Current:Home > StocksInternational Ice Hockey Federation to mandate neck guards after the death of a player by skate cut -Ascend Finance Compass
International Ice Hockey Federation to mandate neck guards after the death of a player by skate cut
View
Date:2025-04-16 16:21:41
The International Ice Hockey Federation announced Monday it is making neck guards mandatory for all levels of competition in the tournaments it runs, including the Olympics and men’s and women’s world championships.
The mandate would not apply to professional leagues, including the NHL, which currently does not have any cut-proof safety requirements for players. Any sort of mandate in the NHL would require an agreement between the league and players’ union, which have been discussing skate blade safety for years.
The IIHF’s move comes after the death of American Adam Johnson, whose neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England in late October. Johnson’s death at age 29 is being investigated, and the on-ice tragedy has sparked significant debate around the sport about the need for more protection of the neck, wrists and legs.
The exact date for the IIHF neck guard mandate to go into place is still to be determined, based on the supply of neck guards available.
“The IIHF remains in close contact with its suppliers to ensure they are able to respond to the current high demand,” the organization said. “Until the rule officially goes into effect, the IIHF continues to strongly recommend that neck laceration protectors are worn by all players performing in an IIHF competition.”
Before now, the IIHF initially had neck protection rules only for under-20 and under-18 play, so neck guards were already mandatory in tournaments like the world junior championship. The organization that governs hockey around the world decided to widen the order based on the recommendation of its medical committee.
The English Ice Hockey Association, which governs the sport below the Elite League where Johnson played, reacted to his death by requiring all players in England to wear neck guards beginning in 2024. Similar to the IIHF, the mandate was not immediate because of supply issues.
NHL VP of hockey operations Rod Pasma addressed general managers last month on cut-proof equipment. Pasma said players have far more options than a decade ago, including 10 or more choices for wrist, body and Achilles tendon/foot protection but fewer options for neck guards.
“In the neck, we’re getting there,” Pasma said. “We (did not have) many a month ago, but as it sits today, I think there’s up to eight companies on my desk waiting to be cleared, and of those eight there’s probably 12-14 options to wear, should they choose.”
Several NHL players, including Washington’s T.J. Oshie and Tampa Bay’s Cole Koepke, have donned neck guards for games this season in light of Johnson’s death.
“NHL guys, I think it’s super important that they know it’s going to be available,” Oshie said. “We’re grown men. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t. At least now, middle of the season, I don’t know if it’s necessary to mandate it, but you can make your own choices. I made my choice for my kids. I want to stick around from them. Just trying to decrease the chance of injury.”
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
veryGood! (836)
Related
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Will Smith Reacts to Estranged Wife Jada Pinkett Smith's Bombshell Memoir
- Taylor Swift cheers on Travis Kelce again as Eras Tour movie debuts
- Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi's Romance Is a Love Song
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Robert De Niro Admits Girlfriend Tiffany Chen Does the Heavy Lifting Raising Their Baby Girl
- Alex Rodriguez Shares Rare Insight into Romance With Girlfriend Jaclyn Cordeiro
- Kenya seeks more Chinese loans at ‘Belt and Road’ forum despite rising public debt
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- What's streaming on Disney and Hulu? Price hikes. These tips can save you money.
Ranking
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- AP Top 25: Washington into top 5 for 1st time in 6 years. Air Force ranked for 1st time since 2019
- Answers About Old Gas Sites Repurposed as Injection Wells for Fracking’s Toxic Wastewater May Never Be Fully Unearthed
- 2026 Olympic organizers forced to look outside Italy for ice sliding venue after project funds cut
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Sports, internet bets near-record levels in New Jersey, but 5 of 9 casinos trail pre-pandemic levels
- What is curcumin? Not what you might think.
- Cricket’s Olympic return draws an enthusiastic response from around the world
Recommendation
Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
Threats in U.S. rising after Hamas attack on Israel, says FBI Director Christopher Wray
Palestinian mother fears for her children as she wonders about the future after evacuating Gaza City
Answers About Old Gas Sites Repurposed as Injection Wells for Fracking’s Toxic Wastewater May Never Be Fully Unearthed
Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
A hotel worker's 3-hour commute tells the story of LA's housing crisis and her strike
Trump-backed Jeff Landry wins Louisiana governor's race
UN will repatriate 9 South African peacekeepers in Congo accused of sexual assault