Neepawa in no rush to pick new name for hockey team
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/07/2020 (2246 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Neepawa Natives are getting a name change and a new logo but the move will not be fast-tracked.
On Tuesday, the community-owned Manitoba Junior Hockey League club’s eight-member board of directors voted to change the team nickname in time for the start of the 2021-22 season.
The decision came in a response to a movement across the sports world to change nicknames considered racist or offensive. The Natives name has been used since the club’s inaugural season in 1989-90 and the process to choose a new one has not been established.
Neepawa governor Ken Waddell referred all comment to GM and head coach Ken Pearson.
“It was very difficult for many on the board but at the same time with the things that were going on with professional team (nicknames) the decision was made easily and also it’s gonna probably going to be passed here in October with the (new) regulations in January.”
Last week, Hockey Manitoba executive director Peter Woods said his board of directors would be moving forward with bylaw changes at its next semi-annual meeting in January to compel teams under its jurisdiction to discontinue the use of nicknames deemed offensive or disrespectful.
Pearson said a new name and logo would not be rushed.
“It’s going to take some time but at the same time I think there’s lots of good ideas that people are going to have,” said Pearson. “And I think that board is going to communicate and talk to different people within the community, outside the community about the proper way to go about it.
“(We want) to get advice from them and some names and get it whittled down to a couple and then present it to the people of Neepawa and ultimately come to a decision.”
MJHL commissioner Kevin Saurette endorsed the move.
“The Manitoba Junior Hockey League fully supports the decision made by the Neepawa board of directors to discontinue with their current name and logo and will assist the organization in any way possible to help them throughout this process,” said Saurette. “We are proud of the organization for the decision they have made and know they will have the necessary support within their community to help them through this change and embrace it.”
GETTING STARTED: The MJHL’s prospects development camp got underway at the Seven Oaks Sportsplex Thursday afternoon with full days of workouts and games scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
The camp is intended for prospects born in 2003 and ’04, who are eligible to play this fall. Seventy-two players (eight goaltenders, 24 defencemen and 40 forwards) were expected to attend.
mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @sawa14