DCHP-3

atom

DCHP-2 (Mar 2016)

Spelling variants:
Atom

1n. — Sports

a level of sport for children up to 10, usually 9-10 in hockey.

Type: 3. Semantic Change — This meaning is an extension of the meaning of atom as 'any very small object (without the implication that it is a particle of something else); a (relatively) tiny person or thing' (OED-3, s.v. "atom" (9a)). The age range varies from sport to sport and over time, see, e.g. the quotations from 1968 (7-10) and 1989 (under 8), or the 1998 quotation in meaning 2 (9).
See also COD-2, s.v. "atom" (2a), which is marked "Cdn", ITP Nelson, s.v. "atom" (4), which is marked "Hockey".

Quotations

1960
[Heading] Toronto Hockey League (Levels Listed) Atom Peewee Minor-Bantam Bantam Minor-Midget Midget
1968
ATOM DIVISION -- 7-10 Years
1979
In Atom division Atom Motors and Ocean Cement met, the final score was a 2-2 tie.
1981
Although there is no bodychecking permitted at this age level, defenceman Lokas Loukidis said he found it more difficult to stop the older players because "they have different moves than atom players in our league."
1989
\"When I first began coaching at the atom level, I did it because I honestly believed that football was a great game for youngsters.
1989
Race results are as follows: Atom Girls (7 yrs. & under) 1 km
1997
Included in the weekend of festivities will be the fifth-annual North American Native Minor Hockey Tournament of Champions, with 12 teams per division, and entries at the squirt, novice, atom, peewee, bantam and midget levels.
2003
Hockey dad on trial for death threat: Montreal police officer yelled "I'll kill him" to referee of atom game, witnesses testify.
2n. — Sports

a player in such a division.

Type: 3. Semantic Change — See meaning 1.
See also COD-2, s.v. "atom" (2b), which is marked "Cdn".

Quotations

1980
Success has taken its toll. Burrows' training methods have attracted players to Etobico, but his squad, with its confident players and strong team spirit, has become the farm team for the major ranks. Last year, six of his minor atoms were grabbed by major teams.
1981
Atoms are players aged nine and 10.
1998
I was an atom, so I guess I was nine years old.
2002
In the usual trio of OMHA starts last week Tuesday, Cobourg scored 30 goals in going 3-0 at Memorial Arena. The Burnett Realtors minor atoms kicked things off with a balanced 7-3 win over Pickering before the Port Britain Chemicals major bantams also beat Pickering, 8-4 with their offense being tamed after two.
2012
For this weekend's finals, the peewees play the Cowichan Bulldogs at 3 p.m. Saturday for the Silver Cup. Both the pre-atoms and atoms play the Saanich Wolverines for the Gold Cup on Sunday. Pre-atoms kick off at 11 a.m. and atoms at 1 p.m.

References

  • OED-3
  • ITP Nelson
  • COD-2