Penguins organization to mandate neck protection at AHL, ECHL levels
The Pittsburgh Penguins will mandate neck protection for the players on their American Hockey League and ECHL affiliates, head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday.
The club will also heavily recommend that their National Hockey League players follow suit and wear neck guards, although they cannot formally mandate them without approval from the NHLPA.
The mandate comes in the wake of the death of former Penguins forward Adam Johnson, who had his throat sliced open by an opponent’s skate in an Elite Ice Hockey League game in Britain over the weekend.
According to Sullivan, the Penguins organization will also mandate that its minor-league players wear wrist guards, to help protect against similar incidents with skate blades (such as what happened to Evander Kane early in the 2021–22 season).
Per Mike Sullivan, the Penguins will mandate neck protection for their AHL and ECHL teams.
No hard mandate can be made at the NHL level but they will heavily recommend such a measure.
Johnson, 29, was playing for the Nottingham Panthers when he violently collided with Sheffield Steelers forward Matt Petgrave during their game in Sheffield on Saturday.
Petgrave lost his balance while cutting through the middle of the ice and inadvertently lifted his left leg into the air, clipping Johnson in the neck and drawing a significant amount of blood.
Johnson was rushed to a local hospital but died as a result of the injury. Tributes have poured out from across the hockey world for the deceased forward, who suited up for 13 NHL games with the Penguins during his career.
Police in the U.K. have opened a routine investigation into the incident. Petgrave has faced threats and harassment from fans and political commentators in the days since, although many in the hockey world — including Nottingham forward Westin Michaud — have come to his defense.
1/2 I need to address something about the accident. We wholeheartedly stand with Matt Petgrave. The hate that Matt is receiving is terrible and completely uncalled for. I was at ice level on the bench closest to the accident, I saw both players moving fast.
— Westin Michaud (@WestinMichaud) October 30, 2023The Penguins held a tribute for Johnson before their game against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday and wore stickers bearing his initials and jersey number on their helmets.
The English Ice Hockey Association has also mandated neck protection beginning in 2024. The Panthers organization will hold a gathering to remember Johnson at their arena on Saturday.
A fundraiser has been set up to benefit Johnson’s family in the wake of his tragic death. The link to it is here.