After the death of former Pittsburgh Penguins center Adam Johnson due to a cut in his neck via a skate blade on October 28, 2023, the world of hockey is taking strides to make the game safer.
During a challenge cup game between the EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League) Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers, Steelers defenseman Matt Petgrave was going for a legal hit on Johnson, accidentally hitting him high with his skate and cutting Johnson’s throat. Johnson died on his way to the hospital that evening.
“After the [Adam Johnson incident] neck guards are going to be implemented in the near future, and I think that there are probably going to be more situations requiring more regulations,” senior Ryan Zorn said.
This death has led USA Hockey to mandate that all youth players wear neck guards while playing.
“I know throughout our organization, the overwhelming opinion was that the time is appropriate to modify our rules related to neck laceration protection,” executive director of USA hockey Pat Kelleher said.
In a player poll theathletic.com did for the 2023-24 NHL season, 78.45 percent of the 181 active players voted there should not be a neck guard mandate for the league.
“I think at a youth hockey level, players are not necessarily trained enough to contort their own body the right way when they are in given situations, so the extra form of protection might be a necessity, but I think if they did it at a higher level, it would be up to the players,” Andrew Shure said.
Some fans want the NHL to require players also to wear neck guards; however, backlash from players has appeared due to the neck guards minimizing mobility and movement.
“I’m going to wait until they develop something. It was very warm and I felt very uncomfortable using it, so hopefully someone develops something nicer in the near future,” Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said after taking off his neck guard halfway through the game against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 1, 2023.
The neck guard rule is not as new as some think for some players.
“I do agree with the rule, even though it doesn’t affect me because I already wear a neck guard as a goalie, but some people say it’s not comfortable, but I wear a less comfortable neck guard than they do, and it’s fine,” sophomore Jacob Jenkins said.
Since the Johnson incident, the US is one of many with the mandate for neck guards as the Olympics and all other major World Championships for hockey require players to wear neck guards.
“I think they have made a lot more regulations regarding player safety over time as more incidents have occurred that have called for the changes to happen,” Zorn said.
There have been many rules and equipment changes in hockey regarding safety in the last decade. Ranging from more penalties such as boarding (when a player pushes, trips or body checks an opponent, causing them to go dangerously into the boards) being introduced, along with requiring helmets during warmups as protection for the pucks flying around.
“A lot has changed, mainly with visors now required in the NHL, and now, more recently, neck guards are required starting next August. Everything injury-wise is done for a reason,” Jenkins said.
With more severe injuries in hockey happening, many fans question how the game can be made safer.
“Short of making it like the women’s game where you can’t hit anybody at all, there is not much else you can do. As long as you allow hitting, somebody can always get hurt,” Shure said.
