The National Federation of State High School Associations has recently announced the implementation of a new mandate requiring all high school hockey players to wear a neck laceration protector during games for the upcoming 2024-25 season. This decision was reached following a proposal by the NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Committee during their annual rules meeting in April, and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
According to Dan Schuster, who serves as the NFHS director of educational services and liaison to the Ice Hockey Rules Committee, the committee has made significant strides in enhancing safety measures for players in recent years. The newly implemented measures are designed to minimize risk for participants and provide clarity within the rules book. This directive comes in response to a serious injury sustained by former University of Minnesota-Duluth hockey player Adam Johnson, who suffered a neck laceration during a game.
The mandatory use of neck guards represents a dedicated effort to prioritize the health and safety of all players, and is in alignment with national rules and regulations. Players who are found to be not wearing the neck protector or have it come off during the game will be required to go to the bench until it has been restored, with any refusal to wear the guard resulting in a two-minute minor penalty.
Furthermore, goalkeepers are also mandated to wear the neck guard underneath and separately from the “flapper-style” throat protector attached to the bottom of the goalkeeper’s mask, and any alterations to the equipment will result in a minor penalty.
These new regulations underscore an ongoing commitment to minimizing risks and ensuring the well-being of all high school hockey players. For more information on the additional changes introduced by the NFHS network, please refer to the following link.