Juuso Riikola, who knew Adam Johnson well, changed his ways and now tells a heavy message.
In the NHL, Riikola played without a neck protector. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
An American who died in a tragic rink accident less than two weeks ago Adam Johnson was a familiar player to those playing in the Karelian tournament Juuso Riikola.
Riikola played as Johnson’s teammate in 2018–2020 in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization in both the NHL and AHL.
– I knew him very well. He was really nice and a good guy especially off the field. I couldn’t believe it when I first read the news about it, Riikola sighs deeply.
Johnson was killed when an opposing player’s skate accidentally struck his neck with force. With the tragedy, the discussion about the use of neck protectors became a big topic.
Riikola was in contact with many of his former Penguins teammates about Johnson’s death.
– Everyone had a pretty similar feeling. It hits harder when this happened to someone you know. That’s when you saw that this kind of thing can happen to anyone.
Neck protectors are mandatory
In the NHL, Riikola played without a neck protector. Also this season in Switzerland, he played with his neck bare before Johnson’s death.
Now the attitude has completely changed.
– I think every series should have a mandatory use. There is no harm in them, and there has been no reason for not using them.
– Why not use it if it saves you from bad injuries? After wearing it a few times, you won’t notice it anymore, Riikola tells those who hesitate to use it.
Especially in the NHL, the use of neck guards has been very limited, but after Johnson’s death, many NHL players have also become aware of this safety issue.
– Maybe it has been a habit that has always been there. And if the neck protection hasn’t been needed, then it hasn’t been used, Riikola guesses and continues.
– It must have been the same in the national team before, when the use was not mandatory.
All Leijoni players wear neck protectors in the Karelian tournament.
– Was there an instruction from the IIHF that they are mandatory from now on? I think it’s fine, because it doesn’t affect the game in any way.
Finnish Legion
Juuso Riikola adopted the neck guard after Adam Johnson’s death. Petri Saarelainen, AOP
Riikola is now playing his second season in Europe after returning from the NHL. Last season was in the Swedish SHL, and this season the team has been the Swiss SCL Tigers.
Riikola says that she had a better time in Switzerland than in Sweden.
– The way of playing there is a bit similar to here. We have a Finn involved in the coaching there, which brings “Finnishness” to the style of play. It has tasted really good.
The Tigers are indeed one of the “Finnish teams” in the Swiss main league, as the assistant coach Jukka Varmanen and in addition to Riikola, the team includes Vili Saarijärvi, Saku Mäenalanen, Harri Pesonen and Aleksi Saarela.