Ice hockey: after the death of Adam Johnson, the neck protector will become compulsory at the Olympics and the World Championships

2023-12-05 14:39:20

After France, the measure extends to the whole world. Neck guards will become mandatory at all competitions organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), including the Winter Olympics and the men’s and women’s world championships, the governing body announced on Monday. this sport.

The date of entry into force of this new regulation could not be specified by the IIHF due to delays in the delivery of the necessary equipment. “The IIHF Council, on the recommendation of its Medical Commission, has decided to make the use of neck laceration protection, specially designed for this purpose, mandatory at all levels of IIHF competitions. IIHF,” she said in a statement.

This decision comes a little more than a month after the death of American player Adam Johnson, who played for the English club Nottingham Panthers in the Elite Ice Hockey League of Great Britain. Johnson, aged 29, died on October 28 after suffering a neck injury from an opposition player’s skate during a cup match in Sheffield.

Not mandatory in certain leagues, including the NHL

“The exact date of entry into force of this directive for senior categories will be determined by the state of supply. The IIHF remains in close contact with its suppliers to ensure that they are able to meet the current high demand.

In the meantime, the IIHF continues to “strongly recommend” that all players participating in competitions it organizes wear neck guards. Neck guards are not mandatory in certain professional leagues, including the NHL which governs the powerful North American championship.

In France, they will be compulsory in matches and training from January 15 in the Magnus League (men’s) and Division 1 (women’s), the French Ice Hockey Federation announced on Friday.