Obligatory neck guards are coming to youth hockey in the USA.
Already required in Canada and plenty of different international locations, USA Hockey, which governs the game on the novice stage within the U.S., has lengthy held its line at “recommending” laceration safety — particularly neck guards, but additionally cut-resistant socks, sleeves and undergarments.
The choice was introduced Sunday and can go into impact on Aug. 1, about 9 months after the difficulty was thrust into the highlight when former NHL participant Adam Johnson died of a skate lower to the neck throughout a recreation in England.
Extra NHLers have begun to put on neck safety within the months since, both frequently or to attempt to discover one thing comfy.
“You’re seeing an increasing number of of it,” one participant advised The Athletic. “I put on the shirt for my wrists. I believe you’re going to see an increasing number of neck guards.”
As a part of our NHL 2023-24 participant ballot, we requested these gamers what their urge for food may be for the same mandate, for neck guards and different cut-resistant gear, on the professional stage.
As you’ll be able to see, for almost all — 78.45 p.c of the 181 who have been prepared to reply to that query — it’s a no-go:
For lots of the gamers, it comes down to private alternative.
“I believe it ought to simply be your individual resolution,” one stated.
“Guys can be sensible to make use of them, however I don’t assume it must be necessary,” one other added.
“It’s their very own threat, proper?” stated a 3rd. “It’s their life.”
A number of the gamers voting no indicated that, for his or her half, they do put on neck guards and different cut-protective gear, together with one who had been lower by a skate previously.
“I put on it. It occurred to me,” he stated. “I believe it’s as much as you. I believe that there (ought to) be no requirement.”
“I don’t assume it is best to require them to, however I believe it’s silly to not (put on one),” one other participant stated. “Why wouldn’t you?”
“We’re all massive boys,” stated a 3rd. “I personally put on them. However being required to? No.”
One concept many gamers shared was to mandate laceration safety at minor and youth ranges first, with the thought of finally bringing it to the NHL as gamers get extra used to sporting the gear.
“Within the NHL, I don’t assume it ought to be required,” one participant stated. “However in minor hockey, I believe it ought to.”
“If the NHL mandated it, I’d be OK with that,” stated one other. “However they need to grandfather in everybody who’s used to not taking part in with it, like they did with visors.”
Some gamers indicated they’re not glad, at this level, with the engineering of skate-cut safety.
“I believe everyone knows there’s an inherent threat, (however) I don’t assume the skate-cut know-how is the place it must be for folks to put on it comfortably,” one participant stated. “I don’t love the sensation of getting stuff on my wrists. I attempted the neck guard. I felt prefer it was so excessive and so tight. It might take some time to get used to.”
“You need guys comfy with what they’re sporting.”
NHL groups have labored with producers to supply choices, and numerous gamers stated that’s the precise response.
“I believe what they’re doing proper now’s excellent, offering extra stuff,” one stated.
“Must be supplied, however not necessary,” one other stated.
“I’m pleased with it,” one other stated. “There’s a number of good selections. I put on the socks. After what occurred to Adam Johnson, we’re all seeking to perhaps put on one thing extra. That’s an eye-opener for everybody.”
With the favored sentiment amongst NHLers as it’s, some merely stated they don’t see a sensible path ahead.
“I’d like to say sure, as a result of I might like to by no means see anybody get lower ever once more,” one participant stated. “However I believe that’s simpler stated than finished.”
“It might be exhausting to implement,” one other stated. “Perhaps sooner or later.”
One participant posed a situation by which the league would mandate cut-resistant gear for the neck, wrists and ankles for a trial interval earlier than deciding.
“Perhaps if it was required for a brief time frame, so everybody has to strive them not less than a bit bit, I believe quite a lot of guys would keep it up,” he stated. “Everybody ought to have their very own alternative, however I wouldn’t be in opposition to it in the event that they stated sure.”
“I believe all people ought to strive it,” agreed one other.
Among the many gamers answering sure, the thought of getting gamers used to it earlier than making a choice was fashionable.
“As soon as all people acquired used to it, I really feel like nobody would care to make use of it or not,” one participant stated. “Everyone can be used to it already. Clearly, while you develop up, you utilize it. At one level, it’s such as you don’t even discover that’s there. If it was at all times a factor, I believe guys wouldn’t care in any respect to make use of.”
“We grew up taking part in with it,” one other stated. “It by no means bothered me or most likely anybody else, both. In the event that they introduced it again, I believe it’s a factor to get used to, and it would take a while, however when you do it in the summertime, nobody can be bothered by it as soon as the season begins.”
“We did it in Sweden,” stated a 3rd. “It’s simple to do it right here.”
And most saying sure have been in favor of phasing it in over time. New gamers coming into the league can be mandated, and finally that’d be everybody.
“Perhaps begin on the youth hockey stage and make it necessary there,” one participant stated. “Type of incorporate it through the years, type of. I believe (younger) Canadian gamers may need to. In America, we didn’t need to.”
“I believe you’ve acquired to grandfather it in similar to they did with visors,” one other stated.
“I believe that will be a good suggestion,” stated a 3rd.
(High picture of T.J. Oshie sporting a neck guard: Patrick Smith / Getty Photos)