After a devastating death in the European hockey league, many are left wondering: why aren’t neck guards required?
During a professional game on Oct. 28, forward Adam Johnson of the Nottingham Panthers fell as the other team’s player slid forward. This caused Johnson’s neck to collide with his skate, slicing his jugular and resulting in him bleeding out on the ice, even though medical professionals were present.
This event has sparked renewed interest in protective equipment and controversy surrounding the fact that they are not required for players, especially youths.
Many players think neck guards are uncomfortable and cite that as the reason for not wearing one, but others acknowledge that it’s a small price to pay when it comes to safety.
“You can say it would never happen to you, but I guarantee anybody who’s ever been cut said the same thing before going on the ice,” senior goalie Kai Vetter said.
High school teams are allowed to require their players to wear protective gear like neck guards, but many don’t.
After the accident in the European league, it seems like that will change.
“My guess is next year it will be mandatory for youth players,” coach Jason Walker said. “They’re going to have to get used to it.”
But will they?
“I’m used to it, and I don’t notice it anymore,” junior defenseman Reid Poettker said. “I actually cut my neck, it wasn’t that bad, but that made me want to wear it.”
With the overseas incident accelerating protective gear requirements, it also accelerated their production. Washington Capitals’ TJ Oshie, a former Blues player, founded the brand Warroad in 2018, which focuses on player safety, and the brand has made recent headlines when it comes to protective gear.
They sell various base layers that are cut resistant, many including neck and wrist guards.
“They cost less than the actual neck guards themself, so I don’t know why one wouldn’t just buy it because you never know,” Vetter said.
But that expense is not always allotted for.
“It’s an expensive sport to begin with, so I don’t know why players and parents wouldn’t include protective gear in their budget,” Walker said.
Another issue is that high school games don’t have medical professionals present like professional games do.
“It definitely concerns me,” Walker said. “I think at our level, it should be something that all high school coaches think about mandating for their players.”
