Hockey Canada has adopted a new locker room policy for the 2023-24 minor hockey season, including a “mandatory base layer,” in hopes of protecting privacy and making locker rooms more inclusive.

The country’s hockey umbrella organization believes players will be required to wear a minimum “base layer” in the locker room when surrounded by at least one other individual.

This policy, which applies to all minor hockey teams recognized by Hockey Canada and its member associations, recommends that players arrive at the arena wearing a base layer.

If a player arrives without it, then he will need to change in a private area, such as a bathroom, before joining the rest of the team in the locker room to put on the rest of his equipment.

Hockey Canada indicates that it is the responsibility of the coaches and staff of each team to ensure that this policy is respected.

This policy also outlines the use of showers and prohibits any violent activity or resulting recording in locker rooms.

Hockey Canada has also adopted the “rule of two”, which states that two trained and accredited adults must be present inside or near the open locker room door at the same time “to ensure that there is no discrimination, harassment, intimidation or other form of abuse”.