The Western Hockey League will require all of its players to wear neck guards, effective this Friday, Nov. 3.
The league announced the change in policy this afternoon, Nov. 1. It comes days after the tragic death of 29-year-old Adam Johnson, after his neck was cut by a skate during a game in the British Elite Hockey League.
“All WHL players will be required to wear protective neck guard equipment at all times while participating in on-ice activities, including WHL games and practices,” the WHL said in a release Wednesday.
The Kamloops Blazers have ordered 30 neck guards, and expect to have it by tomorrow ahead of their game against the Red Deer Rebels on Friday night.
“The game is evolving and the protection is getting better everywhere,” Blazers Head Equipment Manager Colin “Toledo” Robinson told NL Sports. “You know we used to not have to wear a mouth guard, now we wear mouthguards.”
“As you saw at the Memorial Cup, everybody was wearing them and it was throughout the whole CHL. The WHL was contemplating on doing this anyway and now obviously because of a horrible accident, they decided to say, ‘we’re going to start right now’ and that’s just the way it is.”
As not everyone may be in compliance by this Friday, the WHL says teams will have a bit of a grace period so they can acquire neck guards.
“The WHL anticipates challenges in delivery of protective neck guard equipment from licensed suppliers due to increased demand following the tragic passing of Adam Johnson,” the statement added.
Up to this point, neck guards were mandatory for players in both the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), but not the WHL.
Hockey Canada also required all registered minor league players and women’s hockey players to wear neck guards while on the ice.
While there are currently no rules in the NHL that say players must wear protective neck gear, Canadian hockey legend and resident physician Hayley Wickenheiser has called for mandated neck protection at all levels of play.
– With files from Jon Keen
