BREAKING: Top Junior League Implements Mandatory Neck Guard Policy

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Graham Montgomery
November 1, 2023 (8:39 PM)

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Following the tragic death of Adam Johnson, the hockey world has put a greater emphasis on player safety, particularly when it comes to neck protection. Now North American hockey leagues are starting to implement new rules.

WHL Announces New Neck Guard Policy

The Western Hockey League, the top major junior league serving western Canada and parts of the Pacific northwestern States, announced a new policy on social media today. The policy makes neck protection mandatory immediately as it goes into effect on November 3rd. There will be a grace period for teams that do not have enough protective equipment at this moment.

The WHL is the second major hockey league to announce a mandatory neck protection rule after the U.K.'s EIHL made the same rule change earlier this week.

NHL May See Rules Change Come Next Season

While the NHL cannot force a rule change without the consent of the player's association, discussions of the league creating a mandatory neck protection rule have dominated hockey circles in the past few days. The league and the players association are reportedly already working on some kind of agreement while individual players and teams have already taken matters into their own hands. The Penguins, Johnson's former team, have already issued a team mandate to their AHL and ECHL affiliates, requiring their players to wear neck protection at team events.

With a greater emphasis on player safety than ever before and further developments in technology, it is only a matter of time before the NHL makes the necessary changes to ensure a safer and better game.