SHEFFIELD, UK — As the hockey world mourns the loss of Adam Johnson, who died in a freak accident on the ice during a game between the Nottingham Panthers and the Sheffield Steelers last Saturday, the English Ice Hockey Association made an announcement on Monday, October 30, that neck guards and protectors will soon be mandatory pieces of gear in all hockey games moving forward.
Johnson suffered a slash to the throat by a skate during the second period of the Steelers' matchup against Nottingham. The 29-year-old fell to the ice before teammates held his throat together as they skated towards the bench. Blook could visibly be seen on the ice and down Johnson’s jersey. The Panthers confirmed later that Johnson had died of his injuries.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
The announcement from EIHA’s player safety came after the death of the former Pittsburgh Penguin.
"Undoubtedly, this moment in time casts a sombre shadow upon our global sporting community, serving as a stark reminder of our collective responsibilities as custodians of the sport," the EIHA said in a statement. "As in all sports, the safety of our players must take precedence above all else. We are firmly committed to our obligation to exhaust every possible means to ensure that a tragic incident of this nature never befalls our sport again."
Former Pittsburgh Penguin Adam Johnson
(Credit: cnn.com)
The EIHA plans to implement a three-step process to ensure player safety moving forward.
- A short-term recommendation to encourage players at all levels to wear protective neck equipment moving forward. After December 31, this recommendation becomes a mandatory requirement.
- Second, conduct a thorough investigation of all player equipment in the coming season to review all aspects of the equipment.
- Finally, a recommendation that the EIHA provide its membership with "clear guidance" on the continual discussion regarding the improvement of player safety and their duties within that area. That includes the requirement that all clubs be able to demonstrate that they are proactively managing player safety within their organizations.
The EIHA postponed all games following the incident but has not announced the games scheduled on Wednesday.
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