Two More NHL Teams Are Now Mandating neck protection

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Hunter Bowman
October 31, 2023 (11:30 PM)

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Following the tragic incident involving Adam Johnson, there's been an increased focus on mandating neck protectors to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Today, it was announced that at least two more teams are joining the ranks in mandating neck protectors.

"I know of at least three that have started the process of implementing optional neck protection for their teams. Those teams include the Pittsburgh Penguins, who once had Adam Johnson on their roster, the Washington Capitals, and the Carolina Hurricanes. All three teams have ordered the equipment and will have their players test it during practice before making it mandatory."

- Chris Johnston

The Pittsburgh Penguins have already made neck guards mandatory for their AHL and ECHL affiliate teams, setting an example for others to follow.

Fans of the league have had a surprisingly strong reaction to this safety measure.

While some argue that neck protectors may not provide foolproof protection against skate blades, any added layer of safety should be seen as a positive.

Many professional players may not have worn these guards since their youth, but adapting to them should be a quick process.

In the end, prioritizing player safety is a paramount concern, and these measures should help reduce the risk of such accidents in the future.

Source: Hockeypatrol