WHL Mandates Neck Guard Protection

All WHL players will be required to wear protective neck guard equipment effective Friday, November 3rd, 2023.

The WHL has announced that all players must wear protective neck guards moving forward. The mandate goes into effect on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, or as soon as the equipment is available. According to the WHL, these neck guards must be used during all on-ice activities, which include games and practices. 

This decision by the league comes just a few days after the tragic death of Adam Johnson. The 29-year-old had his neck cut by a skate on Saturday while playing for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League in England. 

This policy by the WHL aligns them with the rest of the CHL, as neck guards were already mandatory in the OHL and QMJHL. Neck guards are also mandated by Hockey Canada for players registered in minor hockey league's across the country. 

With the announcement, the WHL is now focused on getting the equipment to teams as fast as possible. This will not be an easy task as companies may face shortages or delivery issues due to the increase in orders from around the world. The WHL acknowledges that there may be issues getting neck guards to their players, which is why, in their statement, they mention "or as soon as the protective equipment is available to the Clubs."