WARROAD, Minn. — The English Ice Hockey Association announced players will be required to wear a neck guard starting next year. The mandate comes after Minnesota native Adam Johnson died over the weekend when his neck was cut by a skate while playing in a game in Sheffield, England.
The EIHA isn't the only one with safety on its mind as of late. There are unique dangers in hockey, but similar incidents have happened before. And some parents say they're preventable.
"I'm no stranger to spending a little extra money to make sure he doesn't get a concussion in football, I'd do the same thing so he doesn't get his neck sliced open in hockey," said Andrew Thyen about his son.
"I think it’s a situation where there is product out there to prevent this from happening and this is a good start," said SB Distribution CEO Scott Beck, that has offices is in Edina. "Anything can happen in the game."
Beck distributes the guards to several local retailers. He says many of them are now nearly sold out since news about Johnson's death. The guards are not required in youth hockey or the NHL and players rarely wear them, sometimes, for simply being too uncomfortable.
"The biggest issue and complaint that you're going to get from this is that it's bulky and it's thick," said Beck, showing off an "entry level" neck guard that runs about $20.
He says the design, though, is becoming more desirable — showing off other products that mimic a t-shirt with a collar but run about $70.
"I think as people start seeing this new product and as it gets more comfortable, I think it probably will be mandatory," said Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie. He was also a Warroad High School standout and was selected to the MN State Hockey All-Tournament Team all three years he played there.
In 2017, he founded the Warroad Hockey Co., a clothing collection that includes wrist, forearm and ankle guards. It was just a month ago that the company debuted a neck guard that it announced Monday has since 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.
"Hockey players are pretty stubborn and changing with the times and very stubborn in their superstitions and things like that," said Oshie. "I’m looking to try and make a change here; I’d like to be around here a long time for my kids."
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