USA Hockey implements safety requirement for youth players

Effective starting August of 2024, Team USA Hockey has implemented new safety measures regarding preventing neck laceration injuries. After tragedy struck the hockey community in October when American hockey player Adam Johnson was killed from his neck being sliced open by a skate, Team USA hockey is doing everything in their power to prevent something like that from happening ever again.

USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher said to the media that the decision to implement safety standards on neck lacerations was an easy decision to make and that the hockey industry is dedicated to making the game safer than it has ever been.




The decision states that any player that is 18, 19, and under must be wearing neck protection, as well as on-ice officials under 18 and any 19-year-old players at the boys, girls or junior level.

The NHL currently has not implemented any safety standards regarding neck lacerations as of today, but it is something that could happen in the foreseeable future and the Team USA governing body recommends that adult players take the same precautions and safety measures.