The International Ice Hockey Federation announced Monday that it will make neck guards mandatory at all levels of competition in the tournaments it organizes, including the Olympic Games and world championships, in both men’s and women’s categories.
This decision would not apply to professional leagues, including the NHL, which currently has not adopted any safety requirements for such accidents, with cuts for players. In fact any such decision in the NHL would require an agreement between the league and the players’ union, which have been discussing safety in the game for years.
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The move by the International Federation comes in the wake of the death of Adam Johnson, who died after suffering a cut to his neck from a skate in a game in England in late October. Johnson’s death at the age of 29 is under investigation and the on-ice tragedy has sparked a major debate across the sport about the need for greater protection of certain areas, such as the neck, wrists and legs.
There is still no date for mandatory neck brace use to come into force. “The IIHF remains in close contact with its suppliers to ensure that they can respond to the current high demand,” the organization said. “Until the rule officially comes into effect, the Federation continues to strongly recommend that all players participating in an IIHF competition wear neck laceration protectors.”
Until now, the International Federation initially had neck protection rules only for players under 20 and under 18. The organization that governs field hockey worldwide decided to expand the order based on the recommendation of its medical committee.
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