says penalties called under its discrimination rule increased 41 per cent during the 2023-24 season, to 2.6 per 1,000 players from 1.9 in 2022-23.

Sex, sexual orientation and gender-based slurs were the most common type of witnessed penalties resulting in suspensions.

Racial slurs were the second-most common type of reported discrimination.

Reports and allegations of discrimination officials didn’t catch on the ice, and required follow-up investigation, decreased 11 per cent to 1.3 per 1,000 last season from 1.5 the previous year.

Hockey Canada began publishing an annual report on maltreatment in 2022.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2024.