Coroner Urges Mandatory Use of Neck Guards in Ice Hockey Following Adam Johnson Tragedy

A player's death in an ice hockey match has prompted a coroner to call for neck guards to be made compulsory in the sport. Adam Johnson of the Nottingham Panthers suffered a fatal injury when he was cut on the neck by a skate worn by Matt Petgrave from the Sheffield Steelers. Coroner Tanyka Rawden has issued a report highlighting the need for preventative measures to avoid future deaths. The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), however, has decided not to mandate the use of neck guards but will strongly encourage their use. The English Ice Hockey Association's decision to make neck guards mandatory from 2024 onward does not affect the EIHL. Rawden emphasized that the International Ice Hockey Federation recommends the use of neck guards but does not require them for players over 18. The report has been sent to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association Limited for their response. The inquest into Johnson's death has been opened and adjourned. A celebration of his life was held in his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota, and a tribute event took place in Nottingham.