Should Neck Guards be Required in the NHL?

After the tragic death of former Pittsburgh Penguin player Adam Johnson, the hockey community debates whether neck guards should be required.

On October 23, 2023, Adam Johnson walked in to play a professional hockey game for the Nottingham Panthers like any usual gameday. Unfortunately, this game turned out to be Johnson’s last. During the second period, Johnson was fatally hit in the neck by a skate blade from a member of the opposing team, causing him to die just moments later. Recently, the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) has decided to make neck guards required of all players starting in 2024. This tragic event has led the hockey community to debate whether or not players should be required to wear neck guards while playing.

I think that NHL players should have the option to choose whether or not to wear a neck guard. However, I feel that neck guards should be mandatory for youth hockey players. An important element is that neck injuries caused by skates are extremely rare. Older hockey fans can remember a similar incident that occurred back in 1989 when goalie for the Buffalo Sabre, Clint Malarchuk had his neck cut accidentally, but fortunately survived. This incident over thirty years ago did not significantly swing the NHL's policies regarding neck guards.

Washington Capitals forward, TJ Oshie, has recently decided to wear a neck guard following the incident. Oshie says he wears the neck guard for the sake of his children. Oshie is the only one on the Capitals to wear one and says he doesn’t care “whether it looks cool or not.” Unlike the NHL, junior hockey leagues such as the Western Hockey League (WHL) have implemented the requirement for its players to wear one. The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) has as of November 3, 2023, required players to wear one as well. Additionally, other junior leagues such as the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) already have required players to wear neck guards. Interestingly, USA Hockey has yet to require its players to wear one, but they strongly recommend it.

When it comes to wearing neck guards some players can describe them as uncomfortable and restrictive to their breathing. Johnson’s death has helped the community realize the importance of safety and increased production of safer, less restrictive, and more comfortable guards to wear.

At the end of the day, hockey is a fun, but dangerous sport. To limit these freak accidents from occurring again, youth leagues should require children to wear neck guards to ensure the safety of their players. Children should not have to worry about whether their next game might end in them getting hurt. Again, events like Johnson’s and Malarchuk’s are extremely rare and should not cause players to fear getting back on the ice. Therefore, I believe it should be up to NHL players to decide whether they should wear a neck guard or not.

Jack Francini