The news of Adam Johnson’s senseless death during a game over the weekend shocked and saddened the hockey world. It may also have – hopefully – brought about a long-needed change regarding the use of neck guards at all levels of the game.
At least some clarity was provided this Tuesday morning when Bill Daly appeared on NHL Network Radio to discuss a variety of topics, including the Johnson tragedy and how the league plans to respond.
The NHL’s deputy commissioner said commissioner Gary Bettman has been in touch with NHLPA director Marty Walsh to get the neck guard issues “on the radar,” with the NHL “strongly recommending” players use neck guards going forward.
Adam Johnson suffered a fatal injury during an EIHL game on Saturday. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
Johnson’s former coach in Pittsburgh, Mike Sullivan, said on Tuesday that players from the Penguins’ two main minor league affiliates in the AHL and ECHL, respectively, will be required to use neck braces, which Sullivan hopes will be a positive development after such a horrific event.
On Monday, This was reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan Several NHL players she spoke to were “now considering trying neck braces” after this weekend’s tragedy.
New Jersey blueliner John Marino gave a little more detail, telling NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky on Sunday that he and his Devils teammates “discussed the possibility of a neck guard mandate” over the weekend. Marino, who was Johnson’s teammate with the Penguins, added that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the NHL made neck guards mandatory in the near future.
Several players in the American Hockey League (the NHL’s top minor league) were spotted wearing neck guards, while the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester said the team placed an order for additional neck guards and shirt-neck guard combinations following the incident Some players are already using them in practice.
Several Providence Bruins, including John Farinacci and Fabian Lysell, wore neck guards tonight.
Good for you. It is in the best interest of players and leagues to move to mandatory usage. Nowadays they are also fairly non-invasive. pic.twitter.com/rvD1uZmPwO
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) October 29, 2023
Johnson’s fatal injury occurred on Saturday in the English professional league EIHL during a game between the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers in front of more than 8,000 fans at the Utilita Arena Sheffield, after Johnson’s neck was cut by an errant skate from opposing player Matt Petgrave.
The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) – which regulates the sport of ice hockey in England in a similar way to USA Hockey and Hockey Canada in their respective countries – Mandatory neck protection at all levels in light of Sunday’s terrible tragedy. Ice Hockey UK, which operates the British national team, already has neck protection regulations in place alongside Scottish Ice Hockey, which regulates the sport in Scotland, according to the BBC.
The Penguins – along with much of the hockey world – paid tribute to Johnson on Sunday and mourned a life that ended too soon, adding: “It was an honor to watch him fulfill his dream of playing in National Hockey.” League to play.”
Captain Sidney Crosby also commented on Johnson’s tragic death on Monday, calling him “a great guy” and a “great teammate.”
Between 2018-19 and 2019-20, Johnson played 13 games for the Penguins, scoring one goal and four points. In the following seasons he worked in the AHL and Europe before landing in the German DEL for the 2022-23 season and in England with Nottingham for the 2023-24 season.
Johnson was just 29 years old.