The British Ice Hockey Association will make neck protection mandatory following the death of Adam Johnson. The 29-year-old ice hockey player was hit in the neck with a skate during a match in Sheffield, England.
The obligation to wear neck protection will come into force on January 1, 2024, but the association is urging players to wear it now.
Besides requiring neck protection, the association also wants to examine what other measures could be taken to make ice hockey safer.
It is not mandatory in the Netherlands (yet).
In America and the Netherlands, neck protection is not yet required. Even during international matches, ice hockey players do not need to protect their necks.
Former national ice hockey player Ron Berteling has previously advocated for neck protection to be made mandatory. “Something serious always has to happen before a rule is changed or added,” said Berteling, currently the Dutch team’s record international and the namesake of ice hockey’s Super Cup.
There is a duty of protection for Dutch youth, which is strictly supervised by the Ice Hockey Association. “I really have no idea why the same isn’t true for older people,” says Berteling.
British police also launched an investigation into Johnson’s death. The 29-year-old actor died in the hospital where he was taken due to the injuries he received after the skating accident.
Police said the investigation was focusing on the circumstances surrounding the actor’s death and urged the public not to speculate about Johnson’s death.
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
