A wake-up call: Neck guards in the NHL

The tragic passing of former National Hockey League (NHL) forward Adam Johnson on Oct. 28, 2023 has led to debate over whether or not the NHL should make the use of neck guards mandatory. Johnson passed away after what teammates and onlookers would describe as a “freak accident” during a game between the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers from the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA). A collision between Johnson and the opposing team’s player, Matt Petgrave, occurred and video footage showed Petgrave’s skate strike Johnson in the neck, causing him to collapse on the ice. Security cleared out the arena to make room for emergency services, and Johnson would later be pronounced dead at a local hospital. 

Although this type of injury is rare, it is not the first time a skate to the neck has resulted in a loss of life. Last year, high school student Teddy Balkin from Connecticut passed away when he fell and was struck with an opposing player’s skate during his junior varsity hockey game. In the NHL, retired right wing for the Washington Capitals, Richard Zednick, had his neck cut by a skate from another player in 2008, as did Buffalo Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk in 1989. Thankfully, both Zednick and Malarchuk survived.

When it comes to injuries from skates, it is not uncommon to see legs and arms cut, but the neck is a different story. Many players are already wearing wrist guards to protect their wrists from being cut, so why not wear a neck guard?

Many players are hesitant toward wearing neck guards, claiming them to be “too hot” or “uncomfortable.” While the NHL cannot necessarily mandate neck guards as a requirement, many teams are encouraging the use of neck guards for their players. 

Other leagues such as the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) and the Western Hockey League (WHL) have already mandated neck guards. Some NHL players have also decided to wear them as protection, such as Washington Capitals’ right wing T.J. Oshie: “I made my choice for my kids,” Oshie told reporters after a recent game. “I want to stick around for them.”

Some Pittsburgh Penguins players, most notably defenseman Erik Karlsson, were seen sporting neck guards at practice. Even “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, commented on the incident, saying: “Why take it off? Leave the neck guards on.” If the greatest hockey player of all time is telling players of all ages to wear a neck guard, then perhaps they should listen. 

Neck guards are designed to prevent a cut to the neck, rather than spinal cord or throat injuries from a puck or stick. They are available as stand-alone protective gear or embedded into a turtleneck. Why should the NHL and other hockey leagues wait for another accident to be a catalyst for change when companies have been making neck guards and other protective gear for years? 

In the NHL, it wasn't until 1979—years after players sustained dental injuries and deadly head and brain injuries—that players were mandated to wear helmets. And it wasn't until the 2013–14 season that they required players to wear visors to prevent eye injuries. While neck guards will be uncomfortable at first, much like any other equipment, they are necessary for the safety of all players on the ice, regardless of age or skill level.