IIHF neck guard rule in effect - ALL PLAYERS must wear them from now on
© Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - IIHF neck guard rule in effect - ALL PLAYERS must wear them from now onIt seems that the gold medal game of the IIHF World Championship between Czechia and Switzerland was the last hockey game under the IIHF’s jurisdiction where players were permitted to play without neck protection.
“The change was approved by the IIHF congress at the May meeting, so it applies to international tournaments and European leagues at all competition levels,” Vladimír Šindler, IIHF officiating coach and former professional and IIHF referee, said in a recent article at idnes.cz.
In the IIHF Official Rule Book, as of the 2024-25 season, rule 9.12 now reads:
For all players in all categories of IIHF Competition, it is mandatory to wear a neck laceration protector designed for this specific purpose, choosing a design that covers as much of the neck as possible. The Neck Laceration Protector must be properly worn and must not be modified or alternated in any way. For violation of this rule, after warning by the Referee, a Minor Penalty shall be imposed.
The rule further explains that a goalkeeper may attach a throat protector to the chin of their facemask and it must be made of a material that will not cause injury.
Neck protection became a front-burner issue in the hockey world after the tragic death of Adam Johnson – who bled out following a skate laceration to the throat – in an Elite Ice Hockey League game last October between the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers. In December, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced its decision to mandate the use of neck protection, but not with immediate effect.
“The exact date this mandate will go into effect for the senior categories will be determined by the supply situation,” the governing body announced on December 3. “The IIHF remains in close contact with its suppliers to ensure they are able to respond to the current high demand.”
European professional leagues, all of which are compelled to follow the IIHF rule book, are now being instructed to consider it in effect from this point forward.
“We were informed about it on Tuesday,” Martin Loukota, director of the Czech Extraliga, told Czech news agency ČTK.
No players will be exempt – unlike equipment rules regarding facial protection, there is no grandfather clause. This creates the unusual situation where players who were born in 1974 or before will be able to play without a face shield but nonetheless must wear a neck guard.
Referencing 1972-born Jaromír Jágr, who has stated his intention to play next season, Czech hockey statistician Jiří Vítek tweeted:
Jaromír Jágr's career will go through the next phase of the rules in terms of health protection. He has already played against players without helmets. ︎According to IIHF rules he can still play without facial protection (plexi or grid). He will have to start with a neck protector in the upcoming season.
This particular rule will not affect the NHL or other North American leagues, as they don’t use the IIHF rule book. However, Hockey Canada has required neck protection for youth and female hockey players under its jurisdiction since 1993 and USA Hockey has approved a similar rule to go into effect as of August 1, 2024.