Adam Johnson died after suffering a cut to his neck caused by an opponent’s skate during a game between Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.
Neck guards have become mandatory in all forms of UK ice hockey below the Elite League following the tragic death of Adam Johnson. The sport’s governing body England Ice Hockey, formerly known as the English Ice Hockey Association, announced the rule change back in October – just days after the death of Nottingham Panthers star Johnson.
Johnson, 29, died after suffering a serious cut to his neck during the 35th minute of the Challenge Cup game against Sheffield Steelers on October 28. Now, neck guards will be mandatory in all forms of ice hockey governed by England Ice Hockey – including the English National Ice Hockey League – as the change comes into force on January 1, 2024.
England Ice Hockey said neck guards must now be worn for all on-ice activities – including training – and that it was “strongly recommended” coaches wear them whilst on the ice too. The rule change comes after Nottinghamshire Live’s ‘Do it for Adam’ campaign which called for neck guards to be mandatory in the wake of Johnson’s tragic death.
Neck guards will also become mandatory in the Elite League – in which the Panthers and Steelers compete – as part of the change in International Ice Hockey Federation rules but a timescale for that mandate is not yet known. An Elite League spokesman said in December it “will consider how best to implement this mandate and provide further updates to players, officials and Clubs as soon as possible and importantly when supply issues have been determined
