The International Ice Hockey Federation is making neck guards mandatory for all levels of competition in the tournaments it runs.
Those include the Olympics and men’s and women’s world championships. It would not include pro leagues like the NHL. The federation initially only had neck protection mandates for under-20 and under-18 tournaments.
The move comes after Hibbing, Minnesota native Adam Johnson was killed when his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England in late October.
"That neck is always a vulnerable area, and it's long been a discussion," says Ken Pauly, the head coach of the boys hockey team at Minnesota's Benilde St. Margaret's.
Pauly says he's already seen more high school player opt to wear the neck guards following Johnson's death.
"I think you'll see a lot of kids, more kids, wearing these. I also think you'll see the technology getting better with it too," says Pauly.
Johnson was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in Sheffield, England when his throat was slashed during an on-ice collision. A video from the game shows Johnson getting up from the ice and leaving a trail of blood as he's led away.
Officials in the U.K. arrested a player on suspicion of manslaughter in Johnson's death.
The 29-year old Johnson played two-years at Minnesota-Duluth. He was drafted by the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins and then began playing in Europe.
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