at The NHL Players Association (NHLPA) and the NHL have opened discussions regarding enforcing a neck guard policy for all players. These discussions are the result of a tragic accident in the UK during a game between the Sheffield Steelers and the Nottingham Panthers on 28th Oct.
Adam Johnson who played for the Panthers lost his life after Matt Petgrave ended up kicking him in the throat on collision and the skate blade on his boot slit Johnson’s throat, resulting in his death.
The English Ice Hockey Association took immediate action and confirmed that from Jan 2024, all players would be required to wear a neck guard.
NHL Likely To Make Neck Guards Mandatory
Neck guards are currently not mandatory in the NHL and most players prefer not to wear one as it does not look cool. Some players still feel that it is not necessary for the NHL to make neck guards mandatory as it was a freak accident with Johnson, while some fans allege that Petgrave threw the kick deliberately.
However given the NHL’s strong stance towards player safety, it seems highly likely that the NHL will make it mandatory for players to wear neck guards.
