PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins are joining the English Ice Hockey Association in requiring neck guards for players with their AHL and ECHL affiliates following Adam Johnson's death.
Johnson spent multiple seasons in the Penguins' organization, including time with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Players with the Penguins' ECHL affiliate — the Wheeling Nailers — will also be required to wear neck guards and wrist guards.
"(President of Hockey Operations) Kyle (Dubas) and I have had discussions about it," said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan on Tuesday. "We're in the process right now of trying to talk to our players about some protective equipment in those vulnerable areas. Our (AHL) team has mandated that they're going to wear neck guards and wrist guards. Our (ECHL) team as well. We can't do that at the NHL level, but we can certainly strongly encourage, and that's our hope. Hopefully, as a league, we can work towards developing more options for guys in the protective department with respect to these areas, and hopefully there will be an initiative moving forward."
In order for neck guards or wrist guards to be mandated for NHL players, the NHL Players' Association would have to approve the change.
Johnson, a Minnesota native, died Saturday after his neck was cut by a skate blade while playing in a game in England. On Monday, the EIHA, which governs ice hockey in England below the Elite League, announced it would be requiring its players to wear neck guards.
“It is unacceptable for any player to lose their life while playing sport,” the EIHA said in a statement. “Our responsibility is not only to avert the recurrence of such a heartbreaking accident, but also to pre-emptively address other foreseeable incidents in the future.”
Warroad Hockey Co., a Minnesota-based clothing/equipment company founded by former Warroad standout and current Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, began selling neck guards about a month ago. On Monday, the company announced the neck guards were already sold out.
"My motivation was for the youth," said Oshie after he says a boy died from a similar neck injury last year.
"I think one death is one too many," said Oshie, who admits he doesn't wear a neck guard and neither do his teammates. He says he's since ordered his own product, agreeing to try it during practice on Wednesday ahead of his game the next day.
On Monday night, the Penguins honored Johnson prior to their game with the Anaheim Ducks. The Nottingham Panthers, the team Johnson was playing for in England, posted on social media that a GoFundMe had been set up to help raise money for the "Love for Hibbing and Hockey Memorial Fund," which was created in Johnson's memory.
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