The Rangers have not had any official conversations about wearing neck guards, but it has been a hot topic in the locker room.
The hockey world continues to mourn the loss of Adam Johnson, a former NHL player who died after a freak accident in which his neck was cut by an opposing player’s skate blade during a game in England’s Elite Ice Hockey League on Saturday.
He was 29.
Since the tragic incident, discussions surrounding extra protective gear have naturally picked up.
The Rangers have not had any official conversations about wearing neck guards, largely due to the fact that they are at the end of a road trip that concluded against the Jets on Monday, but it has been a hot topic in the locker room.
The English Ice Hockey Association announced Monday that it is making neck guards mandatory for all players during on-ice activities beginning Dec. 31.
All clubs have been issued a “strong recommendation” to wear the safety equipment until it becomes mandated in anticipation of supply issues.
Following Johnson’s death, the Oxford City Stars of the National Ice Hockey League — the second highest British league — announced that its players must wear neck guards at all times on the ice.
