The Nationwide Hockey League is dealing with calls to make neck guards necessary following the tragic dying of former Pittsburgh Penguins middle Adam Johnson.
While taking part in for the Nottingham Panthers within the UK’s prime ice hockey division, Johnson died because 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 stated she was involved additional deaths could 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 stated neck guards would certainly be necessary from 2024 onwards however that call doesn’t affect the EIHL because the league isn’t beneath their management.
Gary Bettman says it may 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 dying beginning in 2024. pic.twitter.com/fGIBGs9dqm
— Iyan Velji (@IyanVelji) November 1, 2023
Rawden wrote: “For my part there’s a danger that future deaths will happen except 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 stated she needs ‘justice’ for what occurred to her nephew. Many imagine the kick was intentional because of Petgrave’s historical past of lashing out.
Final weekend, followers and mourners gathered on the Motorpoint Enviornment in Nottingham – the house of the Panthers – to pay tribute to Johnson, who performed 13 NHL video games throughout the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns.
Each Panthers recreation for the reason that tragic dying has been postponed because the membership continues to grieve for one of many saddest days within the sport’s historical past.
