Emmanuel College The Hub

Written by: Jenna Katsoulis ’27

Image courtesy of: AHL

There has been ongoing discussion of whether or not neck guards should be mandatory in hockey, mostly at the professional level. This is following the tragic death of 29-year-old Adam Johnson, who was cut in the neck by a skate blade during a play. This is not the first time we have seen players cut by skate blades, but this is one of the first in professional sports that was fatal. Even recently, Boston Bruin Jakub Lauko faced a scary situation involving a skate blade, where a player’s skate blade cut his face, almost hitting his eye. The reality of injuries caused by skate blades is real and not as rare as we may think it is. 

It has been strongly recommended that players wear neck guards, but it is not mandatory yet. Some National Hockey League players have taken the step and begun wearing neck guards, including TJ Oshie (who has created his own neck guard company), Neal Pionk, Erik Karlsson and more. Some minor league players have also started wearing them. An example of this is with the Providence Bruins, where the majority of players have begun wearing neck guards during their games, like Fabian Lysell, but this is only one of many examples in the minor leagues. I believe that players should wear both neck and wrist guards, as it can potentially save a player’s life and prevent an injury that would not have occurred otherwise.

Neck guards have already been mandated in other minor leagues, so why are we not doing the same for professional leagues? Steps toward making professional players wear neck guards have been made: the Pittsburgh Penguins have made it mandatory in their East Coast Hockey League and American Hockey League affiliates to wear neck guards. This of course hits home for the Penguins, as Adam Johnson was a part of their organization for many years. Not only did they make neck guards mandatory, but they also made wrist guards mandatory as well. Any exposed part of the skin while on the ice is in danger, since there would be nothing between a skate blade and their skin. With these guards, there is another layer of protection between their skin and the skate blade, lessening the damage that would have been done without it. It may not be as comfortable wearing a neck guard or may not be seen as ‘cool,’ but it can potentially save players’ lives and protect them from fatal injuries.

What are the steps the NHL are taking to mandate neck guards? Well, Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner, has been in contact with Marty Walsh, the Players Association executive director, to put this issue “squarely on the radar screen.” These situations may be perceived as rare or isolated and not something players have to worry about. However, whatever steps that can improve player safety should be taken to prevent any tragedies from occurring again within the sport.

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