looks like a new rule is on the horizon for USA Hockey players. It seems that a neck protection mandate is in the works, and it could be happening as early as January 2024. The USA Hockey Board of Directors recently voted unanimously to ask the Safety and Protective Equipment Committee to start looking into making neck protection mandatory. Right now, USA Hockey just recommends wearing a neck laceration protector, but it’s not a strict rule. Some districts and organizations can make it a requirement, especially for young players. But until the rule changes, USA Hockey is all about doing more research and testing to figure out how effective neck protectors really are.
This whole thing has been a big deal in the hockey world, especially after the sad passing of Adam Johnson. The English Ice Hockey Association, where Johnson played, is making neck guards a must from December 31. And the WHL has already made it a rule since November 3. Over in Canada, Hockey Canada has been ahead of the game, making neck protection mandatory for minor and female players, as well as in their top junior leagues like the OHL and QMJHL.
In the US, some USHL and NCAA players have already started wearing neck protection, and even a few NHL players are on board. The USHL Commissioner mentioned that they’re working closely with USA Hockey to make sure they create the safest environment for players.
If this new rule goes through, it would apply to leagues like the USHL, which is the top junior league for USA Hockey. As for when it might happen, there’s a chance that a proposal for the rule change could be brought up at USA Hockey’s Winter Meeting in January.
USA Hockey’s rule book has been updated to show how serious they are about preventing neck lacerations. They’re concerned about the potential serious injuries that can happen from neck cuts, but they also admit that there’s not a lot of data on how common neck lacerations are and how effective neck guards really are.
We’ll be keeping an eye on this situation and will give you updates as soon as we have them.