Emotional Moment Leads to Equipment Change For Chicago Blackhawks Defensemen

Enhancing Safety: Neck Guards Find New Importance

The recent and tragic loss of former NHL player Adam Johnson has prompted a vital shift in safety measures within the world of hockey. Johnson's untimely passing resulted from a fatal injury inflicted by a skate blade. In response to this heart-wrenching incident, numerous professional sports leagues, NHL included, are taking steps to introduce mandatory rules concerning the use of neck guards for players.

While the NHL itself hasn't officially mandated the use of neck guards, various individual teams are proactively addressing player safety. One such team is the Chicago Blackhawks, with defenseman Wyatt Kaiser leading the way by choosing to wear a neck guard from now on.

Kaiser's decision goes beyond personal safety; it's a touching tribute to his late teammate, Adam Johnson, who tragically lost his life in a similar incident. Johnson, a former University of Minnesota Duluth player, had shared the ice with Kaiser during the summer, adding a deeper layer of significance to the choice.


—Wyatt Kaiser on wearing a neck guard after Johnson's death from a skate cut


Kaiser's message is clear and resounding: the protection offered by neck guards is invaluable, and they should become standard equipment for all players. He emphasizes that wearing a neck guard doesn't hinder his performance on the ice and that prioritizing safety should be a unanimous and instinctive decision.

The tragic loss of Adam Johnson has undeniably left an indelible mark on the hockey community, prompting crucial safety changes that will help shield players from such devastating accidents in the future.