In an effort to enhance safety, the American Hockey League (AHL) will enforce a new rule requiring all players, referees, and linesmen to wear certified cut-resistant neck protection during games, starting in the 2024-25 season.

This decision was made unanimously by the league’s governors, as announced by the AHL on Friday.

Previously, AHL players were already obligated to use wrist sleeves and socks designed to withstand cuts. The AHL serves as the primary training league for all 32 NHL teams, which currently has no regulations concerning neck protection.

This new regulation follows the tragic incident involving former Pittsburgh Penguins player Adam Johnson, who died after a serious injury on the ice while playing for the Nottingham Panthers in the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League on October 28. He suffered a fatal neck cut from a skate blade during a game against the Sheffield Steelers.

Despite immediate medical aid on the ice and subsequent hospitalization, Johnson, who was only 29 years old, did not survive.

In response to this incident, the English Ice Hockey Association mandated the use of neck guards in their league. In North America, the Western Hockey League has joined the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League in requiring neck protection gear.

Furthermore, the International Ice Hockey Federation declared in December that neck protectors would be mandatory across all levels of play, extending previous requirements that were only in effect for under-20 and under-18 tournaments.

Contributions by: Mike Brehm