NHL facing calls to make neck guards mandatory following tragic death of Adam Johnson
The Nationwide Hockey League is dealing with calls to make neck guards necessary following the tragic demise of former Pittsburgh Penguins heart Adam Johnson.
While enjoying for the Nottingham Panthers within the UK’s high ice hockey division, Johnson died as a result of a deadly lower to his neck from a skate worn by Sheffield Steelers defender Matt Petgrave.
The Panthers described the incident as a ‘freak accident’ and native Sheffield coroner Tanyka Rawden mentioned she was involved additional deaths might happen sooner or later if neck guards weren’t worn.
England’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) introduced that it will not make the usage of neck guards necessary earlier this month, however would ‘strongly encourage’ gamers and officers to put on them.
The nation’s governing physique, the English Ice Hockey Affiliation mentioned neck guards would certainly be necessary from 2024 onwards however that call doesn’t influence the EIHL because the league isn’t beneath their management.
Gary Bettman says it might take the NHL many years to mandate neck guards after Adam Johnson was killed by Matt Petgrave’s skate blade.
The EIHL has already mandated neck guards after Johnson’s demise beginning in 2024. pic.twitter.com/fGIBGs9dqm
— Iyan Velji (@IyanVelji) November 1, 2023
Rawden wrote: “In my view there’s a danger that future deaths will happen until motion is taken. Within the circumstances it’s my statutory obligation to report back to you.”
Johnson’s aunt Kari known as Petgrave’s actions ‘reckless’ and mentioned she needs ‘justice’ for what occurred to her nephew. Many consider the kick was intentional as a result of Petgrave’s historical past of lashing out.
Final weekend, followers and mourners gathered on the Motorpoint Area in Nottingham – the house of the Panthers – to pay tribute to Johnson, who performed 13 NHL video games through the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns.
Each Panthers sport for the reason that tragic demise has been postponed because the membership continues to grieve for one of many saddest days within the sport’s historical past.