Mandatory Protection: Neck Protectors at the Winter Olympics
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has confirmed that the use of neck protectors will be mandatory for all players in the upcoming Winter Olympics to be held in Milano-Cortina.
This decision, which comes less than three months before the start of the competition, ensures greater protection for athletes during the tournament.
The measure comes after the tragic death of Adam Johnson in October 2023, who suffered a fatal neck injury during a match.
The IIHF had announced in December 2023 that neck protectors would be mandatory at all levels of the sport, but had never set a date for their implementation at the highest level.
The upcoming Olympic Games will mark the return of NHL players to the competition, something that hasn’t happened since 2014.
Although the NHL does not require the use of neck guards for all players, some have chosen to use them after Johnson’s accident.
New NHL players will be required to wear neck guards starting in the 2026-27 season, according to the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. Players who have participated in at least one NHL game before next season will still be able to choose.
Ice hockey at the Olympic Games will begin on February 5th.
