Hockey-related death leads to more discussions about neck guards

November 1, 2023

Site Staff,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Former NHL player Adam Johnson died while playing a hockey game in Great Britain. A skate came up from opponent Matt Petgrave and cut Johnson’s neck.

Johnson was a native of Hibbing, Minnesota.

The incident has sparked multiple conversations about the use of Neck Guards, a piece of protection made with Kevlar.

Matt Fetsch, Executive Director of North Dakota High School Activities Association, said “Currently Neck guards are recommended in High School Hockey, not required and i believe a big reason for that from my understanding is that there’s not a national standard yet to measure neck guards and I think that’s probably the biggest hangup from the full out requirement of neck guards and why they’re still recommended”

Neck guards come in different styles and could be required in the future.

Fetsch also said, “I believe the discussion will take place and i don’t think that’s anything new and I don’t know this incident even expedites it or anything like that i just think its something that at a national level has been talked about. At a point they’re comfortable they’ll be mandated.” These talks have been going on and more is expected to come.

Due to the speed and skates, hockey players tend to fall almost cartoon-like, with their feet coming upward. Other maneuvers like shooting and skating cause events like this to happen as well.