Former national ice hockey player Ron Berteling described the accident that killed US player Adam Johnson last weekend as “horrible”. “It’s dramatic that this cost a life.”
Something went wrong in the match between Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers in the British league. Johnson collided with his opponent and a skate hit him in the neck. He was bleeding profusely and doctors treated him with ice. His fellow actors protected him from the audience. On Sunday morning, the Panthers announced that the help was in vain: Johnson died in the hospital.
“Something serious always has to happen before a rule is changed or added,” says Berteling. “Then the argument starts again.”
In this case, it is a matter of protecting the throat, neck and throat. In some competitions this is mandatory, for example in Sweden. However, in many countries, including the UK, the USA and the Netherlands, there is no need for such protection. Even during international matches, ice hockey players do not need to protect their necks.
This protection is mandatory for Dutch youth and the Ice Hockey Association strictly monitors this protection. “I really have no idea why the same isn’t true for older people,” says Berteling.
Dutch Ice Hockey General Manager Theo van Gerwen also has no explanation for this lack of commitment. But: “It is true that every sport has risks, you cannot eliminate them all.”
According to Van Gerwen, safety-related innovations in sport are constantly evaluated.
This is not the first time such an accident has happened in ice hockey. In 1989, Buffalo Sabers goaltender Clint Malarchuk experienced something similar. There was also a nail in his neck that cut his jugular vein. He miraculously survived the incident. Since then, special neck protection has become mandatory for goalkeepers.
neck protection
Although there is still debate about these collars, Berteling says. Some are very strong, but other lanyards are little more than a piece of foam that falls around your neck. This avoids collision, but at high speed the skate will pass right through it.
Still, many hockey players choose the second option because it’s less frustrating, Van Gerwen explains. Ice hockey player Savine Wielenga adds: “Many players continue to pull the neck strap down for more comfort. But then suddenly a piece of skin is exposed.
“Yes, it’s annoying. But I guess you get used to it,” Wielenga continues. “If you don’t wear anything, you really don’t stand a chance.”
Berteling: “There were perhaps discussions about introducing protection obligations in Dutch ice hockey, but there were no discussions at that time.”
take a step
“These discussions now exist because of such an accident. Now is the time to really take this step. A neck brace is absolutely necessary.”
Wielenga and Van Gerwen agree with him. Van Gerwen: “The equipment is adjusted for everything except the height. The urgency was never really there. I hope now.”
“But that’s all after the fact,” Berteling summarizes angrily. “It’s terrible that this took someone’s young life first.”
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.
