New piece of hockey gear to soon be required for kids
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio (WJW) — A new piece of hockey equipment will soon be mandatory for kids of all ages. This comes after former Pittsburgh Penguins player Adam Johnson died in a game in England last fall, when his neck was cut by a skate.
Player safety is always on the minds of parents no matter the sport, no matter the age. But when it comes youth hockey, safety has become a major topic of late after Johnson’s stunning death. Now, USA Hockey and the Kenston High School hockey program are hoping a new piece of equipment will eliminate serious injuries or even death on the ice.
Excavators make prehistoric discovery in Lorain County
Johnson passed away from bleeding out after a skate sliced his neck. Kenston hockey coach Tom Moores played six years of professional hockey in the minor leagues. He’s seen his fair share of accidents. While accidents like the one involving Johnson are rare, USA Hockey is now mandating neck laceration protection equipment for all players under the age of 18, effective Aug. 1.
“My professional days, we’ve had multiple — probably at least a dozen different incidents,” Moores said. “A lot of them with sticks, a couple with skates.
The Kenston High School hockey program has been on the forefront of safety for a few years now. While USA Hockey just mandated hockey teams 18 years and younger wear neck guards, Kenston has actually been wearing them now for four years. They have a variety of types, from a nylon material to a kevlar design.
“We know the importance of it,” Moores said. “We do a neck guard check before every practice and every game.”
Kenston senior Troy Krahe added, “I’m just glad with the mandate there’s just less of chance of anything bad, any unfortunate accidents ever happening.”
When the team first started to implement the neck guards four years ago, there was some resistance from the players, but they quickly got used it.
“At first, they’re always annoying but wear them and break them in and eventually you don’t even notice it,” Krahe said.
“Nowadays they’re pretty flexible,” Moores replied. “They move around your neck. I think it’s just getting over that initial feel of having something there.”
Akron mayor proposes tiny homes for the homeless
Just like ice skates are a must to play hockey, these kids can’t hit the ice without these neck guards.
“They know if they want to play, they have to wear it,” Moore added. “I’m happy it’s finally been mandated so we can’t just preach. Sometimes they listen. Now they know they have to wear it.”
All it takes is once accident to impact someone’s life. That’s not a risk Moores is willing to take.
“It’s not something you want to play around with,” Moores said. “It’s something super easy. Takes literally two seconds to put on.”
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
