Following the horrific on-ice death of hockey player Adam Johnson due to a freak accident over the weekend, the English Ice Hockey Association has announced that neck guards will be mandatory in 2024.
The horrific death of English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) player Adam Johnson after being cut in the throat by a skate blade has led to a big rule change.
The EIHA made an announcement on Monday, two days after Johnson’s tragic accident, that players will be required to wear neck guards and protectors starting in 2024.
Johnson was playing for the Nottingham Panthers when his throat was cut by a skate blade in a collision during a game against the Sheffield Panthers in Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) play on Saturday.
“Undoubtedly, this moment in time casts a somber shadow upon our global sporting community, serving as a stark reminder of our collective responsibilities as custodians of the sport,” the EIHA said in a statement. “As in all sports, the safety of our players must take precedence above all else. We are firmly committed to our obligation to exhaust every possible means to ensure that a tragic incident of this nature never befalls our sport again.”
The EIHA explained that the recommendation to wear neck guards and protectors is a short-term safety protocol at all levels of English ice hockey.
