By Ella Tsotsos, The Hockey News Intern
Neck guards are a small piece of hockey equipment that aren’t always widely used, but they’re very effective when it comes to player safety. And neck guards have become a topic of discussion from the NHL to various leagues across the world.
The tragic loss of former Pittsburgh Penguins player Adam Johnson, who died after taking a skate blade to the neck during a pro game in England in 2023, raised awareness about neck safety in hockey. Neck guards have become mandatory and part of the uniform in many leagues. While the NHL has not implemented a mandate for neck guards, many players choose to wear them, including stars such as the Buffalo Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin and the Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar.
According to a poll conducted by the NHL, 78 percent of players do not wish to have a neck guard mandate in effect. For a neck guard mandate to be enforced, the NHL Players’ Association would have to sign off on it for it to become a required piece of equipment in the NHL. Hockey bodies such as the IIHF, AHL and the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) all require that their players wear a neck guard. Various teams and leagues across Canada, such as the OHL, QMJHL and Hockey Canada's national women's program, also have a neck guard policy in effect.
Chris Caravasilis, who's a forward and captain of the North Toronto AA U-17 team, shared a personal story on how neck guards have affected him.
“A couple of years ago I tripped in the corner and a skate came up, actually, not on me, but on one of my teammates, and it actually cut the side of their neck guard,” Caravasilis said. “I think if they didn't have (a neck guard) it would've been way worse.”
There is a bit of a divide when it comes to neck guard protection. It becomes difficult to enforce a mandate on younger generations especially as it becomes a fashion statement. On top of that, hockey has long held an ideology to endure pain when playing. Wearing protective equipment such as neck guards interferes with this macho hockey mentality.
Many players feel that the neck guard is not a part of the “hockey look.” As a result, there is a stigma of wearing a neck guard, being tough in hockey and not wearing as much equipment. But it’s important to remember that this small piece of equipment is needed to prevent injury and to attempt to promote a safe environment. Some leagues are also looking into other protection devices, such as cut-resistant sleeves and cut-resistant socks, so that all arteries are protected from skate blades to prevent devastating accidents on the ice.
There is a lack of awareness about neck guards as neck injuries can occur from flying pucks, skate blades and high sticks, and these injuries can potentially be very severe. Neck guards are inexpensive compared to other hockey equipment that provides a high level of protection without interfering with a player's performance. Raising awareness about neck guards gives players the courage to prioritize their safety over the “tough hockey player” mentality. Encouraging players to incorporate player safety into the hockey culture will promote a much safer environment in all leagues.
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