Adam Johnson, a 29-year-old former NHL player, was pronounced dead on Oct. 28 while playing in an amateur league in the English Premier Ice Hockey League. Cause of death: ice skate to the neck. Along with many players, coaches and fans, including us, are calling for a zero-tolerance policy for not wearing a neck guard while playing ice hockey in every level of the sport.
USA Hockey’s rules are a baseline, with certain districts allowed to make their own modifications to the rules. It is surprising to us that USA Hockey still does not require neck guards for youth hockey players; they just strongly recommend them. Even the ones that do require neck guards do not enforce it enough for the rule to be effective at preventing injuries.
Another incident in January 2022 saw a junior varsity hockey player in Connecticut tragically pass away after a skate blade cut his neck, warranting a petition from his friend to be made asking USA Hockey to require neck guards for amateur hockey players. The Western Hockey League, a junior league in Canada, has adopted the use of neck guards following the incident, making them required for all players. However, USA Hockey still refuses to adapt.
It is imperative that neck guards are required in amateur leagues, semi-pro leagues, professional leagues and every other league in every country that ice hockey is played with no exceptions to the rule. Two deaths is two too many.
“There’s kind of a stigma around not wearing neck guards, because a lot of players think that they look better without them. But in reality that’s just contributing to a lack of safety overall in the hockey environment,” said senior hockey player Alex Ebel.
These deaths are especially senseless when considering they could have been easily avoided with the use of a $15 neck guard. Currently there is no other safety equipment that could have prevented these injuries.
Some players do not wear neck guards as they believe it hurts their performance and is uncomfortable. According to minnesotahockey.org, “Neck laceration protectors have a negative impact on cervical spine range of motion,” which is the only researched negative of wearing a neck protector. It would be difficult to find someone that would prefer a slit in their neck over a sore neck.
Along with the equipment being required, many officials need to do their part, too. Some hockey players have noticed officials that do not enforce the rule either do not seem to care to enforce it, or only enforce it when an opposing team points it out as a way to get a penalty on their opponent for illegal equipment.
All leagues, amateur, youth or professional leagues should require neck guards, because safety on the ice is more important than being uncomfortable.
