English Ice Hockey Association makes neck guards mandatory beginning in 2024 following Adam Johnson’s death

One of the most unspeakable tragedies in hockey history occurred Oct. 28 when, during an EIHL game, Nottingham Panthers forward and former NHLer Adam Johnson died after having his throat cut by a skate blade in a collision during a game. The ripple effects on future safety legislation are already beginning to take shape. On Monday the English Ice Hockey Association, the sport’s governing body for England and Wales, announced it will be mandatory for its players to wear neck guards during “all on-ice activities” beginning in 2024.

The ruling is part of a three-pronged approach the EIHA is developing to address the safety problem.

Because the rule won’t take effect until the New Year, the governing body has put in place a short-term solution: a “strong recommendation” that “all players at all levels across English hockey use an approved neck guard in all on-ice activities “without alterations and as directed by the manufacturers’ specification.” The reason why neck guards aren’t being made immediately mandatory is, predictably, because of an anticipated supply issue in the short term.

As for the medium term, the EIHA announced it will “will conduct a Player Safety Equipment thorough review considering all aspects of player safety equipment including, but not limited to, the use of helmets, mouthguards/gumshields and facial protection, and the application of IIHF rules.”

For a long-term solution, the EIHA’s plan is “ to provide its membership with clear guidance on the ongoing and continuous improvement of Player Safety and their duties within this area. This will include the requirement for all clubs to be able to demonstrate that they proactively manage Player Safety within their organisations.”

Johnson, 29, was rushed off the ice in the second period of Nottingham’s game against the Sheffield Steelers Saturday and taken to a Sheffield hospital, with the game being immediately suspended and fans in attendance being evacuated from the arena. The Nottingham Panthers confirmed early Sunday morning that he had passed away as a result of the collision.

“It is unacceptable for any player to lose their life while playing sport,” said the EIHA in its a statement Monday. “Our responsibility is not only to avert the recurrence of such a heart-breaking accident, but also to pre-emptively address other foreseeable incidents in the future.”