A Sikh minor hockey coach in Surrey won't be required to wear a helmet instead of his turban.
B.C. Hockey announced Monday its new rule requiring helmet use by all on-ice officials will now exempt those who can't wear a helmet because it interferes with their observance of a religious custom.
Harbs Bains will be able to continue coaching the Surrey Hurricanes atom rep team without a helmet.
Bains, or other devout Sikh coaches or officials, will have to sign a waiver.
Failure to wear a helmet otherwise will result in B.C. Hockey pulling its sanction of an event, resulting in it not being covered by insurance.
The issue blew up last week after minor hockey parents rallied behind Bains and some lodged a complaint on his behalf with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.
The rule change followed the accidental death this fall of an Alberta coach who wasn't wearing a helmet.
"The motion that led to the policy was brought forward with safety of the coaches in mind, with a focus on the types of injuries that can result," B.C. Hockey said in a statement.
