Following the accidental death of professional Adam Johnson, the German Ice Hockey Association will require neck protection from the 2024/25 season. Until then, according to the association’s announcement, wearing the protection is now “recommended” due to availability.
“This should ensure that possible delivery bottlenecks are avoided,” said DEB sports director Christian Künast. The DEB expects a high demand for protective equipment in the coming months.
There will be clear guidelines for neck protection. For example, it must have ISO certifications. The cut-resistant model over the neck and nape must also be made of Kevlar fibers. Some national players already wore the protection at the Germany Cup last week.
World association wants to change the rules
Neck and neck protection will be mandatory in the German Ice Hockey League from January 1, 2024. World Association President Luc Tardif announced last week that ice hockey players should be “safe” by the World Cup next May in the Czech Republic at the latest. By then, an obligation should be integrated into the regulations. In the youth sector, neck protection has been mandatory in all age groups for several years.
The former Augsburg DEL professional Johnson was killed by a cut on his neck from an ice skate blade during a game for his Nottingham Panthers at the Sheffield Steelers at the end of October.
